Teaching Applications
This section covers information about the practice teaching application: teaching plan used, procedures of teaching,
and classroom management.
Teaching Plan
Following Curriculum 2013 which emphasizes the importance of incorporating scientific approach in teaching, I made sure that the lesson plan I will create will not only cover traditional ways of teaching and traditional learning materials but student-centered discussion with digitally-created learning materials (e.g. printed materials) and interactive activities. Furthermore, the lesson and activities were planned to target three important skills: Cognitive, Culture, and Communication.
Teaching Plan Related to Major
In early childhood education, hands-on learning materials and interactive activities are two of the most important factors to ensure learners’ active participation in the class. Multiple research papers and articles highlight the importance of “fun” in learning. With “fun in learning” in mind, I listed down different ways that will encourage learners to recite during discussion and I searched on Pinterest about different activities and worksheets to have ideas on what to incorporate in teaching.
After researching and listing, these are the ideas that I have included on my lesson plans with B - Moon, the first section that I taught for my demonstration teaching on November 01, 2023, and A - Sun, the one I taught for my final demonstration teaching on November 09, 2023. In my lesson plan, I considered the lesson and topic of the week, the ability of learners (to color, cut, read, and write), and the materials available inside the classroom (glue, coloring materials, scissors, blocks and Lego pieces).
Lesson: Rooms of the House
Unit/Topic: House
Content: Review of previous lesson about Rooms of the house
(The teacher will show pictures of rooms of the house and items on different rooms of the house that
students will label verbally)
B - Moon
A - Sun
Cognitive
Discussion
1. Singing of the action song “Our House is Full of
Love” (Own lyrics with English and Bahasa
Indonesia translation)
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2. Things I Use in this Room
Identifying items commonly seen around house and
categorizing these items to rooms they are usually
seen.
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Activities
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Trace the House - Students are asked to design their own house by tracing “The House” worksheet
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Shapes on House! - Students are asked to paste the cut out shapes on the worksheet
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One More Item - Students are asked to draw one more item in different rooms of the house
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Name the Rooms - Students are asked to write the names of the rooms (notebook activity)
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Discussion
1. Singing of the action song “Our House is Full of
Love” (Own lyrics with English and Bahasa
Indonesia translation)
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2. Things I Use in this Room (Picture Hunt)
Hunting pictures under chairs, identifying the item
assigned, and categorizing the item to rooms they
are usually seen.
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Activities
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Trace the House - Students are asked to design their own house by tracing “The House” worksheet
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Shapes on House! - Students are asked to paste the cut out shapes on the worksheet
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Culture
Activities
1. Building a house using blocks or Lego pieces with other classmates.
Discussion
1. Identifying, categorizing, and writing on the
whiteboard the names of the items given by the
teacher.
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2. Sharing with the class verbally the other
examples of items seen in different rooms of the
house that they think of.
Discussion
1. Sharing with the class verbally the other
examples of items seen in different rooms of the
house that they think of.
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Communication
A - Sun is Kindergarten 1. Which means their skills are not as advanced as B - Moon's skills. Considering that K1 is in a lower grade level than B - Moon, I considered a more interactive discussion with them with less number of table activities and less complicated. Since the lesson and topic are similar for two weeks, I just modified the lesson plan I previously made (B - Moon's).
Some revisions I made for A - Sun include (1) Things I Use in this Room. I hid pictures under their seats and they categorized as to where these things can be found primarily) and (2) Table activities include Trace the House and Shapes on House only.
Teaching Process
When we first came to visit KB & TK Lab, we were informed that we will be rotating in four different classes for the initial observation week. After the first week, we are expected to choose two sections that we will be teaching for our graded demo and final graded demo. My co-pre-service teachers agreed with each other that we will be teaching one Kindergarten 1 class and another one Kindergarten 2 class, so we will be able to teach both Kindergarten levels. I chose B - Moon and A - Sun to teach.
Schedule
7:00 - 7:30 Arrival time/Greetings in front
of the school
7:30 - 8:00 Flag ceremony/Exercise
8:00 - 9:00 Circle Time & Discussion
9:00 - 10:00 Activity-making
10:00 - 10:30 Break time
10:30 - 10:45 Closing Activity
10:45 - 11:00 Going home
Procedures of Teaching: Planning
Before my actual demo teaching in both sections, I made sure to plan my strategies and activities days before my teaching to ensure that I will be able to reflect more on the suitable activities I will implement and to also make sure that I have considered our initial observations. In B - Moon, the teachers, Miss Elik and Miss Arum, instructed that the table activities should be 4 - 5, while in A - Sun, Miss Niniek suggested that I lessen table activities and focus more on play-based activities. Miss Niniek also suggested that I lessen the level of difficulty of table activities I will incorporate. With these suggestions, I was able to create my final lesson plans, which were both consulted with teachers first.
After the approval of my lesson plan, I already started editing my instructional materials on Canva which I printed, cut, and pasted on a thicker paper after. I made sure that the pictures of items in different rooms have labels in English and in Bahasa Indonesia with them. I also wrote the English and Bahasa Indonesia lyrics of the song, “Our House is Full of Love” on a cartolina paper, so children will remember the lyrics easier. To ensure that I will be able to teach our learners better, I also learned some Indonesian words and lyrics of the songs they use for classroom management.
Procedures of Teaching: Implementing
On days of my actual teaching demonstration, I made sure to go to school early as I need to prepare my instructional materials in classrooms. I went to the school, 30 minutes before 7:00 AM, put my visual aids on a chair/table near the circle time mat and laid my table activities on top of the children's tables. I also left my printed lesson plan and printed evaluation sheet on teachers’ tables. After my preparation, I went outside to greet our learners for 30 minutes.
Arrival Time: Practicing "salim" to older people.
When the bell rang, my co–pre-service teachers and I went to the yard to do morning exercises. On my last final demo teaching, the morning exercise schedule was not the same because we just did the exercise in front of the classroom and after that, we went to multipurpose hall to do yoga led by practice teachers from UM. At 8:00 AM, we started our class with Circle Time: pray, recite the Quran (al-fatihah, an-nas, al-falaq, al-ikhlas, al-kautsar, an-nasr) with the help of Indonesian teachers, and greetings, followed by the discussion proper. During my discussion, I made sure to call the majority of the students, even those that are not raising hands. Since I am not that familiar with all students, I made sure to put name tags on them. This action helped me identify the students that I was not able to call yet and helped me to manage class easier, as well.
Teaching "Our House is Full of Love" to B - Moon
When we were done with the discussion, I shared with the class the instructions for the table activities. As I have shared the instructions beforehand, assisting children with their activities becomes easier as they know what to do already. When another bell rang to signal their break time, the learners started tidying up their spaces including their table, mat, and play area. The last bell gave us a signal to tidy up the table after eating. The last class activities before going home include asking about the day's lesson, singing, praying, and greetings.
B - Moon Demonstration Pictures
A - Sun Demonstration Pictures
Procedures of Teaching: Reflecting
After my demo teaching, I asked my cooperating teachers, Miss Elik, Miss Arum, and Miss Niniek about my performances. They gave both positive feedback and things to improve. Personally, what I have reflected is that I should have learned more songs used for classroom management. I should have also searched for the translation of instructions in Indonesian language for table activities, so learners will be able to understand the instructions better and easier. It is also a way to communicate verbally with them.
Time management and organizing activities
Managing my time during our whole practice teaching at KB & TK Lab was easier since the time schedule is strictly followed. Going to the school early is also exciting since teachers, students, and parents welcome each other warmly and with a smile. Undoubtedly, greeting children in the morning motivated us to go to school earlier. The use of the bell also helped me and the students to transition from one activity to another easier as we are all aware that we have to finish discussion and activity on-time. We have to make sure that before the bell rings, learners are done or almost done with activities and their tables and spaces are tidy. Before the bell rings for going home, learners must already finish tidying up their tables after eating. It has been a routine for children to leave the room minutes before 10:45 AM/on 10:45 AM sharp.
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When I have my demo teaching, I make sure that table activities are laid out on the table already, my visual aids are prepared, and my printed lesson plans and evaluation sheets were on the top of teachers' tables. I also make sure that activities are well-explained before letting children do the activity, so children will not ask and ask about the activity repeatedly.
Classroom management
Classroom management is a little challenging since there is a language barrier. Sometimes, learners are saying their discomfort but I can’t understand them. There are times that they are asking for help, but I can’t help them immediately. Learners with additional needs may also roam around the classroom, cry, and throw tantrums. Since one of the struggles between one another is our different languages, I incorporated classroom management with no or less need of words. To bridge the language barrier, I learned some routine and attention-grabbing songs they are using. Since children were already aware of these songs, singing has been helpful to all of us. Furthermore, I also used stickers. There are stickers with feedback such as “Hebat” and “Pintar.” These stickers motivated students to participate during discussion and to behave. I also got assistance and help with atypical learners from shadow teachers and cooperating teachers.
Problem-solving while teaching and staying
During my stay at KB & TK Lab UM, I experienced three major challenges only; the language barrier, classroom management, and time management. Talking with early childhood learners is already challenging as it is, added by struggle in communication, the situation may lead to bad results. Although thankfully, teachers at KB & TK Lab were so kind to teach me words and to help me translate what children are saying. Additionally, I also put effort to learn some basic words, especially words that are commonly used inside the classroom. I also asked teachers to teach me the songs they use inside the classroom to maintain order and to get students' attention. Lastly, I also made sure to incorporate English and Bahasa Indonesia translations in visual aids I use during teaching.
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With regard to time management, I make sure to follow the time given to me by adjusting the length of my introductory activities or during the discussion proper. Although on my final demonstration teaching, the practice teachers from UM had to also do their yoga and public speaking activity. Thus, I had to manage my time by having shorter but informative discussion.
"We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare them for the future."