A Simple Idea to Wrap Up the Year
For teachers and students in most parts of the world, this month is the last days for school. Yup, we've been through many ups and downs in our daily interaction in the class. There were moments when we felt pride for our students' achievements; joy for seeing their smile when figuring out something new; or even anger for chaos they made ^^
As the gate is about to close, we need to prepare something that they can bring out of our class, not to mention the knowledge they got. Something that they will remember, even years after we don't teach them anymore, doesn't necessarily to be expensive. Here is how I celebrated the end of school year with my students.
As the gate is about to close, we need to prepare something that they can bring out of our class, not to mention the knowledge they got. Something that they will remember, even years after we don't teach them anymore, doesn't necessarily to be expensive. Here is how I celebrated the end of school year with my students.
Ask your kids to sit in a circle, if possible. Give them direction to make the book (watch the video above) or the accordion fan (the blue one). Make sure they write their name on the cover. Then, here it comes the most enjoyable moment: pass the paper and write the good things about each member of your class. Yes, just the GOOD things. What happens next is everybody will be busy writing while giggling sometimes, remembering good personalities of their friends or little kindness their mates did to them. Of course, you, the teacher should join this activity, in addition to be the time-keeper who claps for the next turn.
After the paper goes back to the owner, they can read what's written there, and they will be smiling; knowing that the friends who even never talk intensively with them recognize good things about them. They might also burst into tears when they read testimony from their teachers--way more sincere than those formal comments on the report card :)
(Jakarta, 23 June 2017)
After the paper goes back to the owner, they can read what's written there, and they will be smiling; knowing that the friends who even never talk intensively with them recognize good things about them. They might also burst into tears when they read testimony from their teachers--way more sincere than those formal comments on the report card :)
(Jakarta, 23 June 2017)
Maximizing Students' Participation
This academic year 2016/2017, I become a solo teacher in grade 5. This is pretty much different with last year situation, where I got a partner i.e. Ms Wini. As a solo teacher, I need to do many things, not only teaching all subjects, but also manage the class. Here are some strategies I applied to promote participation of every single member in my class:
(Jakarta, 10 January 2017)
Establishing Classroom Agreement
The first week of a new school year is the crucial moment to create the classroom atmosphere you want. Not only teachers, students certainly also want a conducive and comfortable classroom atmosphere. Well, one of the essential points that need to be implemented is to create a classroom agreement - I prefer to use this term rather than class rules.
But how do you make effective classroom agreement? Here are some tips I can share based on my experience:
1. Allow students to propose the points of the agreement
The teacher only adds / adjusts some terms, if necessary. The teacher can also take experience from the previous year. In my example, there were some students struggling not to say bad words, while some other students like to speak in exaggerating manner. So after students propose a number of points, I add the points "Speak appropriately" or speak naturally.
Another way to provoke students to give out ideas is by asking them to pick up some points from the school vision/mission, if your school have one. Alternatively, you can also take some statements from the principles you share with students, for example Pancasila.
2. Discuss the consequences that will be obtained for breaking the agreement
The concept of consequences is different from punishment, which is more likely to lead to physicality. The consequences are more in the form of students' responsibility for what they have done. You can also give tiered consequences, for example the first violation: point reduction in the reward book; second violation: record the news today to be told in class the next day; if there is still a third violation: ask the child to share his mistake in front of the teacher council and apologize to all.
3. Give appreciation to students who obey the agreement well
In addition to giving consequences, it's good for us to also give awards to students who run the agreement. Something simple but memorable for students, such as the "Exemplary Student This Month" certificate can be one of them.
4. Put the agreement points into a poster
Don't forget, involve students in the making. For lower class students, they might be involved in coloring posters or attaching decorations to posters.
5. Ask students to sign the poster
Signing a poster for a class agreement can make them feel that they have ownership and responsibility for the agreement that has been made.
(Jakarta, 23rd August 2014)
But how do you make effective classroom agreement? Here are some tips I can share based on my experience:
1. Allow students to propose the points of the agreement
The teacher only adds / adjusts some terms, if necessary. The teacher can also take experience from the previous year. In my example, there were some students struggling not to say bad words, while some other students like to speak in exaggerating manner. So after students propose a number of points, I add the points "Speak appropriately" or speak naturally.
Another way to provoke students to give out ideas is by asking them to pick up some points from the school vision/mission, if your school have one. Alternatively, you can also take some statements from the principles you share with students, for example Pancasila.
2. Discuss the consequences that will be obtained for breaking the agreement
The concept of consequences is different from punishment, which is more likely to lead to physicality. The consequences are more in the form of students' responsibility for what they have done. You can also give tiered consequences, for example the first violation: point reduction in the reward book; second violation: record the news today to be told in class the next day; if there is still a third violation: ask the child to share his mistake in front of the teacher council and apologize to all.
3. Give appreciation to students who obey the agreement well
In addition to giving consequences, it's good for us to also give awards to students who run the agreement. Something simple but memorable for students, such as the "Exemplary Student This Month" certificate can be one of them.
4. Put the agreement points into a poster
Don't forget, involve students in the making. For lower class students, they might be involved in coloring posters or attaching decorations to posters.
5. Ask students to sign the poster
Signing a poster for a class agreement can make them feel that they have ownership and responsibility for the agreement that has been made.
(Jakarta, 23rd August 2014)