Reflection from 2017-2018: A Busy Year
This year was a busy one; we had a lot of agenda to face. Other than annual agenda like Islamic School Concert, SLC, and Exhibition, we also have a visit from IB. This, of course, my first experience to have IB Evaluation Visit. I was clueless what to prepare and what to do. The good point is I was assigned in a group of standard C1, which was led by Ms Vivi. The position of her class which is next to mine enabled me to contact her for any concerns. She helped me a lot in preparing the evidence for the collaboration happened in the school, especially for the last three years. I submitted various evidence, like MoM for collaborative meeting, attendance list for parents-teachers meetings, anecdotal records, etc.
Besides, I was also asked to help the team of standard C4, which is about assessment. Although I was just told a couple of days before the visit, I was glad that we could hand in hand answer the questions from the evaluator, especially about Exhibition process. We have given our best shot in preparing everything. Insya Allah, we can get a good result and maintain the quality of the school. As IB visit matters is done, now we are heading to other agenda, i.e. Exhibition and Action Trip. Bismillah, insya Allah, all agenda will run smoothly. |
Reflection from 2016-2017: New Responsibilities
I was shocked when I was told that I am assigned as the Upper Level Coordinator for this academic year. I mean, I am still a newbie in this school and there are a lot of other teachers who are more experienced than me. Yet I understand that there must be other considerations behind this decision. Whatever the reasons, I just try to do my best to do my job.
In the first months, I asked many questions to Ms Elok, the previous coordinator, especially related to the administration and procedures in conducting school policy. It's indeed not easy to coordinate teachers who have different ideas, not only in the level of grade 5 but also grade 3 and 4. Therefore, I tried to use some communication tools to discuss things across the grade level, such as Whatsapp group and face-to-face communication. These tools make it easier for me to share information from leaders and discuss the solution of problems arise.
Every Voice Counts!
During the discussion with the fellow teachers, I always bear in mind that I need to consider everyone's opinion. Therefore, I encourage everyone to give opinion regarding a topic, so that I can analyze and take the win-win solution for the matters.
This also applies during the planner meeting. I respect the teaching ideas given by other teachers, and I expect the vice versa, instead of interrupting ideas.
However, in the end, we cannot please everyone. As a grade 5 teacher, my colleagues and I have the responsibilities to arrange the whole process, from the group forming until the D-day. Here, I learned a lot of things, including from the complaints given by parents and mentors. In the beginning of grouping process, there were some parents who complained because their daughters become the only female member in the exhibition group. I, on behalf of the other teachers, needed to give satisfying explanation to them until they accept it. The similar case happened to the mentors, as some of them did not get the topic they proposed. Again, we need to give them understanding the reason for the mentor grouping, but thank God, they finally understand and can cooperate well with the teachers and students.
Being a Solo Teacher
Another new responsibility is that I become a solo teacher this year. Of course it's very different compare to last year, when I was with Ms Wini. I need to teach all subjects and also manage the class by myself. I take it as a new challenge, from which I learn many things. Alhamdulillahirobbil 'alamin...
In the first months, I asked many questions to Ms Elok, the previous coordinator, especially related to the administration and procedures in conducting school policy. It's indeed not easy to coordinate teachers who have different ideas, not only in the level of grade 5 but also grade 3 and 4. Therefore, I tried to use some communication tools to discuss things across the grade level, such as Whatsapp group and face-to-face communication. These tools make it easier for me to share information from leaders and discuss the solution of problems arise.
Every Voice Counts!
During the discussion with the fellow teachers, I always bear in mind that I need to consider everyone's opinion. Therefore, I encourage everyone to give opinion regarding a topic, so that I can analyze and take the win-win solution for the matters.
This also applies during the planner meeting. I respect the teaching ideas given by other teachers, and I expect the vice versa, instead of interrupting ideas.
However, in the end, we cannot please everyone. As a grade 5 teacher, my colleagues and I have the responsibilities to arrange the whole process, from the group forming until the D-day. Here, I learned a lot of things, including from the complaints given by parents and mentors. In the beginning of grouping process, there were some parents who complained because their daughters become the only female member in the exhibition group. I, on behalf of the other teachers, needed to give satisfying explanation to them until they accept it. The similar case happened to the mentors, as some of them did not get the topic they proposed. Again, we need to give them understanding the reason for the mentor grouping, but thank God, they finally understand and can cooperate well with the teachers and students.
Being a Solo Teacher
Another new responsibility is that I become a solo teacher this year. Of course it's very different compare to last year, when I was with Ms Wini. I need to teach all subjects and also manage the class by myself. I take it as a new challenge, from which I learn many things. Alhamdulillahirobbil 'alamin...
Reflection from 2015-2016: A Warm Welcoming
Joining a new environment is not an easy process; there are a lot of things we need to adjust and adapt. For me, transitioning from a national plus school into an IB school is quite challenging. Alhamdulillah, Al-Jabr community welcomed me warmly and helped me learn how to teach in IB classrooms and also the culture of this school.
My first impression about Al-Jabr is that this school develops the whole community to be well-rounded lifelong learners. Not only the students who learn, but the teachers and even the helpers get the chance to develop themselves and to be balanced through various activities after students dismissal. It also offers a different concept of Islamic school. While wearing Islamic attributes is not compulsory, we try to connect all we do to the Islamic values and to be open-minded with different perspectives in Islam.
My first impression about Al-Jabr is that this school develops the whole community to be well-rounded lifelong learners. Not only the students who learn, but the teachers and even the helpers get the chance to develop themselves and to be balanced through various activities after students dismissal. It also offers a different concept of Islamic school. While wearing Islamic attributes is not compulsory, we try to connect all we do to the Islamic values and to be open-minded with different perspectives in Islam.
Abundant New Lessons
Lately I knew that Al-Jabr is one of a few schools in Indonesia that gives Professional Development session for the teachers twice a week. This makes me even be more grateful to be part of teaching staff here. Indeed, we get a lot of information from the sessions to be applied in the classroom. However, that's not the only place where I get new lessons.
Just less than three weeks after back to school, the students were asked to create a SMART Plan to manage their learning goals and how to achieve it. At least there are 2 lessons that I got from the Three-ways Conference. First, I know that even kids in primary level can be encouraged to be self-regulated learners if we guide them. Second, I saw many types of parenting styles from the interaction during the conference. I become more sure that parents' involvement is really needed for supporting the kids' learning. Then, it turned out that the teachers also have the same responsibility to make a SMART Plan. It was the time for the first appraisal. In October, I made a SMART plan based on PSPE subject. I took the central idea "Awareness of our characteristic, abilities and interest informs our learning and development". In the plan, I wrote down my planning on how to be more open-minded, balanced, and communicative. The complete version of my SMART Plan can be found here. Another thing that I like from Al-Jabr is the collaboration among teachers, students and parents. The collaborative planning, for example, is a process that definitely needs to be applied in every school in Indonesia. I enjoy the weekly session for Grade Level Meeting as I can exchange ideas with other teachers on how to conduct the lessons. In the class, I also collaborate with my partner, Ms Wini, who sometimes shared tips to manage the class and her experience in teaching. In addition, we also show collaboration during the school events, such as school concert, science fair and exhibition. One of the visiting-teachers in Exhibition 2016 was even amazed as here, all PYP teachers are involved as mentors for exhibition. Meanwhile, the collaboration between students and parents can be seen from the PTC, SLC, and other celebration events. For example, during PTC, some parents decided to make agreements with their child on gadget usage after listening to our suggestion. In SLC, it's really exciting when I observed the kids demonstrated their learning to their parents. Even those who don't speak up in everyday lesson could explain their learning experience here. :) |
As the First Gate is About to Close ...
My first year in this school almost ends while I realized, there are much more things I still need to learn here. Anyhow, I got one important lesson from the school: the goal of all learning process is to enable us doing action. The school itself has shown the real examples, such as educating local people around the school through CSR activities and providing free education for some orphans, in which I am involved to give English enrichment classes every Tuesday.
Then, as my personal action, I'd like to make a commitment to myself to keep developing myself; to be more balanced and be a better communicator. I can't deny that this year is one of the best moment in my life, with a lot of experience to be grateful for. Alhamdulillahirobbil 'alamin.
Then, as my personal action, I'd like to make a commitment to myself to keep developing myself; to be more balanced and be a better communicator. I can't deny that this year is one of the best moment in my life, with a lot of experience to be grateful for. Alhamdulillahirobbil 'alamin.