TELL2 in Maran: May 2014

Tuesday, 20 May 2014

SK Jengka 2, Student Centered Learning... All Day!

I am very impressed with the quality and quantity of student based learning happening at SK Jengka 2. All the TELL2 teachers have been implementing new activities into their classes. Noriza bt. Yaacob's Year 2 phonics lesson was 100% activity based. Zamri Shamsuddin's Year 3 animals lesson used a combination of group activities and pair role play. Finally, in Faridah bt. Jaaffar's Year 1 class, the topic of "How Many" was introduced with a song day!

SKJ2, Noriza bt. Yaacob's Phonics Lesson

SKJ2, Zamri Shamsuddin's Year 3 lesson on animals.

Continual Professional Development, Session 2, Maran Cluster

Maran Cluster had its second CPD, hosted by SK Jengka 6. Teachers from Chenor, Jempol and Luit attended the session. Topics discussed were Discipline and Phonics. Marshall Peck, Luit Mentor, coordinated Phonics 1 (Theory & Practice); Tom James, Chenor Mentor, coordinated Phonics Toolbox; and Sarah Higgs, Jempol Mentor, coordinated Discipline. TELL2 participating teachers, and even a few non-TELL2 teachers, were able to learn about some new activities for phonics and take a look at the latest research on early-years discipline. An ongoing initiative from this CPD is the Phonics Toolbox, in which teachers collaborate to create lesson plans to accompany the KSSR textbooks' phonics lessons. That project should be completed over the next month.

Overall we had a successful CPD and will be looking to see its content implemented in Maran schools!

Marshall Peck, Luit Mentor. Topic: Phonics1

Sarah Higgs, Jempol Mentor. Topic: Early Years Discipline

Tom James, Chenor Mentor. Topic: Phonics Toolbox

Brighton Kids English Club III

Our third installment of the Brighton Kids English Club was a fantastic success! We had a record number -twenty students! Our theme was "Months" and "When is your birthday?" The children had fun greeting each other with puppets, learning the months, the Balloon Game, and Months Bingo. We also had music, The "When is your Birthday?" song, colors and numbers UNO, and SNACK TIME!

"Hello Mr Shark, how are you?"

<growling> "I'm fine, thank you. How are you?"

When is your BIRTHDAY?!"

Music, Months Bingo, and the BALLOON GAME!

Monday, 19 May 2014

SK Jengka 6, Months of the Year & Birthdays!

Today at SK Jengka 6, Norhayatunnupus bt. Mohd. Sam taught a lesson on Months of the Year. She expressed concern during our lesson planning that the topic of Birthdays is difficult because the students do not always know which month they were born in. We discussed and she solved this issue by developing a lesson plan in which she first reviewed the months of the year, then created a simple dialogue for role play, and gave them a speaking card. On the speaking card she wrote the students' names and their birth months. After practicing the role play as a class, she chose students to come to the front of the room to role play individually. The students did a great job and were able to compete the role play with minimal drilling! Norhayatun finished the class with a language arts activity where students count, colour and paste candles to match their age on their own birthday cake. Today's class was not the way she traditionally taught this topic, but we had a successful morning co-teaching and the students had a lot of fun!

Sarah Higgs, Jemopl

"The activities we did in class today are good and gave me a new experience in teaching. I was able to
practice it for the next class in the future." - Norhayatunnupus bt.Mohd. Sam

Chenor Sub-Cluster Update and Photos!

Things are going well in Chenor. We recently had Hari Guru celebrations and I was able to attend the festivities at SK Tanjung Parang and SK Bukit Bota. I participated in the day's events, such as field games and a talent show. I would like to wish a happy retirement to Rosima, SK Tanjung Parang, who has been in TELL2 program. The students showed her great affection at the Hari Guru Day, and I was lucky enough to see how loved she is by her students. I wish her all the best in her retirement!

Below are some pictures from past events and school visits in the Chenor sub-cluster! More pictures to come!

Tom James, Chenor

SK Jengka 19, Rahayar and I prepared resources for her class then co-taught using the resources.

SK Bukit Lada, Football Tournament. I attended with teachers from SK Tanjung Parang.

SK Chenor, Mai and I co-teach her classes. She is a busy, busy teacher!

SK Jengka Batu 13, 5 Minute English KOKO!

SK New Zealand Assembly

Monday, May 12, SK New Zealand: The children receive their awards, and a very surprised mentor is called to be in the photos. The children tried very hard not to look nervous. Nicely done everyone!

We also had fun playing the PING-PONG game, and practicing "Peter Piper picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers!" Not too shabby!
Marshall: PING
Pupils: PONG
Marshall: PING PING
Pupils: PONG PONG
Marshall: PING PONG PING
Pupils: PONG PING PONG

Sunday, 18 May 2014

SK Jengka 4, Suhaiza's Lesson on Colours

At SK Jengka 4, Suhaiza bt. Asiran jazzed up a lesson on colours by having students pick colourful pictures our of a box and drill the colours based on the student's selection. It was a great way to keep the students' attention and made it fun for them. She completed her class by doing a group activity in which she asked students to draw and colour objects she called to them. Then students presented their drawings to the class.

I was very impressed both with the preparation and planning that Suhaiza put into this class. It is easy to take a common topic like colours and give worksheets or other individual activities. However, Suhaiza made it easy for us to see how a common topic like colours is the perfect opportunity to have a fun and student-centered class!

-Sarah Higgs, Jemopl

"I use bright and simple picture cards to attract the pupil's attention. We can recycle the teaching aids from last year, as well. It is effective and easy for us teachers." -Suhaiza bt. Asiran

Jempol Teacher's Day Celebrations

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend all the Teacher's Day celebrations in Jempol, however, I want to give a special thanks to all the schools. I truly feel welcomed and appreciate the invitations to attend the Teacher's Day celebrations.

Each school had different activities to celebrate, but I enjoyed them all! I especially enjoyed the student presentations (songs, dramatic plays, speeches and poems) to show their appreciation for their teachers. It warms my heart to see so much effort by the students on Teacher's Day.

-Sarah Higgs, Jempol