Refection: One Week in Sri Aria School

One week of Sri Aria School and I am in love.

Yes (a massive love and a slight crush).

I have found a deeper understanding about the importance of environment as a teacher and how students’ interact with it. Having the environment ready as a teacher and learning-tool, help students be more independent. Because Students are naturally curious, They’ll navigate their day with this curiosity. If they have high interest in a matter, they will be focused on it and learning happens. If not, they’ll move on. Its also how you’ll get to see where their interest lies and what is it the students want to learn.

But all that can only be seen if you (the Learning Facilitator) has the chance to observe. In Sri Aria School, a lot of observation must be done. I found out my role as a teacher changed so much and there’s little time to “teach” (in the traditional sense). My teaching in Sri Aria School is more meaningful because you can sense that it gets “downloaded” immediately because they are using and also teaching their friends after getting the information from me.

One of the proudest moment (so far) I felt during the first week is when we had our Town Hall Meeting on Friday morning. An issue regarding the Gamer Zone schedule was addressed democratically and peacefully. Immediately, after the meeting, you can see the effects of the discussion and almost everyone was responsible in keeping to the schedule.

It is still our orientation week at Sri Aria School Bandar Sri Damansara. A lot of the things we learned this week is in regards to the school rules and how to make the school work and functional. The students also learn how to plan and keep to their plans so they’ll have a productive day (although this can be subjective but almost each student achieve their goal and they are confident about it).

As a playbased learning advocate, I can see how Sri Aria School will be a great continuation of KinderKaizen graduates. Sri Aria School culture continues to foster the independence, thoughtfulness, respect, and responsibility we introduce in KinderKaizen. The culture continues and deepens; reaffirms the foundation being build in the first 6 to 8 years of our young KinderKaizeners. 

So, Sri Aria School hanya untuk KinderKaizen graduates ke? 

TAK. Like KinderKaizen, Sri Aria School is for all children in Malaysia who are in dire need of change so they can grow into independent and capable adults. 

If you believe As and exams (even school-entry exams) are not the only thing that matters in making up our future leaders of Malaysia, Sri Aria School is for you.

Come join me? 

Massive love (and a slight crush),

Teacher Najmi  

P/S: Sri Aria School ARA DAMANSARA is now open for registration. Call / whatsApp / email to get your application form. Hurry!

Call / WhatsApp : 011 391 34 562
Email : sriariaschool@gmail.com

See you!

#sriariajourney

Bermain adalah Fitrah anak-anak

Anak-anak memang fitrahnya mahu bermain. Ada yang bermain dengan senyap dan berimiginasi, ada yang bermain sambil gelak ketawa dan jerit-menjerit. Ada yang duduk diam bermain patung, ada yang berguling dan panjat-memanjat. There is no stopping children from playing. FACT.

Itu hakikatnya. Kalau disekat-sekat anak-anak bermain, seumpama kita menyekat kebolehan semulajadi mereka.

It's almost as if when I (an adult) stop YOU (another adult) from eating. Asal nak makan je saya kata jangan. Nak makan je saya tak bagi. Padahal anda sangat lapar.

Aksi yang terlampau kan? Kalau dalam bahasa matsalleh-- inhumane. Orang lapar ni, ada pula disekat-sekat.

Jadi, apa yang menjadi persoalan yang sangat penting bagi saya ialah, bagaimana kita boleh (tanpa rasa bersalah) menghantar anak-anak kita ke sesuatu tempat yang menyekat mereka bermain. Walhal bermain adalah fitrah mereka. Sama seperti makan dan tidur bagi anak-anak kecil. Mana boleh disekat-sekat. Melampaulah kalau disekat-sekat.

Siapa kata anak yang suka bermain nakal dan tak boleh didisiplinkan? Siapa kata anak yang suka bermain nanti tak pandai? Siapa kata anak yang suka bermain nanti tak dengar cakap?

Siapa kata?

Kalau nak ikut orang kata, ikut kata AP Dr. Mastura Badzis. Dia kata kurangnya bermain ada perkaitan yang tinggi dengan peningkatan isu anxiety, depression, and sense of helplessness (buntu) among children and adolescents (remaja) (Gray,2013).

Kalau nak ikut orang kata, ikut kata Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. Diorang kata anak-anak bawah 9 tahun yang mempunyai mental health issues menunjukkan peratus yang tinggi berbanding anak-anak 10 tahun ke atas (😱😱 horror-nya! What are we doing to our children? 😭).

Kalau nak ikut kata orang, ikut kata Imam Al Ghazali-- If you do not allow children to play, you will kill their soul. Kalau kita tak benarkan anak-anak bermain, kita akan membunuh jiwa mereka (Petikan dari Ihya' Ulumuddin).

Kalau nak ikut orang kata, Teacher Najmi kata-- Bagilah anak-anak bermain kerana bermain itu fitrah mereka. Bila fitrah anak-anak dipenuhi, mereka akan rasa selamat dan gembira. Bila mereka rasa selamat dan gembira, mereka akan lebih senang nak belajar apa-apa. Kalau anak-anak disekat dari bermain, mereka akan rasa tidak selamat (takut kena marah dengan cikgu, susah hati sebab Mak Ayah takde depan mata) dan tak gembira. Bila ini berlaku, nak belajar pun susah. Walhal, kalau dia bermain, belajar terjadi secara spontan dan konsisten!

Carilah tempat-tempat yang benar-benar laksanakan bermain 100% dengan cara yang betul. Bermain tak salah. Yang salahnya cara perlaksanaan bermain tu.

Jangan salah faham ya. Bukan senang-senang ya kita nak adakan sekolah bermain atau play-based learning. Research perlu ada, ilmu haruslah ada. Kalau tempat tu kata dia laksanakan bermain sambil belajar tapi dia bagi workbook, ada homework book kena buat kat rumah, ada expectations itu ini dari staff sekolah, hari-hari cikgu mengajar guna papan tulis, anak-anak kena duduk atas kerusi 90% of the time-- cancel je lah niat nak pergi tempat tu. SCAM je tu.

Anak-anak anda semua bukan untuk scammers.

Anak-anak anda layak dapat apa yang fitrah mereka perlukan.

You and your child deserve better, quality play, and quality time.

Paling best, bermain adalah untuk SEMUA anak-anak. Cara bermain mungkin berbeza. Perlu ada sedikir adaptasi, tapi bermain adalah untuk semua, tidak kira bangsa, agama, mahupun kelebihan atau keupayaan.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For quality play experience, you can whatsApp me at +601120909620
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love,

Teacher Najmi 💐

P/S: Bermain bina perkembangan minda. Bermain bina keyakinan diri. Bermain bantu dalam membentuk sahsiah diri dan kendiri. Hebatkan bermain untuk anak-anak ni?


#teachernajmilovesyou
#hariharibermain
#earlymorningthoughts
#championingchildhood
#letthemplay

Teaching Young Children

I saw this quote a while back and I am very grateful for it because it then changes a lot of things in the way I bring about my teaching practices.

Even with my Early Childhood background, the real world is not a bed of roses. I struggled during my first year in a kindergarten. I struggled with my principles and the reality of my teaching environment. I struggled with my emotions and my students' emotions. I struggled with meeting up objectives for my lesson plans and my students' needs-- actual needs. Also, I was overwhelmed.

Siapa kata teaching young children is easy? It is a rewarding job, I can guarantee that, but it is one of the toughest.

Masa first year, kalau tak nangis sebab kerja, sekolah, or budak memang tak sah. Sampailah member kata, "Nams, kau kena buli dengan anak murid kau ke?"

I looked at these angelic faces in front of me and thought "How can all these sweet-things cause so much havoc and heartache within me?"

Then this quote came along. I was in my second year of teaching. I didn't understand it immediately, but because I've mellowed down a bit it was easier for me to accept it. It is not the children, it is not entirely about the system, it is more often than not, me.

Children are children and they have been the same no matter the year or century. They don't come with instruction manuals but they come fully equipped with the knowledge how to learn. Oh, yes they do. They know from the get go, what they need and how to acquire it. They know they need us to manoeuvre the settings/environment and they will show/tell it. Only thing is, are we seeing/listening to them?

I am not saying that we shouldn't teach children (Habeh aku nak cari makan macam mana?) All I am saying is, STOP, put down the lesson plan, OBSERVE, really observe these angelic faces. Lower down your voice, quit the instructions, and LISTEN. CLEAR your judgemental views and all-knowing attitude.

OBSERVE and LISTEN beyond the lesson plans, the super-fun activities, and structural playtime.

OBSERVE and LISTEN as these children go about their daily routine, they'll show/tell us adults the way they learn. And then, you'll know who/what/why/when/where/how to teach them.

If you do not already know, Hi, I am Najmi, an Early Years Practitioner, Children-PLAY Advocate. I still have my struggles and sometimes I do get overwhelmed with work, school, and my students, but, I am still learning and understanding Early Childhood Education. Won't you join me?

Love,

Teacher Najmi.