PAL (Peer Assisted Learning) Days in Rompin.

After initially holding a successful PAL workshop at the PPD in Rompin, teachers were eager to introduce PAL to their schools and discover if this method of teaching could really assist their students to read.

I held PAL reading days at each school over the course of two weeks.  We first experimented by pairing higher year classes with lower year classes e.g Year 4 with Year 2, Year 3 with Year 2 etc.  Teachers were then guided to use the PAL method of teaching in their own classrooms by pairing high level students with the lower level learners.

PAL  Reading Day at SJKC Rompin.

                                                      PAL Reading Day at SK Sarang Tiong.

                                                         PAL Reading Day at SK Denai.

Together with the mentees, I found that the in most cases, this method of teaching reading proved highly successful except when there weren't sufficient high level learners to guide lower level readers.     Teachers realised how well this works especially when faced with big classes with over 30 students.  Instead of trying to teach them all how to read, the students assist the teacher and assume a teaching role.  The greatest reward for all of us was to witness some students read who couldn't previously string a couple words together. Many teachers continue to use this method of teaching reading in their own classes. -Lauren McShane

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)

This is super easy and works! Check out how to implement PAL in your classrooms. Invite your mentors, and even ask for their advice! Good luck!

ICT engagement...it's a thing, man...

Using ICT is the wave of the future. It allows pupils to engage in an interactive manner and follow their own learning pace. It also incorporates games, songs, sounds and visuals that are compelling to children. Recently, some MTPs in Rompin have begun to implement ICT more readily in their classrooms. Some impediments exist; namely, opportunities for pupils to properly hear (headphones solves this) and confusion over how to manage a class of thirty (30) pupils who are all on the computer at the same time.

Check out Starfall.com for an excellent, free program that can engage pupils for hours and hours as they develop their own literacy.

Classroom Routines

For young children, establishing a classroom routine is a great way to begin class. From singing the ABC song to learning about the weather, there are a number of routine language opportunities that can be implemented every lesson. It gives the pupils a chance to learn and remember specific grammar structures, and as time goes by, affords the MTP the opportunity to integrate new language into already existing classroom patterns. Below is a teacher who implements regular classroom routines each week. Well done!

Materials Development...you must! you must!

With a dearth of quality materials available for KSSR implementation, materials development becomes an absolute must in making the transition to using KSSR techniques...so get out there and do it! Your mentors are available to you and willing to participate in this process. So go ahead, just ask and it will be given to you.

Hari Guru 2014

Ah, it's always exciting to participate in Hari Guru celebrations with MTPs. Here is a selection of photos of Rompin Mentors enjoying Hari Guru 2014! What fun!

Classroom Layout Options

Sometimes changing the structure of the classroom can be useful for pupils. If things are always the same, children can fall into patterns of learning that may feel stale. Changing the classroom layout around a bit provides options for both MTPs and pupils to experience elements of change in a classroom, and it keeps it interesting as well. Below find a few ideas of useful classroom layouts that could be implemented in your classes this week!