Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 3.3

There will be a certain point of time that during children's school years, parents and teachers somehow stop reading out loud to kids. Often this happens when the child goes to middle school. Experts suggest that we continue to read to children of all ages.

It is still a wonderful bonding time we can spend with children and benefiting them in many ways, even if we or they -  feel they are too old for it. The biggest thing we will be doing is to keep them always interested in reading for pleasure. Just like the moment they were first learning to read and there was that danger of their equating reading with work, the very same thing happens in the teen years. This is verily true for many teens. There are some who will still read for pleasure, but, they are rare. 

So if we read to them or have a family reading time and let everyone take turns reading, we are actually helping them continue to associate books with pleasure. And goodness knows that is needed, given some of the drab books we have all had to read in high school. 

The idea is that we must guide our children to become lifelong readers and lifelong learners. And we are able to do just that at home, with some fun family bonding time. And in so doing, we will also be strengthening our families.

End of tip 3.

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 3.2

It shall be good for kids to hear books that are above their own reading levels. They will be exposed to various words, sentence structure, and concepts that they would not normally indulge on their own. Their brains are being moulded and nurtured and they do not even realize it. They are just enticing the experience of letting someone read to them. 

This realm of read-aloud time shall be an awesome bonding time between a mother and a child, an older sibling and a younger sibling, or a teacher and her students. They are indulging over a book and sharing a pleasant time together. 

Shall we creatively turn reading into a pleasurable moment like this so unbelievably good for children, igniting them to read, to love and enjoy books. So often in my teaching experience, I have seen situation of books turn into 'just a part of school' for children, they turn into 'work', and many children get really turned off from books in that way.

Shall we impose reading is a chore, they simply will not happily doing it. And, remember should we be doing all that we could, as their caregivers, to portray them how wonderful an experience reading is would do amazing good in keeping them always excited about reading.

To be continued.

Allah s.w.t. jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 3.1

Personally, this is my favorite routine with my sons, reading out loud!

Reading books to our child is beneficial in many ways. And, reading out loud to children of all ages is very important.

It is so helpful in their development as readers and also in their mastery of language. Studies have indicated that children that don't have people reading aloud to them struggle in school, or just don't do as well in school. 

Obviously, reading out loud to children will expand their vocabularies, foster more vivid imaginations, and encourage them learn pronunciation skills. Some sentences or sections of books or even whole books may get skipped over if a child is only reading to himself.

When the text is beyond the child's level of literacy, they are much more likely to choose something else to read. Thus, when children are read aloud to, they are being exposed to literature that they normally would pass over.

To be continued...

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

.

Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 2.3

Always motivate our child with fun and lucrative ideas of labeling our house!

I have mentioned before about labeling and blinds. This is a really good way to use the things in our house like flashcards. Close the blinds up and quiz our child on the first letter of the word. And if they are advancing even more, we can ask them to spell the word. This could also be done with cabinet doors, open the door all the way so you cannot see the word.

Can label bathroom? Well, obviously it is quite difficult to label indeed. Remember when we talked about that steam coming out of the dishwasher? Similarly, the bathroom is full of steam from our hot showers, shaving, etc. The bathroom can still be labeled, it's definitely not impossible. Just keep in mind that we will have to replace those labels from time to time. 

Another best part about using labels all over the house is that our child will consider it 'play'. He'll love to help us cut the paper and hang the labels, making it more like a craft than an educational experience. All the while he'll be learning an important foundation to a life of literacy, what an awesome combination!

End of tip 2.

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 2.2

The only secret to be revealed in literacy is a constant repetition of basic words! And, thats exactly explain significant role of labeling.

Constant repetition of basic words will help our child recognize them by sight and can also begin to help with letter recognition. This is a very basic step in the learning to read process and will not help with phonics skills. It is, however, a very important step and a fun way for our child to begin to 'know' words on his/r own. 

We could have a stimulated creative environment by together with our child enjoying all of this labeling, too. As stated before, some of the strips of paper can be different sizes, according to the thing being labeled. The strips of paper can also be arranged on things differently.

For example, we can put the word 'window' vertically on the middle bar that separates two windows. And on venetian blinds, we can tape the word 'blinds' to an individual blind so that it is easily read when the blind is closed in the downward position. Our child will think it is so funny, because, when we open the blind it will be harder to read. And if we close the blind in the upward position, you won't be able to read it at all.

To be continued...

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 2.1

I still freshly remember teaching at Sibugal Besar Primary School (rural), when I used to do a very simple thing yet had helped and improved tremendously pupil's literacy skills.

I labelled the classroom!

And, now I am labeling my house for my kids benefits too.

This is a fun and simple way to get our kids started recognizing some basic words. We can do it easily without even having to spend any money - we label all of the things in our house. The kids will enjoy getting involved in the on going process of labeling things, as well. 

We will need some small strips of paper (we might adjust the size according to the item we are labeling), a pair of scissors, a pen or marker, and some tape.

Just go through the house room by room, looking for things to label. Say, for instance, we started in the kitchen. Some things in the kitchen we could label are: cabinet, microwave, refrigerator, drawer. Labels might not stick on the oven or the dishwasher when they heat up and when the dishwasher blows out steam.

There are lots and lots of opportunities in the kitchen for naming things, though. We could even keep a stack of paper on the counter and when we come back from the store once a week, together with our child can label cereal boxes, etc.

To be continued...

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 1.3

The relationship between a mother and her baby is a natural phenomenon. Its a common sense. In turn, skills needed for the mother in order to have a better relationship with the baby would be an acquired knowledge. Its not a natural phenomenon as talent as the concern.

Talking to our baby and toddlers for example is clearly a natural temptation and its usually enticing to use baby talk. Experts suggest parents speak properly to their children, however, so the children could have the most possible exposure to the correct sound of words. For instance, if a child has a 'baby word' for banana, and the parent constantly uses that 'baby word' back to the child, they are only reinforcing the incorrect pronunciation.

Of course its okay to sometimes uses their babies' pronunciations of words, since the important point is that the child is being talked to frequently throughout their day. It is an essential structuring block of language, and thus literacy, development.

Remember,

talk to your baby

nurture their language firmly

and literacy competency seamlessly

End of Tip 1.

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 1.2

Its still a fresh memory for me during my first-time pregnancy. My husband and I used to have frequent quite heavy discussions on wide scopes of Malaysian Educational System. The pros and the cons. The ethos and so forth. The point is that routine indeed had positively affecting very much my kid now.

My Deen Mulia (my first adorable boy!) just could not stop himself from talking and asking about almost everything since his first years' age. He never gave up on trying and trying to pronounce correctly new objects. His assertiveness simply so sweet for me and very much inspiring!

Obviously, we begin to see babies' story-telling skills sparkle in the toddler days when they launch into those long, animated baby monologues. When we listen intently to one of these stories that babies tell, it is almost like we can actually follow along, because, the child is so excited in relaying the details to us. It is very much like watching a foreign-language TV show. If we watch it long enough, we actually start to follow the story, even though we don't understand a word of it.

That is the power of the narrative! And the baby has learned that skill from watching us and listening to us intently. So, its really a wise thought of to always watch our back, our bad habits in particular!

We can use every opportunity throughout the day to talk to our babies about anything and everything. That is a great way to nurture the babies' early literacy solid foundation.

When washing the dishes or making dinner or cleaning up, we can explain the tasks we are doing to our babies. Babies will begin to hear familiar words if the parents are in the habit of doing this as a daily routine.

Remember,

talk to your baby

nurture their language firmly

and literacy competency seamlessly

To be continued...

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Literacy Tips for Parents and Teachers 1.1

My husband and I are proud parents of 3 children (3rd baby due soon-insyaAllah)... :)

Raising our children has been always fascinating us. Especially, watching them grow faithfully, healthier and smarter day by day. As a teacher on the other hand, I am very happy to share that some of the suitable and innovated tips, tricks and techniques in parenting are really helpful and projecting positive results on my pupils.

I am thinking of sharing them here in my blog...

And, this would be specially dedicated to my beloved due-soon-baby...

As to begin with, I will touch on literacy competency. Its commonly known that developing children's literacy begins during pregnancy. So, talk to your baby and build their language and literacy competency seamlessly.

When mothers talk to their babies while they are still in the womb many researches believe that is actually the first step in language development. One thing for sure is that babies get used to the sound of their mother's voice and perhaps when they are born, that familiarity lends itself to quicker recognition and a fast bond after birth. 

Definitely when babies are born, it is very helpful to them for their parents to continue speaking. Babies will start to recognize sounds and get to know gestures and facial expressions. Babies learn so much from the sights and sounds around them and will begin, almost immediately, to try to imitate the sounds their parents make. This is all part of the process of babies figuring out how we, as humans, communicate with each other.

They will start to recognize how we relay information to each other in narrative form and begin to learn how to do that themselves.

To be continued...

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Persuasion 4

Persuasion --> Influence --> Attention (interests)

Why justification on failures is imperative?

FEAR!

Yes. Fear is the root. It is the ultimate consequence. And, as a teacher, we don't want our students to fear of failures.

But, again it is not about being scared of something. Here we are focusing on how to influence our students by prevailing them with authentic and time saving suggestions. Their attention is what matter the most for us now.

So, how are we going to utilize this realm?

Allay their FEARS!

No, it is not to TELL them to not to be afraid!

We simply BE there for them until their fear subsides. We present evidence. We offer support.

Tell them stories. And, again we are not telling them how to feel and expect them to feel that way...

Ask ourselves this such a realization...

When we are afraid, which type of person do we prefer to be with?

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Persuasion 3

Persuasion --> Influence --> Attention (Interest)

Persuading is not an easy and simple task!

From a nobody to any somebody, when it comes to convincing others for any reasons...

the requirements and outcomes that maybe somehow in anyway will be a sacrifice.

Thus, precautions in any attempt of debating, applying and manipulating persuasion knowhow is a must. If one could not find what exactly what is this means thats good. In turn, those who can see what this means will notice how imperatively the precaution mentioned.

This is really true when we know that anyone would do almost anything to people that could justify his or her failures!

The moment we know how to justify failures of our students, trust me, thats the time we will get our students' PAYMENT!

Remember, it is not about why they failed in previous exams, why they are a slow learners, why they are unhappy with our school, unhappy with their parents, unhappy with us?, unhappy with their friends, why they are simply "I m just a crap!", and among other failures that we know of as negative impression.

It is about influencing them!

Failures are experiences. Everybody experiences it, whatever it is just a matter of letting it in and stay or just let it go...

Influencing them means justification of those negative emotions upon some other imbalances or misplaces or changes or process of attaining equilibrium state or... whatever it should be, simply tell them it is not their FAULTS!

And, yes, it is nobody's FAULTS!

All of the failures in exams before maybe due to chemical imbalances in their bodies. And, it could probably due to wrongly dietary consumed.

Here's a short story.

"I am a dumb!", Ani sounds very much so down.

"Well, yea I can see part of it. :)", Teacher Atie replied.

"And, It it is not your fault. You Know that!", Teacher Atie just attempted the prevailing.

Ani starring at Teacher Atie for some time. Wondering? Confused? What do you think?

"Maybe the weather was just not so friendly at that time. You just could not focus completely in that such a unfriendly weather...", Teacher Atie continued.

What will be Ani's response?

If still starring and quiet, ahhh... Teacher Atie just in a few seconds have got influencing Ani, one of her grade four students.

If Ani reacting uncomfortably, then Teacher Atie should try with other emotionally imbalance explanations particularly due to unhealthy food consumed or some genetic codes misplacement. It is just simply not her fault at all.

What will happen to Ani next? Guess?

Ask Teacher Atie what happen to Ani, only she knows... :)

End of story.

To be continued...

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Its not my fault...the beach is just not clean enough for me :)

Mind: Persuasion 2

Persuasion --> Influence --> Attention (Interests)

Our students are simply as normal as we are the adults (generally). The only difference is that of maturity.

So, how all of these facts useful?

Indeed, they will lead us to the very fundamental question of approaching after our goal. As a matter of facts, so it will be a determination, an anti-scepticism, an ultimate confidence, and faithfully it is the truth.

Meaning, the fundamental question here would be what exactly the relationship between persuasion, influencing, attention (interests) and normality of human beings as the matter of facts mentioned? The answer shall insight us of structuring mechanisms of suitable persuasion for our only specific little clients.

It is the natural relationship.

And, it should be natural right? Meaning it should be as simple as this general naturally understandable principle of 'we do this then we get that (results)'!

But, of course now we would be tempting to ask ourselves that of the question what are 'do this' in the natural principle's list.

The truth is we should have already been experiencing all of these 'do this' things. If not then it isn't a natural relationship anymore right?

So, what are the very fundamental natural things in our experiences that whenever other people (known and unknown) have done to us (intentionally or by accident) we become easily influenced and interested to the person or the products that being sold? Or at least thats happening after several repetition?

The first and foremost is our DREAMS!

We would do almost anything for those people who have been patiently encouraging our DREAMS!

So, teachers... Don't you think we should be starting to honestly share (knowing) our little clients' dreams? Giving them encouragement (if not financing?), and, consequently we are happily start gaining their interest and attention for our teachings!

Think about it...

To be continued...

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Entering his dreams...

Mind: Persuasion 1

Remember when I said about we, teachers, are not that persuasive enough in enticing our students' interest for learning. Consequently, they refuse to 'pay' us any penny of their attention!

Is persuasion really the matter?

I say it's ultimate goal really is the matter!

Our students would be willingly and happily paying their attention for what ever offerings that we make since they really have been INFLUENCED by the 'beauty' or 'temptation' exists or at least shown to be existed in the offerings (subjects). And, thats connections actually linearly correlated with themselves.

See the catch... Persuasion is nothing but influencing!

So, instead of saying persuade your students, I would rather say please do influence students to 'buy' our products (for their own sake)...please.

Persuasion --> Influence --> PAYMENT!

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Mind: Teachers and "PAY ATTENTION" !

As it shows. The title already explains itself.

For most teachers, getting attention and interest of the students would be a great challenge. Yet, it is still considered as normal? Well I agree in a sense that being a teacher surely that challenge is the main ingredient in education ethos itself.

Beautifully, I would suggest a different perspective. The students simply do not attracted enough to 'buy' stuffs we are offering!

And, why is that?

Well, I think it is quite similar when we ask why people buy certain products and why other products they don't?

Is there anything wrong with the teachers? The school infrastructures? PPD? or the educational system as a whole! Wow...wow... I am not going into that extreme here ok. Even though it is indeed already an issue.

As I said, and in addition to that, thats not teachers faults, nor the others. It is simply the students do not attracted enough to 'buy' stuffs (subjects taught) we are offering. Or at least they are not yet ready to willingly 'buy' anything at the moment. Nobody's faults involves! Thats the nature...

I believe we just have to understand this natural custom and act accordingly to achieve our formal and informal educational missions and vision.

One might ask if thats the case, then what is exactly happening by the time a teacher is in the class with fully equipped, motivationally driven, giving all sorts of materials needed, even the class is neatly designed, in short, " I have done everything...!", and yet the students refuse to even 'paying' a 'penny' of their attention or interest!

Thats painful! Frustrating!

I know, trust me I do. I am a teacher for almost a decade now. I know exactly what that kind of feeling is...

So, what exactly is happening?

My dear, we were actually had done the right things. I mean our engagement with all of the advance equipments, super duper teaching techniques, materially and morally supports from all others...

We are doing the right thing and with the right way...

We are just not that PERSUASIVE enough!


Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

The answer...

Mind: Teachers, Lets sell this! 2

Oration skills for teachers never been easy. Here is the best part, there is a simple way for training. No one taught me this. Nor referring to any scientific proven suggestions. I had just been stumbling with it.

An EASY and EASE training.

A FREE training.

A SAFE training.

A LIGHT SPEED training.

A PROVEN training.

ADVERTISEMENT!

Please do not laugh at me, ok. And, yes. You heard me. It is advertisement training.

Well, of course its a kind of revolution to us here in Sabah. I don't really sure with you guys out there, somewhere...

You just have to do SEEING, LISTENING and READING advertisements for about half an hour a day. Thats it.

I have tested this training, ok. And, amazingly my way of structuring words by words and connecting to a lot of meanings... you know.. Its just amazing!

Alhamdulillah, 30 minutes a day implementing this mind training with just seeing, reading and/or listening to advertisements had just amazingly enrich my way of communicating things.

"PowerSwitchWord" immerge in my mind instantaneously!

Positivity immerse just as easy as I hope for in my consciousness.

And, this is just after 30 days of intensive training. I am wondering people with this kind of training as part of their routine life? Simply, superb!

Do all ads provide effects that we want? How exactly it will guaranty safety of thinking alignment? And,... there will be infinite questions could be raised.

See...

That is why I am putting at the very beginning all of the restrictions. Things that would make it impossible to do. A lot of conditions. Such a thing just does not exist! Guess what?

It exist! For real..

And, I have proved it by myself. Well at least I can say it even though I am actually does not have the authority in the related field. Basically, I had also that kind of sceptic at the beginning. Its normal, I know. Alhamdulillah, God's bestowing me with solid confidence. Amazing happenings come to me easily!

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Real school is in out there...

Mind: Teachers, Lets sell this!

Selling tangible goods synonymously for traders. No doubt. But now lets do a revolution to the word!

Selling also means anything involving offering and buying... As simple as that.

Teacher 'sell' Mathematics knowledge to students and they 'pay' (buy) with attention. Now, it is just make a sense when we say,

" Pay attention! "

to our students. Ironically, most of the time they never willing to PAY...:)

We should be changing the perception wisely. Training for improvement and enrichment in the marketing related fields are countless. But, specifically for marketing skills in teaching Bahasa Malaysia for primary schools? I doubt. Tell me if there is any...

Our main objective here is to gain the interest of the students. Interest here is the payment.

Perceiving it that way of course would change the way teachers' approach for specific subject and students. I believe whenever we start to practice the way marketers sell their products, and mold wisely the skills to suit our client requirements, we will succeed! Our school will excel!

I have been testing this approach (for Math subject). And, trust me it works. Around just for a few days  the students will be chasing you for more information, more assignments??? (astonishingly!), and asking you to replace other classes with your class...

Just feel the sparking ok..

The motivation portrayed by your student... you will tears!

And, of course, the new YOU... as you start to love being a TEACHER!

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

The winning is emerging... Grab it quick!

Minda: Guru dan KKP 2

Guru yang punya KKP dapat menarik minat murid-muridnya agar belajar dengan lebih tekun. Murid-murid yang punya KKP pula akan dapat meningkat daya tumpuan, daya tahan dan daya istiqamah masing-masing.

Apakah sebenarnya yang berlaku setelah guru-guru dapat menguasai KKP yang terbit dalam diri secara automatik? Segera? Mudah?

Pada tahap itu, guru sebenarnya telah bertindak sebagai seorang jurujual! Jurujual matematik kepada pelanggan yang digelar murid.

Jurujual Bahasa Inggeris yang mempromosi penguasaan Bahasa Inggeris kepada para pelanggan cilik dalam kelas dan sekolah umumya.

Jurujual Bahasa Malaysia yang menjanjikan pelbagai ganjaran masa hadapan. Guru-guru pernah terfikir tidak apakah ganjaran di masa hadapan yang dapat diperolehi oleh murid-murid andainya sempurna menguasai Bahasa Malaysia?

Jurujual daripada kalangan guru-guru ini akan bertindak mempromosi habis-habisan kepada para murid perihal jual murah yang datang dari syurga! Tawaran-tawaran hebat Allah s.w.t kepada semua umat muslimin, mukminin dan mukhlisin tidak terhitung banyaknya! Kita para guru tinggal saja mengutip satu persatu yang termampu dan menjualnya kepada para murid. Iklankan habis-habisan. Kita pun dapat komisen! Amacam?

Subjek apa lagi yang hendak dijual kepada murid kita?

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Minda: Guru dan KuasaKataPemarak (KKP)

Pemula Bulan baru ini (Jun 2012) biarlah dimarakkan dengan langkah guru sebagai seorang PANGLIMA!

Ayat-ayat yang berjela hendak dielakkan di sini. Biar ianya mudah dan padat lagi cepat mengilat!

Guru perlukan minda seorang panglima yang penuh inspirasi. Masuk kelas atau bilik darjah, para anak didik sudah dapat merasakan aura untuk bersama menimba ilmu untuk meningkatkan keupayaan minda mereka pula.

Kita boleh sorot ringkasan-ringakasan perkara berkaitan keutamaan minda di laman lain di kanan sana.

Di sini, biarkan seorang panglima bermadah. Dengari...

Minda berurusan dengan KUASA. Kuasa berurusan dengan kesepaduan (singularity). Kesepaduan berurusan dengan kesatuan (Oneness). Dan, hanya Yang Tunggal mengurus kesatuan, kesepaduan, kuasa, minda, dan segala-galanya.

Apakah sedutan yang boleh digunapakai oleh guru secara khusus apabila berdepan dengan murid. Apabila melaksana pengajaran dan pembelajaran (P&P)?

Ia adalah KATA!

Kata-kata seorang guru sebenarnya perlu punya tenaga! Tuntas! Padu! Sehingga ke tahap kata-kata dapat dirangkum dalam satu kata sahaja!

Inilah sedikit sedutan yang boleh kita gunakan. Amalkan.

Tahap kemampuan mengolah SATU kata yang dapat menyemarak diri dan orang lain adalah PEMARAK.

Justeru, inilah yang diperlukan minda KuasaKataPemarak!

Latihan-latihan yang berkaitan adalah konseptual. Ia boleh datang daripada apa juga sumber. Dan, menariknya ialah latihan amali sebenarnya sudah berlaku setiap saat dalam hidup kita. Kita saja (umum) yang tidak menyedarinya.

KKP adalah dalam kata kerja (verb)!!!

KKP yang punya tenaga berisi emosi!!!

KKP yang tuntas dan padu menterjemah berkat!!!

Perkataan yang boleh digelar KKP mungkin saja merupakan kata biasa bagi sesetengah orang (tiada kesan). Dan, boleh pula menjadi KKP bagi orang yang lainnya (berkesan). Kenapa hal ini berlaku. Ini kerana KKP perlu hadir daripada seorang yang sudah membuktikannya.

Kata CARI.

Kata ini akan punya tahap kuasa yang berbeza apabila ianya hadir (secara mulut atau tulisan) daripada seorang murid biasa, murid cemerlang, murid pasif, murid aktif, murid popular, guru biasa, guru cemerlang, guru inovatif, guru kecil, guru besar, pengetua, PPD, Pengarah Pelajaran, Menteri, Perdana Menteri, Guru Spiritual, atau ANDA sendiri!

ANDA sendiri yang menentukan. CARI!

Allah s.w.t jua yang Maha Mengetahui segalanya.

Anda CARI sesuatu... Sesuatu TEMUI anda...