It’s the final week! Congratulations everyone, you all deserve a pat on the back for making your project possible!

Please write, upload lots of pictures & videos in this final Padlet =)

1. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?

2. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

3. What have you found challenging about this project? (any part of the project you found hard to do)

4. What has really worked? (any part in the project that you thought worked well)

5. What can be improved in this project?

2) Increase self-confidence in managing time and responsibilities.

3) Practice an effective communication skill while presenting information to students and staffs.

4) Have an exposure in the field of education and all its facets.

Other than I enjoying teaching and handling various activities like what I have mentioned in the previous padlet, the thing that are the most valuable & memorable for me is during the last day of the posting which is meeting with School Principal, Pn. Sariza binti Md Saleh. During the session, I spent my time to have deep conversation with her and also a self reflection. This session was just not helping me on my communication skills but also improved my critical thinking skills and professionalism when answering her question. Prior to the session I did not expect that I would be bombarded with a lot of questions because I thought  it was a short session only.  I tried my best to answer her question professionally and control my nervous as much as I could. Lastly, she gave some tips for me and my friend on how to deal with people and also motivation when facing difficulties. She also emphasised about the importance of respect towards our parents and also other people.

Honestly, being a teacher really taught me about the reality of patience. It not just being patient during teaching the students in the class but also when dealing with a lot of responsibilities that were given to me, frustration when things do not work according to what has planned and so on. For example, when I was given a responsibilities to teach Mathematics subject to Form 1 and Form 2 students, there were a few students that not pay attention to the classes and do not show their respect to the teacher.  So, that is when this value need to be practiced in this field. 

Adaptability with new environment. During the first week, I almost felt that I want to quit and found it very difficult for me to carry on this job for the next day. This is because, it was too hectic for me  to handle and communicate with students and teachers because I am not an extrovert person. It was difficult for me to initiate a conversation with the teachers when we were having casual chatting. So, throughout this posting, my biggest support systems was my family who always gave motivation for me to start my day. To overcome my problem, I always reflect back the reasons why I chose this field as my elective posting. One of my objective is to improve my communication skills, that is why I think this profession is the most suitable field for me to give myself a try on practicing communication skills. So, I hold into my principle that everything is always seem impossible until it is done. With that mindset, I have adapted well during my 2^nd until 4^th week and I really enjoyed my posting because it was totally different from what I have thought before because each day gave me a different experience. 

5. What can be improved in this project?
- Avoid negative thoughts and overthinking before start doing something.

- Be resilient.

- Focus on our goals.

- Do not get easily give up and always give the best when we are given responsibilities. 

Yes, overall they were fulfilled. Although it was not perfect, but it was an achievement that deserves a ‘well done’. 

2. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project? 

3. What have you found challenging about this project? (any part of the project you found hard to do)

4. What has really worked? (any part in the project that you thought worked well)

5. What can be improved in this project? 

In my opinion, the objectives were fulfilled throughout the  elective posting. Firstly, I was able to engage with different environment from that I used to which really allowed me to be out of my comfort zone. I was exposed to be in a school environment as a teacher, and this experience really showed me a snippets of a real working environment and its really challenge some of the social skills. Next, I was able to detect some of the social skills that I was lacking and able to improve them. At first I was really having trouble to interact with the teachers as I was shy and since they all are a bit older than me, the conversation can be a little awkward and difficult to make a connection. However, as time goes by I was able to be more confident and comfortable in making the first step to communicate. Furthermore, I really enjoyed this elective posting. Since I will be out of my comfort zone, I put one of my objectives is to be able to enjoy and treasure this experience. I’m really happy and satisfied with my experience and moments throughout this elective posting.

What I liked the most about the project is the opportunity given for us to try new thing. This elective posting give me opportunity to experience working as a real working teacher. I am really sure I won’t get this chance anymore and I’m thankful for this opportunity. Furthermore, through this experience, I also can learn more about myself and improve my social skills in a different setting. We know working as a teachers required a lot of social skills such as communication skills and leaderships skill  and this opportunity give me chance to experience and enhance them. 

 

As a teacher, I still find controlling the class is very challenging especially the lower form classes. I tried many creative way to control them however I think I still need to enhance and practice to control the students. I need to be more stern with them, which I can applied in my daily lives where sometimes I need to be more assertive and confident in my opinions. 

 

In my perspective, I think how I handle a conversation with different range of age has been better than before. Through this project, I need to converse with the students (younger age group) and the teachers (older age group). Since I speak to them everyday for 4 weeks, its become natural for me and I am more freely without worrying in talking with them. I know what topics may interest them for different age group. I also started to realize I’m the one who will start any conversation with whoever I met regardless of the age. 

 

l Able to take any challenges bravely 

l Don’t stress out over something that didn’t happen yet

l Be more confident and assertive in every aspect of live

 

 

This week, I am looking back at the goals I set for myself at the beginning of this journey. I'm happy to say that my objectives have been met. One of my goals was to use different skills like making decisions, talking with others, managing time, thinking critically, and teaching in a kids' environment. I can say that I have achieved this objective. I have applied these skills in various situations through my interactions with the children and teachers. Another aim was to learn new things, especially related to Early Childhood Education. This goal has been fulfilled as well. I have gained insights from observing and working alongside the teachers, and I am excited to carry these lessons forward. I also wanted to take on responsibilities assigned by the teachers. Throughout my time here, I've actively participated in different tasks, from assisting with activities to contributing to the learning environment. This experience has shown me the importance of reliability and teamwork. Lastly, I aimed to reflect on my experiences and personal growth in the childcare center. This objective has been met too. Interacting with the children and educators has given me valuable insights into patience, empathy, and adaptability. I am pleased to see that I have met these objectives. This journey has provided me with a fulfilling learning experience and a deeper understanding of working in a childcare setting.

 

 

Throughout this journey, there is one thing I have truly enjoyed the most: the smiles and laughter of the children. Seeing their happiness and curiosity every day has been the highlight of this project. Their enthusiasm for learning and play is extraordinary and it is heartwarming to know that I have been a part of their growth and joy. Their innocent questions and endless energy have brought a unique kind of joy to my days and I have cherished every moment spent in their company.

 

 

Throughout this project, I encountered some challenges. Spending the whole day with the energetic children occasionally left me feeling tired. It affected my energy levels, making it tough to keep up with them. Consequently, I felt exhausted by the end of the day, struggling to manage household tasks. However, I learned to tackle these challenges through effective time management. Creating a well-organized schedule and ensuring breakfast improved my ability to stay energized and focused throughout the day. This experience taught me valuable lessons in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

 

 

Several aspects of the project have proven successful and satisfying. One highlight was my project in the dining room. I updated the dining area with information about healthy and not-so-healthy foods, aligning with the upcoming theme. This initiative was well-received by both teachers and children. Additionally, building relationships with the children was a rewarding experience. As I bid them farewell on the last day, a sense of sadness overcame me. I feel the deep connection formed with them throughout my journey.

 

 

Looking back, I see a few more areas where I could improve for an even better experience. Firstly, I want to communicate more effectively with the teachers to strengthen teamwork. Secondly, I aim to learn and use a broader range of teaching methods that suit children's learning styles. I plan to work closely with the teachers to share new ideas. By doing these things, I hope to keep growing and make a more significant difference in similar places later.

1. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?
Yes!!
From my side,i think i achieve the objectives  that i want before i started my EP.
Throughout this EP,i got the chance to improve my communication skills when interacting with the community and most importantly within the young generation in order to maintain an effective communication.
At the same time,i gain more new knowledge and experience in learning and teaching in educating the young generation.Lastly,it helps me to become more confident in whatever condition that i will face in future and most importantly in decision making.

2. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

   Honestly,what i like the most about my EP is i get the chance to visit my old school.It brings back my childhood memory.Surprisingly,there is one day, i saw  a board regarding the 'important school events 'and suddenly,i saw my friends and I during our school sports day in 2012..It was really heart warming when look at that picture and i cannot  believe it is already more than 10 years ago!

-Other than that,the relationship that i will never forget between me,my teachers and the students.Even,its just 1 month but it feels like i really close to them.

3. What have you found challenging about this project? (any part of the project you found hard to do)

For me,its quite challenging to teach the children but its interesting to do that..
It is because it is not easy for me to get their full attention during the class and to make them understand what we want them to do and understand with what we teach them.
-It is challenging to give them instruction and make them follow,in a sense thay we are not pushing them but to make them willingly to do that was really good.This can make the learning session more fun and interesting..

4. What has really worked? (any part in the project that you thought worked well)

There is one day that i need to teach one particular topic  because i need to replace one teacher who was on leave.On the next day,their teacher did  a quiz based on my topic.Surprisingly,they managed to answer my supervisor question.I was really happy when i know that.I feel really grateful because for me, it was such a satisfaction for myself when being a teacher when i can see the children can apply the knowledge that i shared.


5. What can be improved in this project?

-For me, i think i should be more prepared before the class  so that i can provide more fun activities with them .Sometimes, i tend  to just do some repeated activities during the class.

-Be more confident and brave because sometimes i will always ask my supervisor opinion regarding the teaching materials because im scared im not achieving the learning objectives.

A181133

(14/8/2023 - 20/8/2023)

1. Were the objectives of the project fulfilled?

Yes, I can safely say that all my objectives of the project were fulfilled. My main objective is to develop and improve my social and communication skills. Throughout my EP journey, I can see a lot of improvement in these aspects and become more comfortable to interact with other people with confidence. Apart from that, I've been aiming to contribute to the development of children's social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth. I also have been aiming to create meaningful connections with them as a kindergarten teacher. Frankly speaking, I believe that I have achieved these goals through engaging many activities with them. Even though it is very challenging, I consider that is also an extremely rewarding experience that helps me to broaden my understanding of working around and with children. I have grown exponentially at work and I feel much better about myself. I am also highly motivated to make something good out of my life and help others as well. 

2. What have you enjoyed or liked the most about the project?

For me, my heart instantly melts when I walk into the school and I hear the kids start yelling my name. It makes me feel good and lifts my self-esteem, knowing they look forward to seeing me which allowed me to feel supported and welcomed here. I haven't been here for a long time, but I have already started to develop a sense of belonging here, which I am so excited about. 

Secondly, I just really love how every little thing is so exciting to kindergarten students. I get to witness the wonder of learning everyday because they have so much wonder about everything. I love seeing joy come out of them when they’ve understood something or remembered something they learned before. This is definitely something that I really enjoyed the most about the whole project.

3. What have you found challenging about this project? (any part of the project you found hard to do)

I think most of the part that I found pretty challenging is how to manage the kids properly. Handling a classroom full of kids is never an easy task. It takes a lot of patience and efforts to get them to pay attention to the lessons because they tend to get distracted very quickly. This makes me struggling to figure out ways to let things go smoothly. 

Another challenging part for me is preparing the right materials for the students. My students' age is from 4 to 6 year old, so it is quite difficult for me to distinguish what type of materials that is suitable to use for every classes according to their level. Thankfully, I've got to learn more about it from other teachers and they're all very helpful and supportive which I really appreciate so much. 

4. What has really worked? (any part in the project that you thought worked well)

One of my given tasks during my EP at Pasti Al- Badar is to become a coach for netball team. At first I thought that I couldn’t do my best to handle the team due to my lack of experience but then everything turns to be more flexible and easier. I was really grateful that I could handle all my students to cooperate with each other without having any major issues. I'm so glad that my team won the fourth place out of ten teams in the netball match despite us lacking of experience and not having enough time for the training. I'm also very proud of my students for not giving up and trying their best till the very end. 

5. What can be improved in this project?

If there's one thing that I can improve in the future, I want to make sure all my students get their chances to be more confident and get involved in the classroom. Some of the students will interact naturally, while some will need teacher's help. I hope I can be more helpful towards them to build their confidence by encouraging them to be more productive in the classroom. 

 

As mentioned on my elective posting form, 2/3 of the objectives were met. My first objective is to enhance knowledge in biology and medicine. Before deciding which activities to pursue, I conducted some research on a variety of topics, including teaching, and was astounded to discover that the Form 4 biology syllabus is quite similar to what I experienced in medical settings. Furthermore, due to financial constraints, I was unable to participate in a medical project overseas; so, working as a substitute teacher majoring in science and biology was an great opportunity for me to relearn the fundamentals of the human body, which I had almost forgotten about. I can practice using layman's terms and know their curiosity as a society more than enough compared to when I was in UKM, where I mostly interacted with people with medical backgrounds. 

 

My second objective is to improve and learn new social skills. This project has made me stronger and more mature to confront the realities of life. To be honest, despite being an extroverted person, I have a phobia of being on stage and in front of an audience, also known as stage fright. This occurred as a result of some trauma I experienced in secondary school. Thankfully, being a teacher gradually helps me gather my strength and enjoy dealing with a wide range of people.

 

Unfortunately, I can't make extra pocket money here because no allowance is provided, but I'm grateful enough because living expenses here are much lower than in Kuala Lumpur. For example, we can get at least RM7.00 for a meal in KL, but here we can get as low as RM3.00 for a meal. Therefore, it took me less than RM10.00 to buy a meal per day.

 

 

Things that I enjoyed the most here were when I was interacting with students. I still remember teaching the students about mitosis and meiosis. The class was so chaotic as there were a lot of unexpected questions from the audience. I did my best to answer their questions, but if I couldn't, I did my best to get back to them once I did. We also play some quizzes to make the lesson more fun and effective, and at the same time, we can see how much the class can remember.

 

I think the hardest part of my EP project is when my supervisor gives me an assignment to teach students the night before the next day. She had a mild fever and cough that prevented her from coming to school, and she barely opened her phone to inform me. For me, it is okay if I only need to handle one class, but handling more than one is a bit exhausting. On that particular day, I had to teach three classes, each with different topics to discuss. I only had a short amount of time to review the topic before delivering it to the student. However, thanks to the situation, it helped me think faster about which topic I should review first.

There was also one time where I had to do extra classes on the weekend where I had to cover two topics with more than 100 students at once. I was so nervous that I could not sleep for two days just to think about it. "I plan, but Allah is the best planner". Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and the students also understood what I taught them.

 

 

There are a lot of things that surprisingly worked well for me. But if I had to pick one thing, it would be how I teach them. I just realised that whenever I work on something, I will find the root of the problem and deliver it in the simplest way possible to make students have a clear understanding of that particular topic. I will also try to explain things that they might find harder to understand. For example, I noticed some of the terms used in the textbook were difficult to understand, especially medical terms that confused the student. There’s a part in the textbook where they teach about how the blood pressure increases by connecting the receptors in the aorta, brain, and muscle. They had no idea how those worked; therefore, as medical students, it would be best if someone like me explained such things to them. As a result, they told me that they love the way I teach them. They can understand the topic better and wish that I can stay longer here to teach them.

 

 

It was really unfortunate that they had a midterm exam in my second week of posting. So what can be improved here is that I should look into their schedule as soon as possible to avoid such things like this in the future. If I had known this sooner, I would have started my EP project a month earlier to give myself more opportunities and experience tutoring the students and to share knowledge with them.