LEVEL OF COMPETENCE OF NORMAL AND SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRASITION OF YEAR 1
By:
NUR SYASYA ALYA BINTI ISMAIL NURIN FARHANIS BINTI MOHAMAD FARIS UZMA FARISHA BINTI RIDZUAN
LEVEL OF PREPARATION IN ENGLISH SUBJECT
ENGLISH IS IMPORTANT FOR PRESCHOOL ERS, WHY ?
bilingual children show greater understanding of shapes and patterns
communicating in English can increase the earning power of individuals by 25%.
a speaker of two languages can think up two or more phrases or words for each idea and object, and can utilize this talent to sharpen personal creativity
For English Languange, pupils should master the three skills, listening and speaking skills, reading skills and writing skills. They should be able to listen and respon using appropriate verbal and non-verbal responses, communicate using simple sentences with manners, read and understand simple sentences and last but not least they can write words and phrases.
LISTENING AND SPEAKING SKILLS Listening and speaking skills are important for children’s development and wellbeing. That's because they're being able to have conversations helps children make friends, be listened to, ask for what they need and develop strong relationships with others.So, in class they should be able to listen to, identify sounds, respond appropriately, understand and respond in a variety of contents. For example, they can listen to and respond to stimulus given, recite poems and rhymes, respond to stories, participate in talk or even know and use a polite daily conversations.
READING SKILLS Reading skills are proven to improve cognitive skills and help along the process of cognitive development of children. It refers to how the perceive and think about their world through areas such as information processing, intelligence, reasoning, language development, attention span, and memory. Based on "Dokumen Standard Kurikulum dan Pentaksiran Semakan 2017", pupils should be able to show appropriate book handling skills, apply sounds of letters to recognise words, demonstrate understanding of a variety of texts in the form of print and non-print materials and asldo develop interest in reading independently for information and enjoyment.
WRITING SKILLS Writing skills are the fundamental skills children need to develop before they are able to write. These skills contribute to the child’s ability to hold and use a pencil, and the ability to draw, write, copy, and colour. A major component of pre-writing skills are the prewriting shapes. The connection between reading and writing runs deep. Teaching children how to write at a young age helps recognize the connection between letter sounds, and the words phonetic sounds create. It is great ways to encourage children to explore their creativity and imagination.
As an initiative in forming better quality preschool children and showing a deep mastery of English, this must meet the national preschool standards which include 6 main pillars in order to produce more critical, creative and innovative human capital in preparation for grade 1. Preschool teachers need to emphasize on all 6 main pillars in the process of learning English. The results of the study found that preschool children show poor communication skills in the aspect of communication in simple English. For example, say 10 simple English words such as look, run, walk, see, touch, feel, eat, drink, sleep and stand. to sed children In addition, preschool children must be exposed to learning time for English in a period of at least 20 to 30 minutes to meet their needs and ability to master English simply and effectively.
Among other alternatives to improve this proficiency is to do activities that require the interaction of preschool children in English. For example, preschool teachers plan activities such as singing or physical movements based on singing such as moving the child's body while singing the song Head, shoulders, knees and toes and do Simon says game that allows children to understand instructions given in English as well as perform physical instructions such as “Simon says..jump” so children need to focus on the instructions and need to jump. This will indirectly improve development That child g involves cognitive aspects as well as fine motor movements of children.
G E N N I G N L R I A S E H L ASY AND FUN E
LEEF
Early childhood education is a phase before children enter the world of school, especially the transaction of preschool children to grade 1. In this regard, the concept of Appropriate Developmental Practices should be emphasized by preschool teachers to cover aspects enshrined in the National Education Philosophy. However, there are various opinions regarding the teaching and learning process of quality children as a preparation before children move to grade 1. Among the important concepts that need to be taken into account by preschool teachers are learning through play, inquiry nature, holistic development and the application of pure values in children. This is further strengthened by the results of a study by Fong and Mohd Fikri (2020) who stated that the concept of "learning through play" is able to meet the current needs of children and is one of the more effective PdP approaches.
The results of Albert’s (2012) study found that the technique of playing with words English can help preschoolers to master the vocabulary of the language English among preschoolers. Pupils feel fun and easy to learn if inserted with an element of play. Such pleasure will further increase the desire preschoolers to learn.In addition, in an effort to develop children's development in English before entering grade 1 can be further improved with the use of Information and Communication Technology which will indirectly develop a variety of children's skills including reading, writing, speaking and video-guided listening. -animated videos available on platforms such as "YouTube". The findings of this study also support the results of a study by Ronaldi Saleh (2011) where the majority of students think that graphics and animation are interesting and able to maintain their focus on learning materials.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has conducted a pilot test on the National Preschool Assessment Instrument covering 618 respondents in MOE preschools nationwide in 2010. The results of the pilot study found that the level of achievement and proficiency in English is very weak. A total of 14.9% of respondents have not mastered listening skills, 18.5% have not mastered speaking skills, 17.7% have not mastered reading skills and 12.0% have not mastered writing skills. Through the study that has been carried out, it is found that there are still some preschool children who have not yet mastered English completely. Following this problem has led to a concept of learning in English that is Learning English Easily and Fastly (LEEF) is able to provide an impact that positive on English proficiency among children covers their level of ability.
An analysis was conducted on the level of pronunciation, meaning and writing skills of English words among preschool students but the results showed that 50% (5 people) passed the pre -test covering pronunciation, meaning recognition, writing with the help of pictures and words. while 30% (3 people) passed the pre-test which covers writing skills with the help of pictures as well as writing without assistance. After preschool teachers apply the concept of LEEF in the process of children's learning in English indirectly showed a positive and encouraging development in English proficiency. The results of the post-test found that preschool children showed a significant change of mean increase of 80% (8 people) of children passed in pronunciation skills, 10% of children passed in the test of meaning skills, writing with the help pictures and write words without help while 60% (6 people) passed in the writing test with the help of pictures.
While carrying out this LEEF concept preschool children have demonstrated positive behavior change through interview, observation and parking lot activities. This is in line with the findings of Latifah, Wan Nasyrudin, Nurul Hidayah (2012) who said that multimedia-assisted learning methods can increase students' interest. and Communication because it has animations, interesting graphics and sounds that are able to attract their interest to become more proficient in English in preparation for entering grade 1.
D S
H C
S H P T I E C W I A N L E R N D E L E I
Education is a fundamental right of all human beings and in terms of its philosophy, all human beings in this world have the right to learn and know something. When talking about educational opportunities for students with special needs, they also have interests, desires and ambitions comparable to normal individuals. They should also be given the same opportunities as other normal individuals so that they are not excluded from the national learning stream because some of them have intelligence. cognitive that is comparable to a perfect individual and even they are able to exceed the achievement of normal students (Lokman, 2009)
Friend (2005) defines Special Education as instruction specifically designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities. This instruction may be administered in the classroom, at home, in a hospital or other institution. Mansor (2005) states that the Special Education Program in Malaysia is a continuous effort to promote the development of optimism as a person who is skilled, oriented, able, faithful, independent, able to plan and manage life and realize one's potential as an individual and a balanced and productive member of society in accordance with Philosophy National Education.
Every child has the right to equal educational opportunities regardless of learning ability.Therefore, it is not surprising that there are various schools that provide special learning concepts to children who are different from other children. This children are known as children with special needs where they have different ways of learning than with normal children.According to Barber and holdbart (1998), different assessment strategies are needed in teaching children with special needs in determining learning effectiveness.As a teacher who is sensitive to the development of children again development in terms of cognitive, affective and psychomotor, preschool teachers need to examine the appropriate learning approach in implementing the learning process.
In this 21st century learning, the emphasis of 6C should be taken into account by preschool teachers in the learning process together with children.6C refers to six skills that need to be applied in all children such as critcal thinking,creative thinking,collaboration,communication,character and country .However,some basic concepts need to be understood in the teaching of special children in order to ensure that learning runs smoothly and effectively.The first is Teaching Strategies and Approaches which is refers to how we as teachers prepare teaching plans, start and end lessons.
Next,Teaching methods which is refers to lesson plans that have been adopted by many parties. This planning includes the teacher's control over the sequence of implementation of the teaching process that will be implemented.Besides,Teaching strategies refers to the specific teaching operation planning used by the teacher. Teaching strategies are more focused on small plans to achieve teaching objectives and the last one isTeaching techniques which is a system or mechanism for the delivery of knowledge and skills. Teaching techniques require specialized procedures on a small scale. In a teaching and learning strategy planned in a PdP can contain several teaching techniques.
G M N I E N T R H A O E D L S D A N P A P G R N O I P H R C I A AT E T E FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION CLASSES IN ENGLISH SUBJECT
1. Demonstration method
The demonstration method is a method that has long been used in schools and is most suitable for use in Special Education PdP. This method is a way to familiarize childrens with the procedures that need to be followed by them when doing activities such as writing,speaking, using tools and so on. Successful demonstration methods contain steps that give childrens the opportunity to show that they really understand what is being learned. A demonstration will not be successful and complete if childrens are not given the opportunity to do something that shows they have mastered certain information, processes or principles.
2. Simulation method
By teaching English subject, a simulation method is an abstract description of a real situation that requires childrens to interact with each other based on their respective roles to solve a problem or issue. It is a situation created to resemble a real situation by using problems that really exist or providing situations that really exist in a controlled situation. The purpose of the simulation method is to improve students' ability to apply certain concepts in problem solving.
3. Storytelling method
The storytelling method is also very suitable to be
4. Method of giving instructions
The instructional method is the most widely used
method in special education PdP. The purpose of
practiced in special education. A story is an arrangement of events or happenings that either actually happened or were created. Storytelling is considered a branch of art and it plays an important role as a source of entertainment for the people as well as a tool for moral education and values in society. Storytelling can stimulate childrens' creativity and imagination. It can train childrens with various language skills and competencies, especially oral skills (listening and speaking) and encourage childrens to communicate effectively in terms of pronunciation, tone, intonation and facial expressions/mimicry.
giving instructions is to guide children before they begin the activity. Teachers have to take a long time to give instructions. The important thing is that childrens need to learn how to follow instructions that are quite difficult to understand. Therefore, the teacher's instructions should be clear and precise and repeated before learning begins. Inaccurate, vague, difficult, short and not repeated instructions will cause childrens to make mistakes while completing assignments.
FACTORS TO CHILDREN WHO ARE WEAK IN ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS
There are a handful of children who have not yet mastered some skills in English subjects causing them to be unprepared to face school to first grade.Among the factors that influence the deterioration of children's listening skills in English subjects are based on social factors.This social status factor involves the origin of the child. family background, facilities at home, interactions between family members affect hearing ability. Emotions also play a role in a child’s listening process. If a child's emotions are unstable they will not listen to our message. Children who are emotionally disturbed will not be able to focus fully on what is being heard. communication between a parent and his child is very important because communication is fundamental to one’s hearing.
LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS
Furthermore,physical factors also causes some children have not mastered in english subject.This is because the senses of normal children are different from the senses of children with hearing impairments. The disorder is somewhat affected for those who are hearing impaired. a normal pupil can hear perfectly, but this skill level differs between each individual; some are hard of hearing and some are hard of hearing even though they do not belong to the hearing impaired. Listening skills are closely related to a person's thinking power because something heard through the senses of the ear will go through a mental process to get a response. Children's level of thinking will affect their listening skills. In addition, hearing eye interaction is very important. It will help to increase one's understanding. If eye interaction does not occur then the student does not succeed in mastering listening skills. Teachers need to emphasize this when communicating with their students.
READING SKILLS
In reading skills,there are some childrens who did not pass in reading skills.According to studies, cognitive factors have influenced children’s reading skills.This is because children's intelligence and cognitive development greatly influence children's reading skills. Intelligent children will be able to master reading skills faster than other children of the same age. Reading skills require strong observational abilities, namely visual discrimination and auditory discrimination. While reading children need to discriminate letters and also discriminate letter sounds. Therefore, children who are more proficient in language can influence their reading skills. Children who master the language well will be able to learn reading skills quickly and can read well because language is a human tool to produce thoughts, feelings, desires, etc. while communicating. .
READING SKILLS
Reading is a very complex process that involves cognitive aspects, memory and other aspects of behavior. Marie (1981) argues that reading involves the delivery of messages, instructions, space, format and visual forms. Environmental factors have also played an important role in influencing children’s skill levels in English subjects.This is because an intellectual environment that provides meaningful experiences can stimulate the brain and arouse interest in reading as well as improve their reading skills. For example listening to stories, visits to libraries or bookstores, parents having frequent conversations with their children, and so on. Household conditions and parenting methods will affect the emotional development, motivation, and personality of children. The encouragement given by parents can influence a child’s reading attitude. This, in turn, indirectly affects children’s reading skills.
WRITING SKILLS
In writing skills,based on several studies that have been done by schools and teachers in an effort to find out the causes of children's weakness in English subjects, it was found that physical factors are factors that drive children to be weak in English language proficiency.This is because physical development is highly emphasized in the aspect of writing skills. Especially fine motor development. This fine motor development is the growth or development of small muscles on the fingers of a child that allows them to hold small objects such as pencils, marbles, etc. efficiently. Perfect fine motor development allows a child to write with beautiful and efficient writing. . In addition, eye and hand coordination is also emphasized because in the development of writing skills, eye and hand coordination will determine whether a child is ready to write or not.
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