If we are to preserve culture, we must continue to create it.
As Chinese New Year is approaching, children were exposed to some traditional activities.
From calligraphy, paper cutouts, and decorating…children were introduced to the meaning behind each item and things they did during the process.
As 2022 is the year of Tiger, we wish everyone to stay strong and healthy like a tiger!
The best Children’s Day gift for themselves! Children were celebrating Children’s Day through online lessons by making themselves in art and craft sessions.
The session was full of joy and laughers!
“Graduation is an emotional life event not only for grads but parents and family of the graduate too. The event marks a time to reflect on the accomplishments made in school while looking ahead to the future. This is a time of transition that can bring mixed emotions for parents who are both proud and a little sad realizing their child is officially all grown up.”
There is nothing better than training the kids from a young age to look after their clothes. Folding socks and clothes are a practical life activity for children that aims to develop concentration, coordination, independence and order. The folding socks activity also helps the child become independent by doing daily chores of life and instils a sense of confidence in them. “The first essential for the child’s development is concentration. The child who concentrates is immensely happy.” – Dr Maria Montessori.
In my experience with the needle as a child, I remember the focus I felt immediately, which encouraged me to stay in a task longer. The key to any success starts with concentration. Maria Montessori says: ” The life of the spirit prepares the dynamic power to daily life and on its side, daily life encourages thought by means of ordinary work.” -The child in the family, page 31
❤️ A reflection of recent GE14 election… This is probably the first time ever, so many Malaysians cared so much for the election in our country’s history. And this is also the first time ever, our young kindergarten children learned and talked about politics (at their understanding level).
I’m making a memory collection of interesting remarks by our lovely students.
🍀Why flags are put up everywhere? What’s the purpose of these flags?
🍀What are the differences between the (political parties) flags?
🍀I’m also a Malaysian like you (teacher)! Why can’t I cast my vote? Only adults can cast a vote?
Teacher’s explanation: The legal age to cast a vote as a Malaysian citizen is 21 years old. You can then follow your thoughts to choose your preferred political party. Do remember to register to be a voter once you turn 21 ya.
🍀My daddy is going to vote for “Blue Eyed” party, we need to choose a better government for better future.
🍀My mom is going to vote for the “Blue Balance” party. Let’s give them a chance to fix our problems and continue to make Malaysia a great country.
🎈Civic Education 101: Election Course Design
Riding on the post GE14 election fever, the TSP teachers designed a simple Civic Education to teach the concept of election to our students. This program aims to give our children a real voter experience to understand how an election works. Teachers explain the importance of every single vote and the vote-casting procedures.
🎈The Practice
Children were trained to draw a proper cross in the given box on the voting sheet. They were asked to practice the cross drawing at home with parents. Some children practiced a few times and got nervous!
During the preliminary selection, some children were happy some were not. There was a little girl told me that “I know many people selected me, but more people chose Vincy, so I cannot be a final contestant, but Ms Sophie did you know that I also voted for Vincy? Because she has helped me many times”
🍀”I practiced for so many times, I’m not shy anymore, everyone is cheering for me so I’m really happy”
🍀I asked one of the young children, who did she vote as a contestant?
She secretly told me that it’s a secret, so she can’t tell me. This really left me speechless.
🍀”Oh my goodness, election only happen every 5 years? I’d be going to primary school by then.”
🍀When the preliminary selection was over, a little girl found out that her friend did not vote for her. She told her friend that, did you know that I can also be helpful like our friend, please vote for me on the actual day ya!
🎈The Election: Helpful Leader of TSP
Classroom was decorated like a polling station. Children were asked to follow instruction to line up, cast their vote to choose their leader.
🍀A little girl approached me nervously and said “What shall I do? I’m sweating, is my hair messy?” I asked her to drink some water and calm down, and wiped off her sweat, and told her to stay calm. This shows how serious this little girl is.
🍀As the result was announced, only one leader was chosen. I noticed that some final contestants were disappointed. So I changed my strategy to invite all contestants to join me on the stage, and explained the purpose of this exercise and most importantly, a lesson on “Be helpful”. I hope that all TSP children can play their part to create and maintain a good learning environment and always be helpful to others, to make a more loving society.
🎈Post Election: Feedback from Parents
🍀A little boy was not selected as the leader, he was optimistic to tell his mother that it’s okay not to win the election, he could support the leader Sophia.
🍀Children showed their inked (with inai) finger to their family that they participated in an election.
🍀Children gave parents a lesson on how to draw a proper cross, such as “the cross cannot be too big or too small, it has to be just right”
🍀Generally, they understand that the election was meant to identify a “Helpful” role model, that can show examples and lead other children to make TSP a loving community.
🍀”I voted for Koh Xuen as she is my best friend and always help me, she’s very beautiful too!”
🍀”Our new leader is Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, old leader is Najib.” If a leader cannot perform, he/she will then be replaced.
🍀”Now I realised the importance of language. Apart from mandarin, English and Bahasa, how do I say thank you in Cantonese?”
🌈In summary, more work need to be done to help children below the age of 5 to understand the purpose of this exercise. Like a popular saying, people need to be told more than 7 times to understand and remember a new learning, we will do our best to help the children to build their basic civic education understanding.
🎈Afterthoughts
🍀Give children a platform to take part in a procedural exercise. Hopefully through this exercise, they understand the importance of “one person, one vote”.
🍀Re-emphasize the purpose and meaning of respecting national anthems and other patriotic songs like Setia, Jalur Gemilang.
🍀Introduce national leaders: Sultan, Prime Minister & a few key Cabinet members.
🌈A key message to the children is that we should think and act with positive intent to choose a strong leadership team to make Malaysia a better nation.
Y2018
Tadika Sri Puncak
Mini Election
🎈缘起
第14届大选让全国国民都动员起来！
且看幼儿园小朋友模拟参政与论政。
相信大部分的爸爸妈妈应该第一次那么关心囯家大事！尤其是大选前后几天，大家心情起伏不定、忐忑不安。
接下来连续三天大选假期，也高潮迭起，举国上下都有一个共同的目标：关心国事！其中包括我们的小朋友！
别小看幼儿园或是小学生,他们顺应着周围环境，也在热烈地参与且论政：
点点滴滴包括：
🍀“为什么到处都需要挂国旗呀？有用吗？”
🍀“不同颜色和形状代表什么？”
🍀“老师是马来西亚人，我也是！为什么我不能投票？一定要等我长大？”
（老师得跟他解释：21岁才是合法的成人，成熟的为自己的想法负责，并投下神圣的一票！并请他在21岁时，记得去登记成为合格的选民。）
🍀“爸爸要投蓝眼睛换政府了！我们要选出更好地政府，好好地管理我们的国家。”
🍀“我的妈妈要投蓝色的天秤。给他们机会，他们会改过，并继续稳定的管理我们的国家。“
🎈课程设计
谢谢老师们在将近的年中评估期间，抽出时间来穿插与设计这段公民课。
短短几天内准备课程及各班协调。
🍀让小朋友用最容易、简单的方式，透过自己亲身体验去掌握“投票”这个抽象的概念、明白选举的普通常识。
🍀为什么每一票都那么重要！
🍀进入投票站，应肃静。
🎈排练：
🍀小朋友练习画叉在方格内，回家也认真地与爸爸妈妈解释，“应该这样画叉才对。”否则这张票不能用！”
🍀小朋友经过好几次採排练习演讲词，甚至紧张得冒冷汗！
🍀在班上初选时，有人欢喜有人愁，落选者甚至失望地与我聊天，说：“我知道很多人举手选我，但我的所得票没有Vincy 多，所以我不能当候选人，但Ms Sophie 你知道吗？我自己也选了Vincy,因为她也曾帮助我！”
🍀“我练习了好多次，也不再害羞了，而且当我讲完，小朋友们都在拍手！我很开心“
🍀我问其中一位小朋友，“请问你投了谁当候选人？“
小女孩神秘兮兮地告诉我：“这是秘密，我不能告诉你哟！”再转身离开！留下呆呆的我！
🍀“只能五年投票一次，那个时候我已经上小学了。“
🍀班上初选完毕，小女孩发现其中一个朋友没有投选她，私下去游说。“你知道吗？我也能像某某小朋友一样，可以帮你及更多小朋友！投票当天，记得选我哟！”
🎈模擬投票当天
🍀小朋友紧张地找我，说“怎么办？我一直在流汗，头发有没有乱？”我让她先喝一口水，再用纸巾帮她擦额头如水珠般大的汗水！😓，劝她不用太紧张，她这才安心地坐下。（可见她如见大宾般的在乎！）
🍀小朋友井然有序地排队，一人一票地印证民主选举。
🍀当选举结果出来之后，只有一个候选人高票当选。我观察到其他孩子眼神显现当下的失落。
顿时决定邀请班上所有六岁的小朋友都到台上去，告诉孩子们，帮助别人，照顾小环境人人有责，希望孩子们班上同心协力，共同营造良好的学习环境，让更多人受惠。
🎈选后
爸爸妈妈回馈
🍀小朋友落选了，在家里有没有伤心？小朋友回应：“输了也没关系，我可以帮忙当选的Sophia! ”
其中一位妈妈预先做了功课，提早向小朋友解释，如果输了该怎么办？所以小朋友们也有了心理准备。
🍀回到家马上展示给爸爸妈妈看他们的手指，骄傲的说：“我也有投票，老师说，手指过几天就干淨了！”
🍀小朋友回家认真地给爸爸妈妈上课，解释为什么不能画出格子！
🍀讨论“打叉不可以太大，不可以太小，要刚刚好。“甚至画出来给爸爸妈妈看。
🍀“我们将选出最能在教室里帮忙小朋友的领袖，照顾学校环境的领导人。“
🍀“我选Koh Xuen是因为她是我的好朋友，她总是帮助我，我也觉得她很漂亮。”
🍀“我们国家的新领导人是Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ，旧首相是Najib，”（爸爸妈妈说：“他们甚至能唸出一长串连我也不知道的马哈迪全名。”）
🍀“做得不好，就会被换掉！”
🍀”语文竞然那么重要！除了华语、英语及马来语，广东话怎么说谢谢呢？“（不错哟，激发了孩子的好奇心及内在学习的能力。）
🍀整体而言，小朋友是开心的，回去也会喋喋不休地跟爸爸妈妈分享他知道的点点滴滴。
🌈总结而言，五岁以下小孩大部分都似懂非懂。
但这又有什么关系呢，我们只要合理的重复8次以上，慢慢地建构他们的公民意识即可。
🎈延续公民课程
🍀让孩子参与程序性的工作，对孩子建构完整概念很重要，在这次小朋友的竞选过程中。希望能在他们的心目，建构一人一票的重要性。
🍀在接触的过程中，他们可以从点点滴滴中累积一些具体的形象。
🍀重申唱国歌肃立的重要性。
🍀教唱Setia, Julur Gemilang 等歌曲。
🍀介绍数位前任首相。
🍀介绍最高元首及苏丹。
🌈公民教育的重点应该告诉小朋友：
-你好，我好，大家好！
如果你做了之后带给人家不方便，你的要重新再做一次。
希望能多一点为别人着想。
#TadikaSriPuncak#preschool#earlychildhoodeducation#educationinmalaysia#sophielee#kajang#countryheights#TSP_Blog
