Thursday-Friday, January 22-23, 2026

These two days have been a mess in terms of my classroom management. In particular, it was very messy when it came to dealing with lessons where students write pretty much. A few students like Icam, Fatih, Axelle. These three students need careful attention and probably specific different ways to cope with. It seems that writing is a very heavy job to do for them. And that made me think that my current teaching approach and method need refreshing. 

What happened: In Tilawati on Thursday, I started a few minutes late since I should have a meeting with Ms. Vita and Ms. Uswah. When I came back to the classroom, it was so messed up. My Tilawati students were running around and chasing one another, except for those who are silent, Khadija and Sheela. The main "characters" were always Fatih, Darrel, Rama, and Veloce. They could not stay still still for a little while. When I got there these lads were running and chasing one another. Then I tried to get them ready. It took even more than five minutes. I spent almost 30 minutes in full to get them all ready. Even to make them recite the opening prayer was very difficult. Then, when I was supposed to be able to get all of them recite one by one on the one-on-one session, I could not get each of them do it. Five of the eleven students I have didn't have time to do it. However, although it was finally done, with around 3 minutes wasted, I felt that at least I did it. 

Then, today (Friday), in Civic Education, I just got them finish their unfinished dice of Pancasila symbols. Alhamdulillah, all who were present could fully complete it. 

Throughout the two days, I saw Ms. Nada, my co-teacher, started her lessons with a game of lava and dance and stop. At another time, she also started with reading a story to get them engaged. 

Lessons to learn:

1. Start a lesson with a game (find on YouTube: lava game, dance and stop, etc.) or a story. Find on YouTube. 

2. Idea game: tic-tac-toe in groups

3. Story idea: Monster, Be Good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7dITCQDK3c