Good Practices

Page 20 

A Market in the Classroom

Ibu Darmian Samosir, S.Pd, A Social Studies Teacher at SMPN 1 Sidikalang, Dairi, showed a different way to teach her students about the market. She did not pick a theory out of the text to dictate her students. She and her students created a market in the classroom. The students took the roles of sellers and buyers.

Class VIII-6 looked messy. There were clothes hung on the wall, different knick knacks were laid on the table. The students tried to recreate a market in their classroom. But unlike traditional markets that are muddy and smelly, this market sat on concrete floor and uses tables as the stalls.

Haggling was also an interesting process in this market, where the seller not only sold their goods but also explained the price level of all the goods they put on display. By having a market in the classroom students were better able to grasp the buying-selling process that happens in real life. Ibu Darmian also added that this learning model equips students with actual haggling skills.

Learning to Write Instructions from a Farmer

PAK SUAIB, a corn farmer in Tamalatea, Jeneponto, spoke in front of class VIII SMPN 4 about his farm and how to grow corn correctly. Pak Orban, the Bahasa Indonesia teacher asked the farmer to get involved in teaching Basic Competency: 4.3. Writing instruction using the correct steps and an effective language. It was hoped that the students could get ideas from the resource person.

The lesson lasted for 2 x 40 minutes, which involved:

First, students were given an individual task to note facts about corn that is planted and grown correctly, and those that were not planted and grown correctly; students were also asked to observe and take notes of how to grow corn correctly, based on the presentation by the farmer.

Secondly, the students worked in groups with the following tasks:
(1) discussing and analyzing the information on how to grow corn correctly,
(2) browsing to find the right clues from the Learning Resource Envelope,
(3) working together to compose sentences to create an instructional text on how to grow corn correctly, and
(4) to display their work.
(5) comparing work from the different groups. I facilitated students to discuss their work and how it was different from other group's works.
(6) presenting their work. Students were given the opportunity to give feedback.

Thirdly, teacher gave the students some enrichment by showing them the correct steps for the instruction.

This activity was finished in 65 minutes. 10 minutes were used for the introduction, and 5 minutes were used for learning reflection. Following this active learning, students were able to gather the main ideas from the resource person and to develop their language ability both in writing and verbally.

Inovasi Pendidikan is published by DBE3 and funded by USAID in order to document and spread innovation and good practices in Junior Secondary Education. If you would like to contribute, please send your articles and pictures to thutabarat@savechildren.org.