Not all children can learn in the same way or at the same pace. This is something Badriah and Hilda, two primary school teachers in Pesisir Barat, have come to understand. For them, children’s enthusiasm for learning is very high, even though many still struggle with reading and counting.
Badriah and Hilda believe these children are not less capable; they simply need more time and a safe space to learn, especially when it comes to literacy and numeracy.
Through a series of trainings organized by KREASI for Master Teachers, Hilda and Badriah were inspired to create additional classes outside regular lessons, using a more human-centered and inclusive approach in their schools. They named this class Rumah Main KREASI.
“We want to support children who are still struggling with reading, writing, and counting so they can learn in a fun way. Rumah Main KREASI is a space for us to improve literacy and numeracy creatively, without making children feel pressured,” said Hilda.
Rumah Main KREASI is a collaborative class between the Program of KREASI and partner schools. This initiative is carried out adaptively and sustainably to help students catch up and strengthen their basic skills in reading, writing, and counting. Through this collaborative and innovative approach, teaching and learning become more meaningful, joyful, and accessible to all children, without exception.
To get started, Hilda and Badriah conducted assessments to understand each student’s needs based on their abilities and challenges. They wanted this class to be genuinely inclusive and to support children with additional learning needs so they can learn safely and comfortably.
The journey was not easy. Some parents were doubtful and felt that extra classes were unnecessary. However, with support from the principal and collaboration with other teachers, Badriah and Hilda reached out to parents to explain more clearly what Rumah Main KREASI was about.
“We had to reassure some parents who felt their children could already read,” Badriah explained. “We told them that this program is not only about learning to read, but also about strengthening children’s literacy, numeracy, and character.”
After going through various efforts to establish a more focused additional class, Badriah and Hilda designed joyful learning sessions. They structured Rumah Main KREASI using the 5M approach, a set of values embraced by Yayasan Guru Belajar in designing learning activities.
The 5M consists of: Memanusiakan Hubungan (Humanizing Relationships), Memahami Konsep (Understanding Concepts), Membangun Keberlanjutan (Building Sustainability), Memilih Tantangan (Choosing Challenges), and Memberdayakan Konteks (Empowering Context). Through this 5M approach, learning is designed to build children’s empathy and confidence.
In one of the sessions, they formed letter and word groups to help children learn through picture stories. They used learning media such as wooden blocks and seeds, making the learning process more contextual and enjoyable. The idea is simple: literacy and numeracy can be learned in a cheerful and playful way.
Collaboration with other teachers also takes place in many forms. Some become co-facilitators, others design worksheets, and some act as a “warehouse of ideas,” full of creativity for developing learning media. Everyone moves together with one goal: to create enjoyable learning for every child.
Now, children are becoming more confident and quicker in recognizing letters and numbers. Teachers are also increasingly creative and learn from each other to make learning sessions in Rumah Main KREASI more meaningful.
“Through Rumah Main KREASI, literacy and numeracy no longer feel difficult, because children learn while playing with joyful hearts,” said Badriah.
Badriah and Hilda hope that the spirit of providing more open and inclusive education will not stop at their school. They dream that every school can have its own “rumah main”, where children can learn, play, and grow together.
_____
The Program of KREASI or Kolaborasi untuk Edukasi Anak Indonesia (Collaboration for the Education of Indonesian Children) is funded by the Global Partnership for Education, developed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. KREASI Pesisir Barat is being implemented by Save the Children with Yayasan Guru Belajar and support by the Government of Pesisir Barat. KREASI aims to improve the quality of education in Indonesia by strengthening teaching, learning, and student development.
_____
Writer: Putri Lalitaningtyas | Editor: Andika Ramadhan | Photo: Putri Lalitaningtyas/KREASI/Yayasan Guru Belajar/Save the Children