First Semester of School

One semester done safely in a fully bahasa Indonesia school.

Definitely far from an ideal school judged from its curriculum and instructions delivery, but it meets 70-80% of what we need and expect from a school, for now.

(For now is such an important keyword. Because, honestly, I still keeep looking and learning about many other schools out there. Just in case)

From being totally silent on the first month during morning circle to refusing to be unmute and kept saying things with her broken bahasa Indonesia.

From asking lots of translations during lesson to turning down any help, asked the interpreter to stay away from her, did all daily meetings and school works independently.

Although she still has a lot to catch up and the bahasa Indonesia is still far from adequate level, she nailed and understood most of the exam questions well. Did all the exams on her own, based on her understanding.

These kind of stuff were important for us, and no single score on her report card could measure and describe such things.

Full mark for the subjects that are obviously below her level, like Math and English, and surprisingly Science. Acceptable result for the subjects that are just good to know (or close to zero importance for a grade 1 to know). Mostly subject that both the content and the words used in the exam question are too complicated, even for other students without any problems. I said it because other parents raised this issue as well.

Overall, first semester of school has been exceed expectation (because we set it pretty low).

I found balance in our current school format right now. I know for sure, I am not ready for 100% home education, but I don’t want school becomes the main actor of her education. Currently, school feels more like an extracurricular. Her afternoon classes are those we considered more important than the morning ones (from school).

In morning classes we train and improve her weakness, like speaking in front of others, using bahasa Indonesia in daily conversation, answering questions, mostly about that. I couldn’t expect too much from the learning contents.

While afternoon classes and other things she learns independently at home are about playing to her strengths. Daily early morning quran piano classes and another afternoon islamic one, daily piano practices and two classes, doing more chores at home, reading more books in both languages, and also write on her journal.

After having some thought and looking at many resources, threw the first holiday plan made to the bin and changed it to a totally different plan.

More worksheets were the least she needed during this holiday.

Holiday means having more time and space for things we couldn’t do during reguler school days.

Like longer hours for Quran and piano (lho?). A little bit of morning nap time. Less hurry ups heard in the morning.

Go with something that she missed (like being around friends who speaks in her comfort zone), things that I want her to master, or things she actually enjoys but I don’t (like art and craft of course).

More new books to read,more experiences around the town to see more life than one she lives in the 30th floor.