Celebrate milestones in learning
A CHILD’S learning journey can be busy and stressful yet fun, interesting and exciting. As parents and teachers often push children to achieve bigger goals for themselves that will most probably take years before their high school graduation, success is not a destination.
It involves daily effort, discipline, hard work, grit and perseverance. In the pursuit of bigger milestones – winning state or international competitions (be they academic, sporting or in the performing arts) or even launching their own book, children achieve many minimilestones along the way.
In school, this recognition of achievements often takes place at the end of the academic year during the Prize Giving ceremony. While it is important to acknowledge these children who have done well in their various capacities, what is more important in the learning process at Sri Bestari International School (SBIS) is the celebration of smaller milestones; small breakthroughs in life in achieving key markers on the child’s journey to success.
Dr Wong Siew Chin discusses how children can be awarded with a sense of confidence when their small milestones are celebrated, because it was helpful for her in her own learning journey. “When I was in primary school, I was a weak student. There were 33 students in my class and I was in 33rd position academically.
“My dad, who was a taxi driver, drew a line chart on a piece of paper. He outlined the reward that I would get if I were to achieve 31st position, 28th position, 24th position and so on upwards till the top 10 positions. Looking at the line chart with the small milestones, I realised I could achieve 31st position with a reward as incentive,” says Dr Wong.
Eventually achieving a higher position is a breakthrough in one’s learning journey, and the desire to achieve a greater breakthrough, can be encouraged with the small milestones set. “That was indeed an important micro-moment for me. It was the turning point in my journey as I headed towards progress,” says Dr Wong.
In SBIS, this system could be as simple as a reward chart with stars. Young Bestarians in Early Years to primary school who greet teachers, friends and parents in the morning, have the discipline to ensure their desks are neat and tidy, and have good handwriting receive stars as a reward. Children look forward to these small milestones during the weekly assembly when the school acknowledged their effort, discipline and progress.
One Bestarian, 15-year-old Cheng Jing Ying who is part of the Multimedia and Design Club, shares her thoughts about being given the opportunity to learn how to use design software. She designed her own ang pow packets, which were sold at the school with her name printed on it. Besides earning from the fruits of her labour and feeling proud of her design, part of the proceeds went to Umbrella Society M.A.D. (Making a Difference) Together.
“Jing Ying just took part in the Malaysian Comiker’s Challenge, and we are so proud of her work and all the effort she has invested. We are glad the school is the platform that has sparked her interest in this area,” says Dr Wong.
“I am very happy that I was given a chance to try something that was unfamiliar. Although it is something small, I feel it has helped me in many ways. Even if I do not become an artist, this experience has helped me as a person and I learnt a lot,” says Jing Ying.
While it may seem like a minor event to make a big fuss over, Dr Wong believes that smaller acknowledgments provide a platform for children to explore, yet still have a psychological safety net for when they fail. This helps them form an “I can” attitude, which will go a long way to give children more to celebrate in the future. The celebration of smaller milestones makes the achievement of bigger ones easier and more likely.
nFor enquiries, call SBIS at 011-5139 7866/03-6273 1072 or email info_sbis@bestari. edu.my