23rd August 2017
Today we plan to visit the one of preschool in Singapore called Odyssey. We have applied to Odyssey since three months ago. It was not easy to persuade preschool in Singapore that we will observe and discuss about early childhood education with them. Unfortunately, nothing impossible. They gave us confirmation that we can learn in Oddyssey although we are not permitted to take any pictures in that.
About 9.30 a.m we arrive in Odyssey preschool. From looking the building, I feel that the facilities are very luxurious. In the outdoor, there are a wide playground with many play tools and a white sand pool. The building seems like a hotel with the elegant architecture. Before entering the school, we have to follow the rules. Our temperature must be checked by the staff, if it is okay, we could enter the room. After that, we have to wash our hand, and follow the staff. We are invited to the second floor that it is like a library room. When we follow the staff, we also pass many classrooms that are very good in arrangement. It is like a “dream school” that is in many theoritical books. Now, I look directly and too quickly.
In the library, there are five staffs who will acompany us to take round the school. They introduce theirselves one by one, and also introduce the director of Odyssey preschool. The also remind us about the rules during the tour. They divide us to four groups, and every group is accompanied by one staff. I and my friends follow the staff named Ms. Sun Shi Juan. Firstly, we visit the nursery classroom. In there, Ms. Juan ask to me what the parts of classroom that we want to know. I say that we want to know about the learning materials, a learning style, and the classroom management. Then Ms. Juan explain every area in that class such as light area, literacy area, inquiry area, book area, numeracy area, chinese area, and IT area. She explain that in inquiry area, there are many process that involve children to present their curiosity and their thinking. There are many questions from children before the inquiry activity is done. The example of inquiry activities is experiment about affloat and sink. In that area, there are many materials such as aquarium, water, and many objects that will be tried to the experiment. In the book area, there are many books and the area is designed very comfortable for children with pillows and dolls. The light area is adapted from Reggio Emilia approach with the complete properties like an OHP, transparent pictures, clothes designed like a cave, and wayang. Children can explore and play with shadows shaped from the activity. The literacy area seems like a preparation for children to recognize the letter. The activities include imitating letter form with threads, writing, and drawing. A numeracy area is completed with many toys that related to numbering, counting, and clasification. A chinese area include some materials that stimulate children to know about chinese culture, chinese language, and chinese letter. In every class, there are three teachers, they are the curiculum planner, main teacher, and chinese teacher.
Then we move to the next classroom, K-1 clasroom (kindergarten 1) for children who are 5-6 years old. Generally, every classroom have the same areas, but the goals of the learning are different. It is based on DAP and the needs of children. I am interested in the IT learning in that classroom. In every class, there are a computer with the high performance (apple) and the LCD. Ms Juan explains that sometimes teacher uses the computer to display the videos or pictures related to the topic in the learning activities.She also tell that parents can also use their gadget to monitor the children’s activities and their progression. There is an application that parents can access to know how their children’s assesments. Teachers always update children’s information in the application. Parents also can monitor children’s activities from the CCTV that can be accessed by their mobile phone and gadget in the lobby of the preschool. The another attractive thing is in every classroom there is a map displaying the children’s origins and children’s families.
Ms Juan invites us to go to the first floor. In the walls, there were many paintings made by children. They display that with the big piguras. We are invited to see the playground. Ms Juan explains that Odyssey is the preschool having the wider playground. She also say that the price of land in Singapore is too expensive. After that, we obtain opportunities to look the fine room which is very funtastic. In there, there are many music instruments, such as drums and traditional music from China. Not only music, but also there are many art tools like sculptures, chisels, and many tints.
Finally, all of groups gather in the fine room. Ms Juan and her friends then give us feedback about our tour and offer us to give the question. Without wasting the opportunity, I directly ask about how parents to be involve in the school activities. They ask that there are many spaces giving parents involvement, such as parenting, teacher’s guest, and in assesment process.
Eka Oktavianingsih (Postgraduated Student in Department of Early Childhood Education, Yogyakarta State University)
Tangan Anak Desa 