Dedication to Help Kids Learn through Multiple Intelligence (MI) - Pn Razmah Dahlan from R.E.A.L Kids Wangsa Melawati

Privileged to meet Principal Ms Gina (R.E.A.L Kids Suria) and Principal Pn Razmah (R.E.A.L Kids Wangsa Melawati) during KPI Visit on 22nd Dec 2015.

What is dedication to serve in education industry? I do not know for sure. But Pn Razmah opened my eyes to see it from one perspective - she traveled daily from Semenyih to Wangsa Melawati to run a preschool she believes in, R.E.A.L Kids Wangsa Melawati, where Multiple Intelligence is practiced under Ms Esther Yong's leadership.

Do you know that your kids can learn most effectively when guided with their inborn intelligence?

I'm sure most of us have heard stories of how teachers manage to get kids attention by playing music. But have you heard of special cases whereby a Special Kid was able to stay focused when you give her a book to read by herself? This special kid later proved to be outstanding under Pn Razmah's patient guidance. She turned out to be self-smart! What happened was, all children were coached to perform their parts during an upcoming Concert. Towards the event date, suddenly there was an unanticipated change of venue. Every child was stunned and was not able to perform as practiced during the event with the exception of this little girl. She turned out to love the surprises and she danced and sang like a fairytale princess, fully utilizing her new stage. Her mother was so impressed!

Another instance Pn Razmah shared was another self-smart or Intrapersonal child she guided when she was a teacher. Little did Pn Razmah know that Little B is actually very active and good at impersonation at home. She was so surprised when Little B's grandmother shared with her that Little B sat grandma at a little desk back at home, flipped her exercise book and repeated the entire session Razmah taught back at school. She was playing the role of a Teacher at the tender age of 5. She imitated even Razmah's slang, gestures and every single word she said. So fellow teachers, please do not assume that the quiet little child in your class is a slow learner. You'll be surprised how smart they actually are.

A final note I caught in Pn Razmah's office before I bid her thank you and goodbye for her warm hospitality during KPI visit, I found it interesting and had taken a picture of it here for us to ponder.

Ability is what you're capable of doing; Motivation determines what you do; Attitude determines how well you do it.

Test of Faith by Teacher Nik Waheeda - R.E.A.L Kids Kota Damansara

An inspiring finding by Teacher Nik Waheeda, something worth your time reading if you cared about helping your child improve but nothing seemed to work no matter how hard you tried.

Teacher Nik Waheeda is a Counselor by profession and she chose to work with children. 

This is her story.

“What do I do with you? Can someone help me, show me? How to deal with you?”

During her capacity as a trainee counselor, Teacher Waheeda has chosen to work with children. Her client was a very young boy, few years old. She was very excited because the boy was her first ever client! All bright-eyed, she looked at him, he looked at her in return, for 5 minutes.

“I’m trained. Let him play. Do whatever he wants.” One hour passed, nobody talked. “Okay. At least nobody died or cried.” Teacher Waheeda thought.

On the second appointment, Teacher Waheeda was ready with some ammunition. “I’ve tried this before and I can do it!” She looked at the little boy, said “Hi”. He went to his toy. For the next 15 to 30 minutes she was only watching him. Then the next 45 minutes to 1 hour. “This is a child, I don’t know what to do!!”

Third occasion, Waheeda kept herself high-spirited and dared herself to speak up to the boy, “What do you want to do today?” Deep down she was starting to get anxious, “I’m going to fail my practicum.”

“What have I done wrong? I know all techniques. I’ve attended all seminars and I’ve aced all my subjects! Seven levels of workshop! I’ve sat on the floor with the boy, rolled on the floor in sand, spoke baby talks. But time after time, it fails! Should I give up? This is not what I signed up for. Had I bitten more than I can chew?”

On the other hand, there is this little voice in her head that speaks softly to her, “Don’t give up.” There she recollected herself on her advanced techniques. Enacted with her friends and asked them if they think this or that could work, or rather not work.

Just shortly before she was about to give up, Teacher Waheeda recalled the most basic of all principles she learned back in school from a Principal Psychologist Carl Rogers, an influential American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach to psychology.  

“Everybody has the potential capacity to change on his own.”

A counselor’s job is to provide the Environment (Pot). The client is the Seed. What necessitates the change comes from the counselor’s act of adding the necessary ingredients (water, soil, sunlight, fertilizer). So what is the missing ingredient?

The lack of faith! Teacher Nik Waheeda realized that she did not believe in her client! All she needed to do is to know for certain that he can change. Throw all the advanced techniques, sat there and be with him. Slowly he began to make small little changes and blossomed from a seed to a flower. Compared to normal child, this change was nothing. Her faith was tested.

So my dear friends, parents, teachers and counselors, have faith in your little ones. Know that they have the ability to change themselves for the better. This could be all it takes to help them make that tiny little change on a daily basis that could eventually transform them into lovely and responsible adults. Faith and Patience are great combination of Characters that could bring Hope to live.