These Regional Facilitators or Fasilitator Daerah (Fasda) play an important role in the implementation of trainings aimed at improving the quality of teaching in classrooms and schools. Endang Kusniati, S.Pd., is one of the facilitators of the Early Grade Numeracy Program that has been implemented by INOVASI in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java.
The government has issued a work-from-home policy and urged learning from home policy during the current COVID-19 pandemic. INOVASI seeks to respond quickly to the current state of education by contributing to provide support for teachers and parents with children in early grade primary schools (grades 1, 2, and 3). This contribution is in the form of developing meaningful learning activities for students, through Student Worksheet (LKS) which are designed to be used easily, both by adults who still need to teach and support their children, and for children who are able to use them independently. The following is the story of Endang who uses Numeracy LKS to support her students.
In the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, as a teacher, Endang Kusniati certainly faces challenges in managing effective learning for her students while implement Study from Home or Belajar dari Rumah (BDR). One of the solutions for Endang, who is a teacher at state elementary school SDN Gelam 2, Candi District, Sidoarjo, is to use Student Worksheet (LKS) that INOVASI has developed since last April.
According to Endang, the Numeracy LKS developed by INOVASI is very interesting and quite challenging for students to develop their abilities in mathematics. The instructions in the worksheets are very clear, the material is simple, and in accordance with the needs of students, thus it can be done independently at home with the guidance of their parents or families.
“I find the INOVASI’s Worksheet (LKS) very interesting. My students feel challenged to develop their abilities in mathematics. Not to mention that the instructions given in the worksheets are very clear. Parents can follow the instructions when accompanying their children, students can also do it independently,” said Endang.
Additionally, Endang also felt that the INOVASI LKS could provide room for students to think logically and creatively. The pictures and variations of the questions are extensive so that students do not feel bored and are interested in working sheet-by-sheet on the LKS until completed.
In the LKS there are also games that can be played with family members, so that students can improve their counting skills by playing while learning. At the end of the LKS section, there are questions that invite children to think flexibly, have the courage to ask questions and find their own answers to the questions they have formulated.
“I have been helped a lot by the LKS, especially in understanding the concept of learning mathematics. The parents are also quite enthusiastic in accompanying their children to work on these problems. I would like to thank INOVASI for its efforts to stimulate my students so that the competency of students in arithmetic becomes better,” said Endang, while ending her story.