{"id":16999,"date":"2025-09-03T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev02.inovasi.or.id\/?post_type=publication&p=16999"},"modified":"2026-03-16T08:59:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T01:59:34","slug":"nurturing-the-first-steps-of-reading-in-cirebon","status":"publish","type":"publication","link":"https:\/\/www.inovasi.or.id\/en\/publication\/nurturing-the-first-steps-of-reading-in-cirebon\/","title":{"rendered":"Nurturing the First Steps of Reading in Cirebon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>
Meet Ibu Nining, a dedicated teacher who patiently guides her students in learning to read and write. With passion and perseverance, she believes that every child has the same opportunity to build a brighter future through mastering foundational literacy skills. (\u00a9 Photo by INOVASI Communication Team)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLiteracy is not just about recognising letters but about nurturing a love of reading from the very first time a child steps into school.\u201d This belief belongs to Noerbaeti Setianingsih, warmly known as Ibu Nining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a small madrasah\u2014MI Assuniyah III in Cirebon\u2014every morning, Bu Nining greets 47 bright little faces, some of whom don\u2019t even recognise letters yet. The challenge is huge, but her passion is greater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2018, she has dedicated herself to teaching first graders\u2014a class often called the most challenging, yet the most crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenge of Teaching First Grade<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching first grade means guiding children who come straight from kindergarten and are in the process of adjusting to the higher academic demands of elementary school. Some can already read fluently, while many cannot even recognise letters. \u201cAt first, I doubted whether I could handle them, especially now with the current curriculum, children are expected to be able to read starting from the first grade, whereas in kindergarten reading is not mandatory,\u201d said Ibu Nining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She manages to find new strategies: grouping students by their reading level, scheduling extra lessons after class, and working closely with an assistant teacher so every child receives attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor me, these children are entrusted to my care by their parents. I am committed to supporting them to the best of my capacity, regardless how many students I have,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her turning point came after joining an INOVASI training that introduced levelled reading assessments. She realised that reading is no longer simply about \u201ccan or cannot read,\u201d but there are clear steps: from letters, to syllables, to words, and finally sentences.
\u201cBefore, I just taught reading straight away. After learning this assessment, I can map each of their skills\u2014who\u2019s still at the letter stage, who\u2019s at syllables. It\u2019s much more structured,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this approach, Ibu Nining began mapping her students\u2019 reading abilities carefully. The result? In just one month, the number of children who couldn\u2019t read was cut in half!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era<\/strong>
This year\u2019s International Literacy Day theme, \u201cPromoting literacy in the digital era,\u201d resonates strongly in Cirebon. Despite limited internet access, she never gave up. She prints materials from her phone, borrows books from neighbours, and even turns everyday objects into learning tools. For her, every child deserves a wider \u201cwindow\u201d to see the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This International Literacy Day, we honour teachers like Ibu Nining who reminds us that literacy can flourish in the humblest classrooms. They are the true champions of literacy, lighting the path of knowledge in the hearts of Indonesia\u2019s children.
What was your own journey to learning how to read? Which teacher left the biggest mark on your life? Share your story in the comments!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This International Literacy Day, we honour teachers like Ibu Nining who reminds us that literacy can flourish in the humblest classrooms. 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