Abstract:

Beginning preschool teachers (BPT) currently must not only meet the needs of administrators and children at the preschool, but also face the challenge of achieving the Malaysian Teacher Standards (Ministry of Education, 2009). This paper will discuss on a study which aimed to explore the pedagogical skills of BPT. The study also examine the information from the BPT through their thoughts on the experience when planning and implementing teaching and learning, make judgments about a pedagogical practices, and the selection of a teaching tool. The study is a case study which involved four BPT as respondents. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis. Video recording is used for the purpose of teaching observation. Video recording can facilitate researchers to record every physical movement and communication between GPP and students more accurately. The data were analyzed by means of qualitative approach to produce the appropriate theme of the BPT pedagogical skills. Two main themes emerged, that are the BPT skills in the preparation of lesson plan and implementation of teaching. The study found that two respondents (BPT1 and BPT4) had difficult to plan activities. This is due to the time factor and preschool curriculum policy. Meanwhile, another two respondents (BPT2 and BPT3) showed that they were able to prepare lesson plan for teaching well despite problems involving time and children. To solve the problem of lack of time to prepare their teaching activities, BPT2 and BPT3 have prepared a lesson plan that is simpler and easier to teach. In addition, the study found that all BPTs use two types of approaches in implementing teaching. They have implemented the thematic approach and learning through play for most of the teaching subjects. Thematic approach and learn through play has been adapted by a number of subjects such as languages, science and technology, all the BPTs prefer to practice teaching methods by means of repetition. These approaches have given positive effects on their own teaching skills and improve childrens’ achievement in terms of understanding and interest in the subject. Selection of appropriate teaching aids should involve various forms of materials, charts and interactive materials to stimulate childrens’ progress effectively. The effectiveness of using concrete objects can assist teachers in teaching the childrens' more real and understandable. The implications of these findings indicate that the implementation of learning through play in a thematic approach can increase childrens' understanding and skills of most preschool subjects. In addition, teachers need to know how to plan and manage time teaching according to childrens’ abilities to ensure progressing well.

Keywords:

Beginning preschool teacher, pedagogical skills, lesson plan, implementation of teaching.