Belajar dengan metode Mind Mapping

Masa ulangan umum baru saja berlalu. Tahun ini, merupakan tahun pertama kami mendampingi Fia mempersiapkan dirinya untuk mengikuti ulangan umum pertamanya. Kemarin, hasil ulangan umumnya dibagikan. Kami cukup puas dengan hasil yang diperoleh Fia.

Ada satu hal yang menarik dari proses ulangan umum Fia yang pertama ini yang bisa ditarik pelajaran darinya, yaitu belajar dengan menggunakan metode mind mapping. Metode ini ditemukan dan dikembangkan oleh Tony Buzan untuk mempermudah memahami dan mengingat pelajaran. Metode inilah yang ingin kami terapkan untuk Fia dalam mempersiapkan dirinya/

Awalnya, usaha ini kami terapkan saat Fia menghadapi ulangan harian-nya. Di buku belajarnya, Fia kami dampingi untuk mulai memahami topik pembelajarannya dengan menggunakan gambar. Saat itu, kami sedang menolongnya belajar Sains/IPA. Ada satu bab yang harus dipelajarinya. Berikut langkah yang kami lalui bersama:
- menyiapkan buku kosong dan spidol
- menyiapkan buku teks atau bahan pelajaran yang akan dipelajari
- mengajak Fia menentukan topi utama dari pelajaran tersebut (diambil dari judul utama). Pertama-tama tentunya dijelaskan apa itu topik utama
- menggambar dan menulis topik utama di tengah kertas
- melihat terlebih dahulu sub-sub bagian yang akan dibahas dari bab tersebut lalu dibuatkan masing-masing garis penghubungnya
- mulai membaca tiap sub bagian untuk kemudian membuatkan garis penghubung yang menerangkan bagian itu
- setelah satu bab selesai kami baca dan kami gambar atau tuliskan penjelasannya, maka jadilah pelajaran Sains bab sekian yang terdiri dari beberapa halaman ke dalam satu halaman saja
- Fia dengan mudah mempelajari dan mengingat kembali pelajaran dalam mind map itu.

Ulangan umum Fia untuk Sains/IPA mendapat nilai 100 (satu-satunya angka tertinggi dibandingkan mata pelajaran lainnya). Dan, setelah saya ingat untuk persiapan sains, Fia telah mempersiapkan dirinya satu minggu sebelumnya dengan menerapkan metode mind mapping. Kami membuatnya dengan komputer dengan menentukan topik utamanya serta garis sub bagiannya untuk kemudian dilengkapi oleh Fia.

Malam sebelumnya, saya hanya membantunya belajar kembali dengan mengulang bahan pelajaran itu dengan menggunakan mind map yang dibuatnya seminggu sebelumnya. Tidak lebih dari 15 menit proses pengulangan itu.

Dengan hasil yang dicapainya, angka 100, telah membuktikan bahwa belajar dengan menggunakan metode mind mapping maka hasil yang dicapai oleh anak dalam hal pemahaman dan memori mencapai sempurna. Selain itu, proses ini tidak butuh waktu yang lama, sederhana, simpel, menjangkau semua bahan, dan membuat anak lebih santai, tidak stress saat menghadapi ulangan harian maupun ulangan umum.

Cautions from children

One day at the afternoon, Fia came to me and told me her story after school time that day.
It was a rainy day, Mum.
Om Slamet picked me up with with an umbrella.
At the back, it was Raymond with his mum.
Then I heard his saying, here's the beautiful. His mum was smiling.
Fia was smiling bashfuly when she finished the story.
On the other night, I asked her to tell her dad the story. We looked each other.
Isn't it a bel that our daughter has spread out her beauty just at her firs level at primary? Hmmm...wait till she grown up! Be careful of your daughter, Mum, Dad!

Last night, it came to Yosua and myself a pen and few papers to draw on.
He drawed a child who played a kite.

Mum...mum...his father ruins the kite
Moreover, he burns it!
Then his mum buys antoher kite for him.
Yosua finished his story.

Why did his father so mean? Dad asked to him.
Yosua didn't asnwer.

Was it because you are afraid when Dad is angry?
Yes...we're frightened when you get angry, Dad! Fia and Yosua expressed their feeling eagerly.

Who else is frighted when I get angry, raise your hand!
Dad said.
Three of us raised our hands.

From now on, I promised I wont get angry explosively anymore! Dad promised.

Then we all smiled.

First day at school

Remember your first day at the beginning of school time when you were a Primary student? Remember the new class you entered every year when you were upgraded year after year? New clothes, new friends, new teachers or even new school for some of us.

I found it was always an exciting time when I had to come the first day in the new class every year. I remember when i was given a new school bag with a pair of new shoes as well. How well i prepared my pencil case with eraser, pencils, sharperner and pens inside. If possible, I chose the ones with a cute character such as Hello Kitty as well as my handkerchief. Then the new year of schooling time began...

Now, I face similar situation when i had to take Fia and Yosua on their first school day. Fia was soo excited .. she can't stop telling me so many stories until late that Sunday night. At the very next day, she awoke at 4.30am. She only had few hours of sleeping!!!! Surprisingly, she did it by herself....well...it never happened before during her Preschool time!

We arrived safely at the school after had a very bad traffic. Hmm...should leave home earlier. The bell rang ... a teacher came to lead the children entered their new class. Since it was still in orientation time, the school finished at 9 am.

We arrived at the third day of those orientation days. All the Grade 1 students were given a party hat and a baloon. They were so excited...Some students accidently lose the baloon because they are not holding it properly. But they got the replacement anyway..very well prepared, teachers!

Now, all the students and parent gathered in the school field. A leader teacher was saying that the baloon will be released together when the sirene sounded. It means that they have to release their 'preschool habits'! Less play time, less tv time and more study instead. Then the sirene sounding....the children unhold their baloon string cheerfully and all the baloons went up, flying to the sky -- creating letters C, Fia said. Very nice and touch moment to me personally. It suddenly rang me that Fia has started her new time of schooling, that I believe it will require more attention, more supports, more understanding, and more learning.

Although Yosua also started his Pre school time, I believe he needs above mentioned as well. I'm pretty sure that each child has their own uniqness in their learning process.

I must be prepared as well as I prepared Fia and Yosua for their new time of formal education. As previous experiences, the time will fly very fast, I belive. And I don't want to loose every single opportunity with my children whenever they need me.

Please give me your strength, God! And give me your wisdom to be with them in their learning path and understand the ways what to do in it.