SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN SUNGAI PULAU 36400 HUTAN MELINTANG PERAK KAJIAN TINDAKAN 2004

MASTERING VOCAB Adding Vocabulary List By Building words from a series Of letters

By : EN. KUMARAN A/L THULAISI

15 JUNE 2004

INDEX

PAGES

Acknowledgement Abstract Reflection of Teaching & Learning Problems & Difficulties Research objectives Target group To carry out Result analysis Conclusion Action taken Carrying out & observation Reflection for the action taken Enclosure Bibliography 8/9 5 6 1 2 2 3 3

10

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A special thanks to all the teachers in SK Sungai Pulau,especially the year 6 pupils who contributed for the research of this project.With their co-operation The process of collecting the data needed was much easier.Our hope is for this research to contribute in achieving educational excellence.This program helps pupils and parents identify the weakness in themselves and improve it . ABSTRACT The purpose of this research is to improve and overcome problems faced by the pupils in vocabulary, and so that they can remember and memorize more vocabulary.This will help the pupils to improve their essay writing skills.those choosen for the research are 22 ,year 6 pupils from SK Sungai Pulau. A diagnosis test which was conducted before this,shows pupils are weak in vocabulary.Because of this they face difficulties in making sentences or writing an essay.Furthermore,this limits the pupils ability to arrange words to make a complete sentence. The Mastering Vocab program is conducted to overcome these pupils problems and difficulties.This program encourages peer and group work among the pupils.Eventually the pupils are more encouraged to increase their list of vocabulary.The dictionary is the main source of their reference material.During this activity the teacher gives the pupils a list of letters.Pupils in groups has to come up with as many words as they can think of from the list of letters given.They are given 15 minutes for the activity.The Post Test indicates improvement in pupils vocabulary list.

(1) 1. REFLECTION OF TEACHING AND LEARNING (The past) In my previous teaching and learning sessions most of my year 6 pupils were not able to write a complete sentence.This is because of their lack of vocabulary list in English.this becomes a problem when the pupils try to write sentences. The main cause of this problem is the pupils way of thinking.They intend to loose interest in English lessons because the pupils think this subject is difficult.such thought causes lack of interest towards English learning materials.My pupils do not read many English materials such as newspapers and story books. When they go to the library during their free time,the pupils are more interested in reading Bahasa Melayu by the teacher during the English lessons. Because of these problem,the English teachers in this school has come up with an idea to run this program called Mastering Vocab.It is our hope that this program will help the pupils increase their vocabulary. 2. PROBLEMS & DIFFICULTIES materials rather than English materials.They only read the English materials when instructed

Pupils knowledge of vocabulary is very poor. No interest in English reading materials. No interest in English subject. Rarely uses dictionary.

(2) 3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 3.1 General objectives Increase pupils knowledge in vocabulary so that they can apply them in building sentences to write essays. 3.2 Specific objectives a) Increase pupils memorizing skills so that they can remember more words. b) Referring to English reading materials and dictionary. c) To arouse their interest towards English language. d) To encourage co-operation among the pupils. 4. TARGET GROUP The target group is 22,year 6 pupils from SK Sungai Pulau. 5. TO CARRY OUT 5.1 Problems 1. Poor knowledge of vocabulary - only 27 percentage of pupils have satisfying knowledge of vocabulary. 2. Lack of individual and group work - the weak pupils do not seek help from their friends or the teacher during an activity. 3. Lack of reading and usage of dictionary - the pupils read less and seldom use their dictionary during the teaching

and learning period.

(3) 5.2 Carrying out the programme Analysis of the problems i. Poor knowledge of vocabulary Diagnosis Test(individual) The pupils are given the letter A .They are given 10 minutes to list as many words as they can starting with the given letter.Use of dictionary is not allowed. The Results Number of words 0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 Number of pupils 12 4 6 -

This analysis shows the pupils weakness in vocabulary.Only 55 percentage of pupils can come out with 0-5 words in the given time. Results of the programme Mastering Vocab The pupils are divided into 5 groups (3 groups have 4 pupils, 2 groups have 5 pupils.

(4)

Result Analysis of Mastering Vocab Groups V6 W6 X6 Y6 Z6 Number of words 10-20 20-30 20-30 10-20 10-20

According to the results analysis,I find that most of the pupils can master 10-20 words,compared to 0-5 words during the diagnosis test.This shows a satisfying result. The similar activities have been conducted individually.These are the results: Post Test (individual analysis) Number of words MV1 0-10 6 11-20 16 21-30 Total 22 5 MV Mastering Vocab MV2 5 16 1 22 MV3 5 12 5 22

The results shows some improvement in pupils vocabulary skills,especially the weak pupils.

(5) ii. Lack of individual and group work - Through this program pupils are encouraged to help each other to find out as many words as they could.Each groups success depends on the group members co-operation.

iii. Lack of reading and usage of dictionary - The use of reading materials and dictionary is a must for this activity. Thus,the pupils can maximize its use.This encourages reading habits. CONCLUSION This activity not only increases pupils vocabulary,it encourages group work.the pupils are more interested towards English reading materials.They also use the dictionary on a regular basis.This encourages pupils self confidence when using the dictionary.Now, they can find the meanings much faster.

(6) 5.3 Action taken Each groups are given a series of letters. Using the letters the pupils are required to write down as many words as they can think of in 15 minutes.

 They can refer to their dictionary and other English materials. Example :

C A
1. CAT 2. RAT 3. BAT 4. SACK

T R

B U
6. BARK 7. BUNCH 8. LUNCH 9. GRASS

N H

L G

S K

E S

5. HUNT 10. BREAK The pupils can write down words with 3,4,or 5 letters.Each letters can be used only once in a word.

(7) 5.4 Carrying out and observation 5.4.1 Mastering Vocab programme i. Observation

The

pupils

are

more

interested

to

participate

in

the

activities.They are enthusiastic to learn more about vocabulary.I find that it is easier for them to remember words with 3 and 4 letters. ii. Reflection This programme has encouraged pupils to read more English materials for example story books.It has also developed a positive competition among the groups. It makes them work harder to increase their vocabulary list.Besides that,it also improves pupils memorizing skills.

(8) 5.4.2 Lack of individual and group work i. Observation In their respective groups pupils interact among each other.The excellent achievers help out the average and weak pupils.The weak pupils also try their best to help their groups.

ii. Reflection The change of attitude is satisfying.More group work.The pupils help each other. 5.4.3 Lack of reading and usage of dictionary i. Observation Pupils use the dictionary regularly compared to previous lessons.The weak pupils learn how to use the dictionary and find the words quickly.This effort helps their group members. ii. Reflection Before the activity starts it is compulsory for the pupils to prepare their dictionary and other reading materials.This indirectly encourages the pupils to go to the school library.There they read and choose suitable materials for themselves.

(9) 5.5 Reflection for the action taken i. Pupils change of attitude Through the programme Mastering Vocab pupils not only increase their knowledge of vocabulary but also self-confidence to learn English.This can be seen during the teaching & learning sessions in the classroom.Pupils who were shy before are interested to give meaning of words and answer questions asked in the classroom.

ii. Conclusion Pupils now show interest to learn and carry out given activities.The weak students are more active. Usage of dictionary has increased.Now the pupils use the dictionary regularly.most of them are interested in English story books. And I find that the relationship between the pupils are much better. 6. suggestion for up coming activity I plan to bring this programme to the next level,which is to teach my pupils to build sentences from the list of vocabulary they have learned and memorized .More emphasis will be given towards Past Tense sentences.The pupils will learn to build correct grammatical sentences.

(10)

SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN SUNGAI PULAU (MASTERING VOCAB)

NAME :.. . Instructions 1.Given below is a letter.

CLASS :

2.Use the letter to write down as many words as you can. 3.You cannot refer to a dictionary or other reading materials. 4.You are given 10 minutes.

A
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN SUNGAI PULAU 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

(MASTERING VOCAB) NAME :.. . Instructions 1. Below are series of letters. 2. Use the letters to write down as many words as you can.You can make words with 3,4 or 5 letters. 3. A letter can be used only once in a word. 4. You are given 15 minutes. MV1 CLASS :

C A
Example : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5

T R

B U

N H

L G

S K

E S

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN SUNGAI PULAU

(MASTERING VOCAB) NAME :.. . Instructions 5. Below are series of letters. 6. Use the letters to write down as many words as you can.You can make words with 3,4 or 5 letters. 7. A letter can be used only once in a word. 8. You are given 15 minutes. MV2 CLASS :

A E
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5

C K

I G

E K
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

J I

C J

G A

SEKOLAH KEBANGSAAN SUNGAI PULAU

(MASTERING VOCAB) NAME :.. . Instructions 9. Below are series of letters. 10. 11. 12. Use the letters to write down as many words as you A letter can be used only once in a word. You are given 15 minutes. MV3 can.You can make words with 3,4 or 5 letters. CLASS :

D F
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5

I J

M O

P Q
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

V W

K Y

Z A

Bibliography

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

http://www.tutor.com.my http://www.smic.be/smic5022/vocex2.htm http://thestar.com.my/education/nie http://www.vocabulary.com/ http://www.vocabulary.co.il/