Teaching materials are the resources a teacher uses to deliver instruction.

Each
teacher requires a range of tools to draw upon in order to assist and support pupils learning.
Textbook is very important in the teaching and learning sessions. In examples, the textbook
that been provided in the Malaysian primary schools is following the curriculum standard of
KSSR, so the textbook is important as all the teacher need to use it and make sure all the
pupils have the same education. When considering the use of materials, Widdowson wrote
It has been traditionally supposed that the language presented to learners should be
simplified in some way for easy access and acquisition. Nowadays there are
recommendations that the language presented should be authentic. (Widdowson 1990:67).
In this essay, I will be discussing on the evaluation of the materials I have used in the task 1
on the topic unit 4: Beware, from the textbook for standard 4 KSSR syllabuses as a teaching
and learning materials.
Based on my reading, the teaching and learning materials of the chosen topic can be
evaluate from many aspects such as higher-order thinking, depth of knowledge,
connectedness to the world beyond the classroom, substantive conversation and social
support for pupils achievements. According to the higher-order thinking criteria, I think that
the topic I have chosen can trigger the higher-order thinking of the pupils. This is because in
the topic, there are so many activities can be done such as listening, reading, speaking and
solves the jigsaw puzzle. The higher-order thinking that I mentioned is about the thinking
skills of the pupils must be beyond their normal level based on the materials such as reading
text, pictures and songs. In examples, from the chapter on the textbook that I have choose
on the listening and speaking sessions, there the pictures given and questions asked what
should you do when you saw the lion? This will helps the pupils to think further and know the
answer of the question given. It is a good material given to the pupils as it will helps the
pupils to improve their high-order thinking levels. So, it is suitable with the KSSR concept as
to prepare the pupils that are creative in their thinking.
Furthermore, the next criterion on the chapter as the teaching and learning materials
is about the depth of knowledge. Depth of knowledge is regarding to the ideas in a lesson
and to the level of understanding that students demonstrate as they consider these ideas
based on the materials given to them. In the easier definition is the understanding of the
pupils to follow the teaching and learning sessions based on the materials used. In
examples, from the chapter that I have chosen, there are parts that some questions in the
form on wheel was given as to teach the pupils about answering the questions by giving the
correct answer based on their reading. So, from that, the pupils will understand the learning
and knows how to answer the question correctly. The use of the question and wheel of
questions are a prove that the authenticity of the chapter as a teaching and learning material
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for learning English and it is suitable with the concept of the KSSR standards as to prepare
human beings that are critical and innovative.
Other than that, based on the evaluation on the chapter that I have chosen must
connect to the world beyond the classroom. It means that there is connection to the larger
social context within which students live as the pupils can practice what they have learnt in
their everyday life situation. For example from the chapter, there are parts given on listening
and speaking which the pupils are given to hear the sound of different animals and try to
guess what animals was that. Hence, when the pupils learn that part, he or she will know the
sound of the animal and they also can picture the animals. This is a good material as it
teaches the real life situation to the pupils and connected to their daily life experiences. In
addition, it shows that the chapter is suitable to the teaching and learning material for
English language. Instead of that, it is also connected to the principle of the KSSR as to
produce the human being that is well-balanced as they can deduce ways to solve their life
problems. In examples is guess the animals based on the sound that they hear clearly.
In conclusion, the unit 4 chapters that I have chosen from year 4 KSSR English
textbook is a good and suitable materials that can be used and implemented in the teaching
and learning session in order to prepare the pupils to achieve the principles in the KSSR.
Furthermore, it is depends on the teacher that teach the pupils to choose the good ways to
deliver the lessons, so the pupils will get better understanding and achieve the teaching and
learning objectives. It is suitable with what have been said by Albert Einstein that I never
teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn. it means
that a good teacher should have a great idea on how to help their pupils learn or gain the
knowledge.
( 850 words )

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