Enhancing First-Grade Students' Language Skills through the Question and Answer Method Assisted by Picture Card Media: A Classroom Action Research Study

Abstrak

This study investigates the enhancement of language skills among first-grade students at UPT SPF SDN 105308 Namo Bintang, Deli Serdang, Indonesia. The research was necessitated by observations of low language proficiency, passive student engagement, and the prevalence of teacher-centered pedagogical approaches. The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of the Question and Answer (Q&A) method integrated with picture card media in improving language understanding, expression, and literacy. The study employed a Classroom Action Research (CAR) design following the John Elliot model, conducted over two cycles involving 15 students. Data were collected via observation, documentation, and performance assessment. Results indicated a significant trajectory of improvement. In the pre-cycle analysis, 48.90% of students were categorized as "Undeveloped" (Belum Berkembang). Cycle I reduced this figure but failed to meet the success criterion of 86%. Following refinements in Cycle II, 86.66% of students achieved the "Very Well Developed" (Berkembang Sangat Baik) category across all language aspects. The study concludes that the synergistic use of Q&A and visual picture cards significantly fosters active communication, vocabulary retention, and cognitive engagement in early childhood education