Little Leaders

Students who possess greater intelligence than their classmates should be given trust and responsibility. Teachers can appoint them to lead a few classmates and teach the material they have already understood. By doing so, they will gain a deeper understanding because they must relearn the material through explanation. Their self-confidence will also grow. Meanwhile, the students being taught may feel more relaxed because they are learning from their peers and will likely be motivated to reach the same level of understanding.

Adam is a student who quickly understands lessons. Once he has grasped the material being studied, he tends to draw or chat with nearby classmates. His influence spreads quickly, and soon the classroom becomes noisy—not because students are discussing the lesson, but because they are sharing childish gossip.

Should Adam be punished? Not necessarily. Instead, he should be kept busy in a productive way while still being supervised. The teacher can appoint him as the leader of a small study group. He can be made responsible for teaching the material he understands to two or three classmates at first so that he does not become overwhelmed in managing the group. However, this process still requires supervision because Adam may return to chatting about unrelated topics instead of discussing the lesson.

The same method can be applied to Nabila and Aliza. Each of them may choose several classmates they enjoy working with to teach. Afterward, the class can be divided into separate groups that remain close enough for the learning atmosphere to be visible to everyone. Around ten to fifteen minutes may be given for discussion and understanding. When the allotted time ends, each group presents what they have learned. Through this process, it becomes clear which groups are better able to learn and cooperate as a team.

To identify weaknesses, the teacher may observe whether the group leader lacks the ability to explain the material clearly or whether the students being taught are simply not suited to this learning method. Personal guidance from the teacher is still necessary so that, in the future, the students can work together more effectively in achieving learning targets.

The writer has read that this learning method feels more relaxed. Because students are not entirely dependent on the main classroom teacher, they tend to think more creatively by developing their own ways of understanding the material. These methods emerge through group discussion and mutual agreement led by their respective group leaders.

Exceptional intelligence and the trust given to gifted students are powerful forces that can effectively influence their classmates to become smarter and more trustworthy as well. They, too, will aspire to gain the opportunity to become “little leaders” in the classroom.

Zulkarnain Patwa
Bulukumba, Friday, May 15, 2026