IMPROVING LANGUAGE SKILLS THROUGH STORYTELLING METHODS USING PICTURE BOOK MEDIA

Learning in early childhood education (ECE) is aimed at helping children's development and growth. A child's language ability is important because it is thru language that children communicate with their peers around them. Storytelling methods have various benefits, including developing children's vocabulary, speaking skills, and training their mental courage to retell stories in front of the class. The use of picture books can improve children's language skills by responding to teacher's questions after listening to a story using picture books. The research method uses classroom action research (CAR) with the Kemmis and Mc Taggart model design, consisting of 4 stages: action planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. The research subjects were the students of group A at TK Islamic Centre Baturaja, totaling 10 children, consisting of 8 girls and 2 boys. The storytelling method using picture books as a storytelling medium has been proven to improve children's language skills. In Cycle I, the average percentage score for each indicator reached 68%, and in Cycle II, the average percentage score for each indicator reached 85%. Therefore, Cycle II meets the criteria for successful action, indicating very good development (BSB), with the criteria for success based on the average percentage score for each indicator reaching 75%. Based on the data analysis results obtained from this study, it can be concluded that the storytelling method using picture books is successful in improving the language skills of children in Group A.