EDL1240 – Introduction to Teaching Assignment 1B: 3R Reflective Writing Tutor: Sasha Janes Student name: Benjamin Pugh Student ID: 10527152 Campus & time: Mount Lawley, Tuesday Due date: Monday, May 3, 11:59PM How do effective teachers create and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for their students? Reporting: On day one, ‘Teacher A’ opened the classroom door and greeted the year one students as they entered the learning space. When the students got set up with their pencil buckets on their desks and their chairs under the desks, Teacher A reminded the students to get their letter booklets out and to start practicing their letters. Teacher A would then observe these students whilst walking around the classroom, providing assistance and further instructions to the students. Teacher A would then inform the students to pack away their letter booklets and to fold their arms and look towards the front of the classroom. Teacher A would then start singing a rhyme about mutual respect and why it is fun to learn, then the students would then sing along. Throughout the day, Teacher A would constantly make sure the students understood what they were meant to be doing. On day two, Teacher A would do the same thing and open the classroom door for the students and greet them as they entered the learning space. After Teacher A instructed the students to do their daily morning activities, Teacher A then instructed the students to sit on the floor at the front of the classroom. Teacher A had previously put different coloured spots all around the front of the classroom, as she uses these spots to instruct the students to sit on them, to prevent any unnecessary poor behaviour by splitting up friends who may distract each other. During this day of practicum, Teacher A would sit the students down at the front of the classroom to practice their phonics. Teacher A would read aloud and pronounce these letters/words and constantly repeat them at least five times for each letter/word. Relating: It is vital that educators interact with their students from the moment they enter the learning area. Students value their teachers. It has been shown that students make decisions about their future studies based on their impressions of the teachers they associate with (Tellhed et al., 2017, pp. 86–96). Teacher A would open the classroom door early enough so that she could interact with the students. This is a pivotal aspect of a child’s education as the student’s will feel as if they belong in the classroom. How teachers communicate with students individually and in groups is an essential element of teaching as it can affect students' interest and decisions, and therefore the quality of learning (Roxå & Marquis, 2019, pp. 342–353). Repetition is a crucial aspect of the students’ education. Throughout the day, when Teacher A would work on phonics with the students, she would constantly repeat herself so the students could then also repeat it out loud, making them remember the things they are being taught. According to (Bruner, 2001), “Repetition matters because it can hasten and deepen the engagement process”. As Teacher A read the phonics out loud, she also got the students to repeat what she was saying. Repetition is an important learning tool because it aids in the transition of a skill from the conscious to the subconscious mind. A skill is developed and rehearsed over time through repetition, and it progressively becomes easier (Focus and Repetition in Learning - APL nextED, Inc., 2020). Reconstructing: As I entered the classroom for the first time on my first day of practicum, I was impressed to see the students already getting prepared by getting their desks set up and start completing their letter booklets. I was able to clearly identify that Teacher A has a close bond with these students, resulting in more productive education for the students. I was able to recognise the strategies Teacher A used to control the classroom, which were by placing students where she wanted them to be sat at the front of the classroom. I was also able to identify the constant encouragement of mutual respect within the classroom, which made the classroom feel as if it was a safe place where everyone could share ideas without any judgement. During my time at practicum, I could also see Teacher A constantly walking around the classroom, providing assistance to students if they were confused. These are all strategies that I would like to adopt as an educator, as I can see what differences these things can make within a classroom. References Bruner, R. (2001). Repetition is the First Principle of All Learning. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228318502_Repetition_is_the_First_Princip le_of_All_Learning Focus and Repetition in Learning - APL nextED, Inc. (2020). Aplnexted.com. https://aplnexted.com/focus-and-repetition-in-learning/ Roxå, T., & Marquis, E. (2019). Teachers interacting with students: an important (and potentially overlooked) domain for academic development during times of impact (pp. 342–353). Tellhed, U., Bäckström, M., & Björklund, F. (2017). Will I Fit in and Do Well? The Importance of Social Belongingness and Self-Efficacy for Explaining Gender Differences in Interest in STEM and HEED Majors (pp. 86–96).
