Reflective Journal.
22nd March, 2009.
Today I attended class 1/4 with Ms. R. I was with her for English, Math and Science
(3 lessons), and with Ms. N for Arabic (1 lesson). Ms. R is a very good teacher. She
uses good strategies to manage the classroom. She doesn't shout at them, instead she
uses some games to manage them (Simon Says). I think her students like her because
they were on task and their behavior with her was completely different to that with
Ms. N. This may be because she is speaking to them in a loud voice. Another reason
could be that she takes time to organize her things and the student's are sitting without
being occupied waiting on her. Ms. R is very organized.
I also attended two meetings today. 1 with Fiona and R to clarify what I will be doing
this week and the other was a grade one preparation meeting. Both meetings ran very
smoothly. Everyone knew his role and what they had to do. I will prepare lesson 5
for next week.
I have some questions/observations from today's lessons:
1. If you would like to change the names on the desks, can I help you with this?
2. Bilingualism: The student's understand the teacher when she speaks in English, but
they answer her in Arabic. Do we need to encourage them to use more English?
What if they do not understand me, should I talk to them in Arabic?
3. Homework: Do they have daily homework? If so, what is the procedure for
collecting it?
4. Calendar: When they were asked about the date, they did not know it readily. Can I
make a calendar for the classroom to help with this? If yes, where can I put it?
5. Group Leaders: This is a very god idea. How is he chosen each day/week/month?
Is it a different one every time?
6. Learning Environment:
I found it difficult to move between the groups whilst they were working.
Sitting on the floor when you are reading a story to them is a very good idea. I like
it very much, but I think that the student's may be uncomfortable.
Can we discuss my above points and try to think of a solution that suits us
both.
I.: How do you keep him on the task at hand? I think he needs to be busy all the
time? Am I right?
Reflective Journal.
23rd March, 2009.
Today I attended four periods. The first period was Arabic. It was revision of the
grammar that they had learned the day before. I expected the students to behave in a
good way during this period as it was the first lesson, and they always behave well in
the first lesson (I don't know why). However, they did not behave well at all for Ms.
N. Why do they do this in Arabic? They are totally different with Ms. R.
Second lesson was science. R started the science period with a game called 'The
Shark Game' I haven't heard about this game before and I think that I am going to
learn more from Ms. R everyday. She related the game to today's lesson by asking
them if a shark is living or non living. Where does the shark live? The lesson ran
smoothly as usual.
The fifth lesson was English. She used the data show to present a story. The boys
were very engaged in this activity. It is a very good idea to use the data show. I think
I will use it when I want to read a story for them.
The sixth period was math. She used a worksheet that needed scissors. The student's
had some with them but we needed more. I brought some from my office.
Unfortunately, a student cut himself with the scissors. I think that we must use proper
child safety scissors and if any of my activities need scissors then I will work group
by group and use the plastic scissors.
Reflection Journal.
24th March, 2009.
Today I expected to attend three lessons. Arabic, English and Math. Ms. R was
absent and so I taught English and Math for her. I attended the first lesson of the day
which was with Ms. N, the Arabic teacher. As usual they did not behave for her.
During the second period, I spoke with them about two very important class rules.
1. Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself.
2. Respect your classmates.
I spoke with them mostly in Arabic to explain to them that these two rules are
important and should be followed all the time. We discussed where we can put out
bags so that there is room to move around the classroom. We decided to put them
against the wall. I will mention this to Ms. R tomorrow and if she agrees, we can
move them there.
Fiona came to the class for the last ten minutes. She spoke with them and she said to
me that I. needs to be busy all the time. I'm glad because we have the same idea about
him.
The third lesson was English and they had a worksheet about story sequencing. T
read the story to them and then we sequenced the pictures orally. Then they
completed the worksheet. The engaged themselves with me throughout the lesson
and I am very happy about this as they do not work well with other teachers.
I met today with M, my Arabic mentor. I asked her about preparation and she will
meet me tomorrow at 9.30.
Reflective Journal.
25th March, 2009.
My schedule today was:
1st
Period
2nd
Period
Math
English
3rd
Period
Meeting
with
Fiona
4th
Period
Meeting
with
Ml
5th
Period
6th
Period
Science
Arabic
The four periods were the same as every day. Nothing new happened. My meeting
with Fiona didn't take much time. I only asked her if I can take my intern in M's
classroom and I prefer to observe my Arabic mentor in her classroom and my
schedule does not fit hers. M said she can change her schedule to fit mine, so that I
can attend Arabic in 1/3. I know she has a lot to teach me.
Reflective Journal.
29th March, 2009.
Today I was in 1/4.
First lesson I observed R in a math lesson. She played a new game with a teddy bear.
She used the teddy bear in many different game strategies. Once she said a number
and threw the teddy to the student, he had to catch it and then say the number that
came next. Another time, she said a number and threw the teddy to a child and he had
to count on by 5. It is a nice way to study math in a fun way with games like this. I
like her strategy.
Second lesson was English. She taught them about their family members. Her main
activity was drawing their family. This was the assessment tool that was used to
determine their prior knowledge. The boys drew many funny pictures. It was a nice
activity to express their feelings about each one of his family members.
Third lesson was Arabic. It was writing about what you see in each picture, and then
re-telling the story. I enjoyed the lesson today and I learned from her a strategy in this
lesson. The student's for the very first time were quiet in the Arabic lesson. They
listened and were active learners. Ms. R attended the lesson with us and I really want
to know why they are very polite when she entered the classroom? Why do they
always misbehave for the Arabic teacher?
Fourth period was a Grade 1 planning meeting. It was a good meeting and I learned
more about lesson planning. I will prepare the last day which is an evaluation of what
the students learned during this week. I will need some more explanation about that
and some help from Fiona.
Fifth lesson was supposed to be a science lesson, but Ms. R completed the English
lesson. We were very tired and the student's were quite noisy. I think because this
lesson comes after two breaks and it is at the end of the day, they are tired from
playing and running. Could we possible put a lot of energetic activities here?