Lara/22/Australia
I'm completing my Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle) with Honours, and this semester I'm required to keep up to date with reflections of my learning, understanding, and progress as I prepare for a research project, my final prac, and attempting to get a job.
These are my thoughts.
Monday: Rained. Testing, but the students could get started on their contract work while small groups were tested by J. It was J’s first day back after her trip away, it had been almost 4 weeks since the kids had seen her, and they were quite unsettled (the rain didn’t help). We got through some lessons I had planned but due to the testing it was out of routine. I got to see the students in quite a different light - with me taking on more authority, and how unsettling the day was. I feel like I managed them quite ok - I really wanted to find a balance between giving them some freedom, but keeping it peaceful enough to be a good learning environment. Watched some of the commonwealth games from the projector attached to the teacher’s computer, and students really enjoyed that, and produced some great writing inspired by watching the athletes.
Tuesday: Still Raining. More testing, but this time completed as a whole class. I love Tuesdays - Primary Parade, PE, Music, and Library leaves us with very few teaching sessions, which was a nice break. Especially with the rain. We had a grade 5 meeting and I learnt so much - I was able to type into the unit planning document while the teachers discussed it, and it was really good for grounding my understanding in the PYP unit planning. I followed up on the writing task they’d begun the day before, and in the afternoon directed a discussion on the appropriate use of contractions. I felt I didn’t do so well in these lessons, even though I’d planned the contractions one over the weekend.
Feedback from J included - Give clear instructions, be brief, use visual aides. These are what I need to work on most. My management is improving, and lesson transitions are ok, but my instructions get all tangled up, and the students lose focus waiting for me to say what I really mean (my words, not my teacher’s).
Wednesday: I taught most of the day. And it really wasn’t that bad. I got some excellent feedback from J and she even got me to open up to sharing my stresses, worries and what was making me nervous. I didn’t get as much work done as I’d planned, but we got through everything important. The sun also came out and the kids could play outside, so that was a huge relief. My great discussion with J this afternoon included planning the rest of the week with her (for when I’m teaching with D), and her telling me what she saw in me that made her believe I’d be a good teacher. I’m listing this to remind myself.
I really just need to work on demonstrating a little more confidence and certainty in the content I’m teaching, and give clearer instructions.
I can’t believe I have 8 days left. It feels like forever, but it feels like it will over in a flash. Wow.
