Week 10
Date: Monday, September 23rd to Thursday, September 26th, 2019
Topic: Introduction to Unit 5 (11°) and Unit 7 (10°)
Only six weeks left for Practicum to be finished. Incredible how fast this semester has gone. Anyway, along Monday class, I feel my students a little tired. The lesson plan for that class was about Reading skill, I had to work with the student's book and also to follow some criteria for teaching. However, I felt that this was going to be a mess for the girls, so I decided to show them a short video about the topic the Unit 7 was about: Extreme Situations. I asked them for some aspects and characteristics concerning these situations, they participated and the class was saved, at least. However, I've discovered my students do not have a high reading skill and it is difficult to them to understand some words, even the easiest ones. This is a challenge, I've tried to explain them the most I can but time is not the best ally a teacher has in the educative system. It is impossible to me to cover all poblation of students at once, in one class, to explain them carefully. I want my students comprehend what they are doing. Anyway, we did the reading part, but when we started working on it, I found they were bored, when you do not understand what you are doing you are not going to have fun at all.
Although I could not explain some words to them neither carry out a good strategy for the reading part, I improved a new one in Thursday class with other group (10°13). The outcome was a positive and successful class. I brought the reading in parts, I mean, I printed the text (the same the book proposes) and then cut it in paragraphs, so the text was not in order, the objective was students had to structure the text according their understanding and previous knowledge. From this activity, I discovered that students sometimes just need different activities. Even though they were not able to organize the text, this worked as a previous activity to understand the reading in the text. They asked for unknown words and I showed them the same video I showed in Monday class as well.
Well, I had my classes with tenth grade along the week. However, I could not work with 11° with Modal Verbs (Unit 5), and this situation pissed me off. I had prepared a great class, with images, flashcards, even I create my own video about songs with modals but students were in a photo session for their grades ceremony. One as teacher, must understand that some days you miss some classes even though you had prepared the best class ever. The worst part is that I think I won't be able to teach this topic because next week they had another activity and the next is rest week and I do not have to come to school. Anyway, I left my material to my cooperative teacher, I explained my objectives with the lesson and she really liked. I think one should not be selfish when teaching.
domingo, 29 de septiembre de 2019
domingo, 22 de septiembre de 2019
Week 9: Spelling Bee preparation.
Week 9
Date: Monday, September 16th to Thursday, September 19th, 2019
Topic: Spelling Bee (10°) and Introduction to Unit 5 (11°)
Spelling Bee contest is coming. We are doing some preparation activities for both tenth and eleventh students in order they to achieve the expected outcomes. Practicing spell can be a tough aspect if one as teacher does not improve methodologies according to students wants and needs. They are teenagers and they easily get boried. So, I implemented a game, kind of broken telephone, in which, after we practices some words, I said one word to a student and she had to say it to her partner in front on she, the last student had to write the word she listened to on the board. There were tow rows of 5 students each. They enjoyed the dynamic and had fun. Also the words they listened were kind of bizarre, they even created words. This outcome allows me to go deeper in some words regarding pronunciation.
Another aspect to highlight, is that at the end of each class, a dictation quiz was also made, from it students could get bonus in their grades, I am going to check them later on and see the outcomes. Spelling Bee activity was carried out only with 10°13 and 10°14 because my teacher worked with 11°11 on Wednesday and I do not have practicum this day. However, on Thursday, I made a review about some words and then I did the dictation quiz. After it, I started a new unit, about success- and ambition-related vocabulary and modals, semi-modals, and perfect modals, although I cannot start with grammar, I just introduce the vocabulary topic.
I must say that this week I had a great challenge. My cooperative teacher had to replace a colleague and she asked me the favor of be in charge of the classes on Thursday. I did not have any problem with this, I was glad about it; students liked my class and they also participated. I felt like a "real teacher", if you know what I mean.
From this week, I learned that students really enjoy getting out from monotony and routine, they like trying new and different activities. In terms of teaching, they like their teachers to be active, almost as an actor who plays different roles when students do not understand a topic or word. If the teacher do some mimic (and act), and also uses body language, about words definitions instead of saying it at once, students will be participating in class. Another important aspect is to take into account every student's opinion, they must be part of the class, part of their learning process.
Date: Monday, September 16th to Thursday, September 19th, 2019
Topic: Spelling Bee (10°) and Introduction to Unit 5 (11°)
Spelling Bee contest is coming. We are doing some preparation activities for both tenth and eleventh students in order they to achieve the expected outcomes. Practicing spell can be a tough aspect if one as teacher does not improve methodologies according to students wants and needs. They are teenagers and they easily get boried. So, I implemented a game, kind of broken telephone, in which, after we practices some words, I said one word to a student and she had to say it to her partner in front on she, the last student had to write the word she listened to on the board. There were tow rows of 5 students each. They enjoyed the dynamic and had fun. Also the words they listened were kind of bizarre, they even created words. This outcome allows me to go deeper in some words regarding pronunciation.
Another aspect to highlight, is that at the end of each class, a dictation quiz was also made, from it students could get bonus in their grades, I am going to check them later on and see the outcomes. Spelling Bee activity was carried out only with 10°13 and 10°14 because my teacher worked with 11°11 on Wednesday and I do not have practicum this day. However, on Thursday, I made a review about some words and then I did the dictation quiz. After it, I started a new unit, about success- and ambition-related vocabulary and modals, semi-modals, and perfect modals, although I cannot start with grammar, I just introduce the vocabulary topic.
I must say that this week I had a great challenge. My cooperative teacher had to replace a colleague and she asked me the favor of be in charge of the classes on Thursday. I did not have any problem with this, I was glad about it; students liked my class and they also participated. I felt like a "real teacher", if you know what I mean.
From this week, I learned that students really enjoy getting out from monotony and routine, they like trying new and different activities. In terms of teaching, they like their teachers to be active, almost as an actor who plays different roles when students do not understand a topic or word. If the teacher do some mimic (and act), and also uses body language, about words definitions instead of saying it at once, students will be participating in class. Another important aspect is to take into account every student's opinion, they must be part of the class, part of their learning process.
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| Spelling Bee Contest |
domingo, 15 de septiembre de 2019
Week 8: Semana Bolivariana
Week 8
Date: Monday, September 9th to Thursday, September 12th, 2019
Topic: Semana Bolivariana
Along this week, some activities were carried out at school. On Monday, I helped with some preparation for students' presentation about Da Vinci. Besides that, I also checked some slides for Spelling Bee contest, with these slides the objective is to prepare students for this competition divided in three training stages before the great day. Unfortunately, I could not come in Tuesday for students presentation because I had class. I'd have liked to be there.
On Thursday, my cooperative teacher gathered with her students to share some food, this activity is called Group Sharing, in which students bring out different kind of food and share not only food but laughs, conversations, and experiences; it is not only about academic aspects and study, these moments are also important for some scattering, chilling, and avoiding stress.
During this week, I learned that students do not see teachers as strict and tight persons, they are also ready to share with them and make laugh about different situations, everything depends on teachers. This allows me to think about the breach between teachers and students, because some people believe that teachers should not to be such kind with students. I do not share this thought: if students are happy and they "feel free" in some way, they will feel comfortable and ready to learn with trust in their teachers, which is an important aspect in student - teacher relationship. I have discover that students will pay attention to classes, they also will participate and will share their feelings and thoughts, they will be more receptive. I think this is easy for me because my personality allows me to be kind without being so tight. If teachers were less strict and more comprehensive and happier with their students, I think there will be less rebel students and they will be more participative. Another thing is that teachers must enjoy education, it should be a real vocation not a kind of vacation, because some teachers think teaching is an easy job but it is not.
Date: Monday, September 9th to Thursday, September 12th, 2019
Topic: Semana Bolivariana
Along this week, some activities were carried out at school. On Monday, I helped with some preparation for students' presentation about Da Vinci. Besides that, I also checked some slides for Spelling Bee contest, with these slides the objective is to prepare students for this competition divided in three training stages before the great day. Unfortunately, I could not come in Tuesday for students presentation because I had class. I'd have liked to be there.
On Thursday, my cooperative teacher gathered with her students to share some food, this activity is called Group Sharing, in which students bring out different kind of food and share not only food but laughs, conversations, and experiences; it is not only about academic aspects and study, these moments are also important for some scattering, chilling, and avoiding stress.
During this week, I learned that students do not see teachers as strict and tight persons, they are also ready to share with them and make laugh about different situations, everything depends on teachers. This allows me to think about the breach between teachers and students, because some people believe that teachers should not to be such kind with students. I do not share this thought: if students are happy and they "feel free" in some way, they will feel comfortable and ready to learn with trust in their teachers, which is an important aspect in student - teacher relationship. I have discover that students will pay attention to classes, they also will participate and will share their feelings and thoughts, they will be more receptive. I think this is easy for me because my personality allows me to be kind without being so tight. If teachers were less strict and more comprehensive and happier with their students, I think there will be less rebel students and they will be more participative. Another thing is that teachers must enjoy education, it should be a real vocation not a kind of vacation, because some teachers think teaching is an easy job but it is not.
domingo, 8 de septiembre de 2019
Week 7: students take a break
Week 7
Date: Monday, September 2nd to Thursday, September 5th, 2019
Topic: oral evaluation and Scavenger's hunt game
Students also learn by gaming, any kind of plays. Moreover, I must say, they feel comfortable in a class, even in an evaluation if the teacher applies some theory as "Affective Filter Hypothesis", by Krashen. In this case, I started on Monday doing an oral evaluation in which I was taking into account aspects such as argumentation, fluency, structure coherence, and pronunciation. At the beginning of the class, my cooperative teacher gave me four students, while she kept the rest od the group, to evaluate. My "band" was flustered, I could smell fear in every student, but when I realized about this situation, I talked to them and I said this exam was going to be easy, like a regular class in which they actively participate and use properly the criteria given for the exam. Well, they changed their mind and immediately I could feel an ease energy, they were fearless and motivated. They participated like in an ordinary conversation (but with regular mistakes in structure). I can conclude that students are more engaged in any kind of formative process if teachers apply correctly some aspects of the theory.
In spite of this, on Thursday, my teacher prepared along with teacher Álvaro, a game called Scavenger's hunt, it is like "La Guaca" contest played at University (UPB). Students had to solve some riddles, related with Da Vinci, in order to discover places in which they could find answers for their questions sheet (10 questions). Once they solved each question, they returned back to us (Luz Dary and I) to check for their answers, if it was correct they could go for the next questions and so on. At the end of each class (this day I had three classes) everyone finished a little tired because the running day. I discover that students can take a break from notebooks and learn in another way, however, teachers must design properly each activity in order to develop a holistic learning process according to the topics students have learned in class. This week was amazing.
Date: Monday, September 2nd to Thursday, September 5th, 2019
Topic: oral evaluation and Scavenger's hunt game
Students also learn by gaming, any kind of plays. Moreover, I must say, they feel comfortable in a class, even in an evaluation if the teacher applies some theory as "Affective Filter Hypothesis", by Krashen. In this case, I started on Monday doing an oral evaluation in which I was taking into account aspects such as argumentation, fluency, structure coherence, and pronunciation. At the beginning of the class, my cooperative teacher gave me four students, while she kept the rest od the group, to evaluate. My "band" was flustered, I could smell fear in every student, but when I realized about this situation, I talked to them and I said this exam was going to be easy, like a regular class in which they actively participate and use properly the criteria given for the exam. Well, they changed their mind and immediately I could feel an ease energy, they were fearless and motivated. They participated like in an ordinary conversation (but with regular mistakes in structure). I can conclude that students are more engaged in any kind of formative process if teachers apply correctly some aspects of the theory.
In spite of this, on Thursday, my teacher prepared along with teacher Álvaro, a game called Scavenger's hunt, it is like "La Guaca" contest played at University (UPB). Students had to solve some riddles, related with Da Vinci, in order to discover places in which they could find answers for their questions sheet (10 questions). Once they solved each question, they returned back to us (Luz Dary and I) to check for their answers, if it was correct they could go for the next questions and so on. At the end of each class (this day I had three classes) everyone finished a little tired because the running day. I discover that students can take a break from notebooks and learn in another way, however, teachers must design properly each activity in order to develop a holistic learning process according to the topics students have learned in class. This week was amazing.
 |
| A video worked in class about Leonardo Da Vinci. |
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Week 16: I'm not going to cry
Week 16 Date: Monday, November 4 th to Thursday, November 7 th , 2019 Topic: symbols delivery, food sharing, agape, final day ☹️ ...
