Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Task Five at Um Habiba Primary school


TASK FIVE: What is Teaching all About?

A. description of class activities

With the help of the mentor teacher, choose two of the classrooms and complete your observations.


Grade: 1 Subject: Arabic Duration of the class period: 2


· What was the main topic of the lesson?
Deprive letter L


· How did the teacher begin or introduce the topic to the students?
She starts by asking them to by attention to the words that she will say. Then they will tell her the letter that repeated in all the words.

· What kinds of activities did the teacher do? And what did the students do?
The teacher and the students read the lesson together. She asks them some question about it. Then, each student should circle on the letter (L) in the lesson. Also, they point on the pictures that include letter (L).

· Closing Activities (How did the lesson end? For example; did the teacher review, make comments, play a game, give a quiz, give students an assignment, homework, etc.)
She gives them worksheets which include a sentence which students have to re-write it and write letter (L) in different color.


Grade: 1 Subject: Math Duration of the class period: 3

· What was the main topic of the lesson?
Colum graphing.

· How did the teacher begin or introduce the topic to the students?

She asks them to count until 9. Then she asks them if they want to know which sweet is a favorite for the most the girls in the class and if you want to know then I will teach you how to do it.

· What kinds of activities did the teacher do? And what did the students do?
She plays game with them in the computer. Throw that game they understand the lesson, so she gives them worksheet to do it.

· Closing Activities (How did the lesson end? For example; did the teacher review, make comments, play a game, give a quiz, give students an assignment, homework, etc.)
She gave them a worksheet which includes some questions as homework. Also, she tell them if anyone do it in correct way and color it in beautiful way, she will hung the sheet in the class board.

b. reflections and comments
a. What did you learn about teaching today?
· How to control the lesson.
· How to keep students interns in the lesson.
· How to encourage students to do their homework.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Task One in Rawafed Private School


Task One: What Is A School?
Task A:-
My first practicum was in Al Rawafed Private School. 23rd of September 2008 was my first day there. This school has two branches one of them for girls and the other one for boys. My experience was in the girl school. This school has different level starting from kindergarten to high school. The classes from kindergarten until fourth grade are mixed, but the older grades are only for girls. The primary and preparatory students have a different break time than the secondary students. What I notice it that the all staff is not local and they are from different countries such as Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and South Africa but most of the teachers from Lebanon. The principle of Al Rawafed Private School is Mrs. Fadia Al Jabri and the academic coordinator is Mrs. Suha Takieddine. Also, both of them are from Lebanon. The type of curriculum which was followed in the school is American System. Also, the timings are from 7:30am- 2:30 pm, but on Ramadan it’s 9:00am- 1:30 pm.

The school is not big not small that mean medium, but it’s enough for 1500 Student, 87 Teachers and 105 Stuff. Beside that school has many physical resources and facilities such as ICT lab and Science lab, Gym, Pool, library, Playground, Auditorium and book store. The library contains many books for different levels. Also, science labs prepared with necessary materials. The school has special events such as International Day, Healthy Food Day, Literature Week and open house. In addition, the school has extracurricular activities or afterschool activities: Football, Volleyball, Basketball, French, Drama, Music and Art. I think there is no special day for parent teacher meetings but there is conference requested by the teacher or the parent.

The mission and objectives of the School: It’s to offer quality education to the local and expatriate community that will prepare the students for further education both here and abroad. The school Logo is a light come out from book. Finally, there are many policies for the school but the most major policies as I see were four. First, attend all classes on time and be quietly seated before the starting bell. Second, avoid vandalism, respect school property and the property of others. Third, on playground, avoid playing rough games. Finally, mobile phones are not allowed on school premises.
Task B:-
On Tuesday we went to Rawafed private school. We arrived on 10 am but what choked us that doors are looked and there were no Security Guard also. We spend 10 minutes waiting someone to open the door for as. After our Dr. Issa calls they open the door for us. In the reception Ms. Suha Takiddine perceived us and tells each of us about her class and my class is 2B. Also, she Guide each of us to her class but my class they have break so I decided to come later. When the bell ring I went bake to my class but the teacher didn’t show up yet. First thing I notice was the door. It was colorful and the Ms Name was written on it. Also, there was poster next to the door and it was written on it the world’s best class. After that I was looking at the students and one of them shot to me and said’’ Who are you and what you want’’ I was choked and I didn’t know what should say, but there is another student said to him “leave her alone” and I became happy and he became my hero in that class. I notice that there are two boards and each board is divided to two parts and each part for specific subject. After that my teacher Natalie came and I introduced myself to her and she introduces me to the class as student teacher and they said “Good morning Teacher”. I felt extremely happy. I went to the bake of class and sit there after that Falah “My hero” comes and sit next to me. There were 20 students in the class. She starts the class by filling down the “Colander companion’’. Which include: Today, yesterday, tomorrow, month, season, year, weather and how many days they have been in the school. What I like about it is everyone was very exciting and full of energy. Even the teacher was active and trying helps the student in fanny way. After they fill the colander companion they start the science class. The lesson was about Living and non- living thing. They make poster for it the kids help her making it and they divided the photos and she helps them. After that she start wrote the lesson in the board and the students wrote after her. When she finish, she make sure that everyone write the lesson right by walking around and see there not book. In the end she corrected for them and sticks paper which include some of question for the lesson, so they can review in home because she asked them to put science book on the shelf because it so big and heavy for them.








Task C:-
When I was outside the school I said I will defiantly like this experience in this school because it’s look good from outside. And it’s true it’s was good experience. I believe everything have good sides and bad sides. What I didn’t like about it that the space in the Administration is very small and his corridors are narrow. In my view, the administration place is very crowded and not orderly. Also the offices are small because when we go to the administrator office it wasn’t enough for all of us just for our teacher and two of us. And every one was waiting at the door. But we can’t ignore the good sides. Like the environment of school it just like home for those kids. It’s really clean and every two or four classes have restroom and there is someone to make sure that they don’t have problem. Also, they have book store if anyone want anything. In addition, they have big playground which is covered big sunshade, so the kids don’t exposed to sunlight. I only attend on class but when Ms. Suha was guide each of us I notes that some classes are big and wider and some of them are small. I defiantly like the big one because if its kids classes room then they need more space to feel comfortable, easy to walk around and not taut. In my class I like everything is color full and there many boards stokes inside of class. Some of them teacher make it, some of them student make it with the teacher in the class room. Also, these boards reflect the topic under study, so it’s regularly changed. Furthermore, I like the shelves which are in the back of the class room, so the student can put their books and if they want to review they have their not book which they write down the important not because their books are very heavy, big and hard for them to carry it every day. In the end, what I taught from this observation what I want to do and exsiectlly where I want to be in the future.

Task Two in Rawafed Private School

TASK TWO: WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY FOR A TEACHER?

During the observation:-

Time _ Activity _ Notes/Comments

7:30 am _ Signs in _ Teacher arrives. She signs in at the office.

7:40 - 7:45 am _ Greetings _ Teacher greets other teachers in the office.

8:30 am _ Went to class room _ Greets students.

8:34 – 8:37 am _ Calendar Companion _ She fills down the “Colander companion’’. Which include: Today, yesterday, tomorrow, month, season, year, weather and how many days they have been in the school.

8:38 – 8:40 am _ Chose helpers _ Every day she chose students to help her in distributed the books and collects it for whole day and she call them “Helpers”.
8:40 -9:00 am _ Review _ She makes review for the last class for science.

9:00- 9:20 am _ Give lesson _ She continues the lesson from where they stop last time.

9 :20 -9 : 40 am _ The break start _ She go to playground for observing.

9 : 40 - 11 : 00 am _ Her break start _ She go to staff room and we are not allowed to go there.

11 :00 – 11 :20 am _ She come back to class _ We both talk and I ask her about her break, so she tell me that first she greets teachers again and chat about their day. Also, she has some snakes and she gives some student quizzes because they were absent for the quizzes class.

11 : 23 – 11:35 am _ Write on board _ She writes notes for the lesson.

11: 35 am – 12:00 pm _ She correct the copy books _ She checks the notes if they wrote it right or no. Also, she sticks some stickers for who right the note correctly.

After The Observation:-

1. As you review your observation notes, what did you think were the main tasks that the teacher did today?
·
The ways she explains the lesson. For example: when she finishes explaining the lesson, she asks them and no one respond to her. She knew they didn’t understand the lesson ,so she explain the lesson again by acting with same of students, then when she ask them, she knew that they get the idea. Also, they have fun in the same time. Also, she draws for them and make it colorful to get their attention.

2. What kinds of tasks or duties or work did the teacher do other than teaching her classes?
·
Walking the students to their classes and breaks.
· Observing in playground.
· She prints work sheets for her students for computer quizzes.
· She teaches them art and music.

3. How much of her time did she spend at her desk in the teachers’ or staff room?
·
Whenever she has breaks she goes to stuff room, so she spends 2 hours.

4. Were there any tasks/duties that the teacher performed that you think could be dealt by someone else or in another way?
·
She have sick student in the class and she check his fever every couple minutes and makes sure that he good.
· She asks students about their lunch box and she makes sure they have healthy food. Also, she lauds them for having healthy food beside of chips and chocolates.
Reflections And Comments:-

* Were you surprised or shocked about any aspect of the roles and responsibilities of the teacher?
There are sever thing I notes about her. First of all, when she is in the medial of explaining the lesson some of the students interrupt the class and say something that happens to them and she show her interest in the topic after he finish she complete the lesson like nothing happen. Also, what I like about her that when the girls go talk her she hugged them to feel secure and loveable, but with boys she don’t do that because she knew that the boys will don’t like it and they will fell shy. Also, she has sick student, she check his fever every couple minutes and makes sure that he good. Finally, in her break some student from other classes come to see her and greet her and when I ask who they are she tell me that they are last year’s student, so this prove that she is loveable teacher.

* What did you learn about being a teacher?

From this observation I learn many things about teachers and teaching. First, that teacher should have eye contact with each student. Also, have multiple methods for teaching and explaining the lesson such as: repeating, acting and drawing. Besides that she has to listen to her students and show her interest in their topics. Moreover she has to treat all students the same way. Also, she has to use breaks to make activities. Also, observe students if they understanding the lesson or not and are they get bored, if they then she should change the way of explaining. Finally, I think teacher should like being teacher, so he can do his job in perfect way. Also, when students feel that their teacher likes the subject they also will like the subject.


Sunday, November 2, 2008

Task Three Rawafed Private School

TASK THREE: WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY FOR A STUDENT?





· His name: Falh

· Your Family: I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

· Your favorite hobbies: I like playing play station games and play basketball.

· What do you like doing during the break times: I like hung up with my friends and fighting.

· What subject(s) do he like best at school? Why? : My favorite subject is English maybe because I like Ms. Natalie.

· What are some things you like about school? I like my friends.

· Why do you like school? I like school because I can see my friends daily.

· What are some things that you dislike about school? I hate waking up early and going bake to home late. Also, there are girls in school.

# The student’s behavior and activities



Time _ Activity / Movement Notes / comments


7:20 am _Comes to school._Falh arrived to school.


7:30 am_The morning queue began _ Lined up in the queue with his class mate.

7:45 am _ The first class started _ The class was Playground Exercise and Falh and his friends didn’t wear their sport clothes, so the teacher didn’t allow them to play.


8:10 am _ They played _ He got bored and asked the teacher to let him play. Also, promise her to wear his sport clothes next time, so the Ms allowed him to play with his friends.


8:30 am _ Math class _ Ms. Natalie explains the lesson than ask them to complete the exercise. Falh finish the exercise and very fast and he didn’t had any mistakes.


9:20 am _ The break start _ Falh fight with students from other classes.


9:40 am _ Arabic class _In Arabic class he didn’t pay attention to the teacher. Also, he turned around and messed with other students stuff.


11:20 am _ English class _ He takes quiz with other students and he finishes the quiz very fast before everybody. In the end the Ms reviews his quiz and find two mistakes and ask him to correct it.


12:10 pm _ The Break stared _ Falh ignore the punishment of supervisor and go to play with his friends.


12:30 _ English class _ He attends Ms. Natalie class and he by attention to the lesson.


After the observation

Answer the following questions, based upon your observation notes.


1. What classes did the student attend during the day? P.E, 3 classes of English, 2 classes of Arabic, Math and Science.


2. What was the longest period of time the student spent in the classroom without a break?
He and his class had to stay in class for more 6 minutes for English quiz.


3. What kinds of things did the student do in class today?
As I observe in his Playground Exercise class he didn’t brought his sports clothes so he ignore the class and hung in the building with his friends. But in Math class he was on the time and when the teacher asks them if they did the homework. Falh was one of the students who did his homework. However, in Arabic class he didn’t pay attention to the teacher. Also, he turned around and messed with other students stuff. Finally in English class he has quiz and he was quit and finish his quiz very fast.


4. Did the student appear to reacts the same to all her subjects and teachers?
As I notes, he don’t respects all his teachers the same. He respects Ms. Natalie more than another teacher may be because the way she treat him or teach him, this things make him likes her more than other teachers. In fact not only he all the students in the class are the same.


5. What did the student do during the break times?
He always fights with any student, who he fined in playground even if he doesn’t know him. Also, if he didn’t find reasons to fight, he will create one. However as I see in Tuesday that the fight was between two boys and he infers in it and make it more bad.


6. Describe the relationship the student had with his/her peers. Did he/she seem to have many friends?
Actually, he has many friends beside his class mate. He always hung out with three of his class mats and this four are like a litter gun and Falh are the leader. They don’t dare to do any things, unless Falh started. For example: in Playground Exercise the teacher didn’t allow them to play and ask them to sit in one place but Falh didn’t hear her instructions and he went to Kg class and the teacher ask him to come bake but he didn’t lesson to her, so his friends flowed him and when she ask them to come bake, they ignore her like Falh did.


7. Describe the student’s general attitude to school.
He doesn’t respect the roles of school so much because when he fought in Tuesday. He was punished to come to the supervisor office on second break and spend the break in her office but he ignores her instructions and when I ask him why didn’t he go to her office he just laughed.

Reflections and Comments

a) Briefly describe your student as you shadowed a day in his/ her life as a student.
(write about who the student was, some of her characteristics and behaviors and interactions with you)
· If he likes the teacher, he will respect her class and if he doesn’t like the teacher, he wills intrap her class.
· His always like to fight with others.
· When I ask his class teacher to describe Falh to me, she said: he is very Haber active student, smart and intelligent. Also, she is very happy that he is in her class.
· He has many friend but almost his friends are Emiratis and boys.


b) What have you learnt about students from this observation? Think in terms of what surprised you about the student and their day at school.

In the break time the student were fighting in front of the teachers and the teachers didn’t do any things to them. But when I went talk to my mentor teacher, she come and separates them. After few minuets the students go to the other side and complete their fight. Even there were some of the teachers and they pretend that they don’t see them.



c) Write down any questions, doubts and concerns that you might have about what you have observed today?
· Why parents stall doesn’t ask their kids if they like the school or not.
· Why some of teachers still make students hate school.









Saturday, November 1, 2008

Task Four Rawafed Private School

TASK FOUR: Why Do we Need Rules and Procedures?




First Class




A.Description of Classroom Management



With the help of your mentor teacher, choose two classrooms to observe today and answer the following questions:

# Grade: 2B Subject: English Number of Students: 20 Time: 8:30

Classroom Rules:

* Were the class room rules posted in the room? Yes.




* Where were they posted in the classroom? It was posted next to the whiteboard and it is colorful. Also, the other one is the next wall.




* Were the class room rules clear for students? Yes, because I notes when the Ms ask them if they did their H.W or not and every one said: yes we did it.Also, I saw two posters for class rules in the class. One of them the teacher made it a the other one the students made it with her.






* What were some of the classroom rules? Do your H.W on time.
Come early to school.
Follow direction.

* Did the students have their shelf or cupboard space with the names on it? N0





* Did the teacher assign a place in the classroom to put their work or homework? Yes. In the end of the class there are bookshelves and she puts students books.




Student Teacher Interactions:

* How did the teacher address or call his/her students? Miss - Habeby

* How did the teacher ask questions and how did she call upon the student? She tell them to pay attention because she will ask them.

* How did the student call their teacher?(Miss, Teacher, Sir, Mrs. Martin, etc) Miss Natalie

* Did the students pay attention to the teacher? Yes, because the students didn't take to each other when the teacher was explain the lesson.

* Did the students follow the directions or instructions of the teacher? Yes.Did the students ask questions or doubts to their teacher?No.


* Did you see other student behaviors such as student not being on task, speaking out of turn, etc.
No, every one was being on task. Also, no one turn to speak to his friends and if they need anything they ask the Miss.

Seating Arrangement:

* What kind of seating arrangements did you see in the classroom?
Every Sunday student change there place. In fact, she divied them to lines. In each line student take place of the student who site in front him.




* Do you think the kind of seating arrangement affected interactions among the students? How?In this way every one will have chance to sit in the first disk.
















B. Reflections and Comments.




a. List three things that the teacher said or did to manage student behaviors in the classroom.

1. She have a list of there names and any one didn't behave good, she will put black point, but if he behave will she will remove the black point.
2. She encourage them by stickers, if they behave will she will put stickers in their copy book.
3. if some students behave very bad, she tells them that she is very upset for them and tell them to not talk to her.





The Second Class



# Grade: 1 Subject: English Number of Students: 21 Time: 11:00

Classroom Rules:

* Were the class room rules posted in the room? Yes.


* Where were they posted in the classroom? It was posted next to whiteboard and it is colorful.

* Were the class room rules clear for students? Yes, because I notes when the Ms ask them, if any one know the answer he raise his hand. Also, when the bell rings they stand in line.

* What were some of the classroom rules?I stand in line.
I clean my classroom.
I raise my hand.

* Did the students have their shelf or cupboard space with the names on it? N0

* Did the teacher assign a place in the classroom to put their work or homework? Yes. In the end of the class there are bookshelves and she puts students books. Also, in her disc.

Student Teacher Interactions:

* How did the teacher address or call his/her students? She don't have specific name for them. But if she wants something she will call the student by his name.

* How did the teacher ask questions and how did she call upon the student? She asked they in aloud sound. Also, she makes competition between boys and girls.

* How did the student call their teacher? Miss

* Did the students pay attention to the teacher? Not all of them, because I see one of the students was playing with his staff. Also, the other one was seeing where the Fly go.

* Did the students follow the directions or instructions of the teacher? Yes, because when she asks them to write what is written on the board every one write it.

* Did the students ask questions or doubts to their teacher? No.

* Did you see other student behaviors such as student not being on task, speaking out of turn, etc. No.

Seating Arrangement:

* What kind of seating arrangements did you see in the classroom? Three groups. The first group includes 9 students, the second group includes 4 and the last group includes 8.

* Do you think the kind of seating arrangement affected interactions among the students? How? If the student couldn’t follow her striation or couldn’t complete the notes in the board they can ask their group to help him.






B. Reflections and Comments.
a. List three things that the teacher said or did to manage student behaviors in the classroom.


1. If they behave good, she will draw happy face next to their names, but if they behave bad she will remove the happy face.
2. She punish how don’t follow her striation. For example: if she asked them to think slowly to get the right answer, but if any one of them answer fast and got the wrong answer then she punish him.
3. Finally, she shouts in their faces.

TASK Five Rawafed Private School


TASK FIVE: What is Teaching all About?


A. description of class activities
With the help of the mentor teacher, choose two of the classrooms and complete your observations.



Grade: 2 Subject: science Duration of the class period: 8:30- 9:20

  1. What was the main topic of the lesson?
    Classifying Animals

  2. How did the teacher begin or introduce the topic to the students?
    Make quick review for the last lesson. After that she put some pictures on the board and asks them what they think their lesson will be about.

  3. What kinds of activities did the teacher do? And what did the students do?
    First of all, she tell them about different group of animals and their features. After that she takes them to the lab to see the animals and touch them. Also, asks them to try to classify the animals.

  4. Closing Activities (How did the lesson end? For example; did the teacher review, make comments, play a game, give a quiz, give students an assignment, homework, etc.)
    Bake to class and write some notes on the board and ask them to write after her. Also, stick summary for the lesson in their copy books.

______________________________________

Grade: 2 Subject: English Duration of the class period:11:20 – 12: 10/12:30 – 1:10

  1. What was the main topic of the lesson?
    Review the vocabulary.

  2. How did the teacher begin or introduce the topic to the students?
    She sticks the new vocabulary they take it yesterday in the board

  3. What kinds of activities did the teacher do? And what did the students do?
    Ask them to put each vocabulary in sentence and when the students use 2 or 3 words in the sentence, she claps for her/him and stick sticker in her/him shirt.

  4. Closing Activities (How did the lesson end? For example; did the teacher review, make comments, play a game, give a quiz, give students an assignment, homework, etc.)
    She asks her helper to distribute the books and ask the student to do the practices alone. After view minutes she asks them to do it in groups and share their answers together.



__________________

b. reflections and comments


a. What did you learn about teaching today?
I learn three different things. First, the teacher should be ready for the class and plan what she will do in the class. Second, she should notes if her students understand the lesson or not, if they didn’t she will have to describe it in different ways. Finally, she has to love her subject and her students because in that way the student will like her class and will like to learn more.