Term 1: 26-27th Reflection

What were the highlights?
I really enjoyed the perception motor programme that we looked at on Tuesday it was very interesting because we got to learn about how the skills they are learning there also effect there in class work. For example one activity where the kids followed the ball with there eyes helped them with reading from side to side of a page. It was also a good opportunity to chat to kids and help them with things like their catching skills. I also liked when I was with a year 2 class one morning and I got to watch their morning routine the teacher used other language when she was calling the roll. They also had 3 people per day share a bag of things that was all about them it was a good way for the class and teacher to get to know each other. They also did a jump jam song that was fun before they got into maths.
What were the challenges? 
I found it challenging when I took the 8 kids for PE today I think I was not familiar enough with the exercises we had chosen from the book and I also think some more planning would have been better. Also classroom management but that will be something I can develop over time and it was also partly because I didn't know the names of the kids. It was a great learning experience though and went well apart from that. I also found a living thing science class I observed a bit of a challenge because I didn't really know the in depth things they were learning about trees so I wasn't able to go around and help the kids because I didn't know myself.
What did you learn?
I learnt how valuable a lesson plan is and research. I also learned that its going to take a lot of practice and time to start to get the hang of what I am meant to be doing. There was just as much information and things happening as the first day of SBL if not more. I also learnt more about how teachers set up they're classroom and how establishing routines can be a really good way of managing the class so that they know what they're doing and you can quickly get done what you need to do. I learnt a lot about how much children know when it comes to small ball skills and that they need a lot of help learning basic PE skills that are important for them as they will use them their whole life.

Reflection Blog: First Day

20/2/2013

Reflection

What were the highlights?

Reading to children in small groups was a nice way to ease into being with the children on my own as they were just two small groups of 5 that I read too. It was also nice having a quick chat with the kids and being able to see all there different personalities. I also enjoyed being in a year one class initially then a year 6 one in the afternoon  as it showed how far the kids will have progressed by the time they are in their last year of primary. I found the phonics very interesting to watch as well as a new way for kids to learn. Seeing how technology forward the school was with its digital classrooms was great to.

What were the challenges? 

I found it difficult to know exactly what my role was in the classroom and what I was and wasn't meant to be saying at some points. For example there were a couple of children who were off task and had been told to start working by the teacher and when I walked past they were still off task. Another kid also told another kid to shut up when I was standing at there table and I told them they need to talk nicely to each other. However I wasn't sure whether it was my place to say tell the children what to do and how I should do it. I also found remembering all the names a challenge  and there  was a lot of information about everything all at once but that is just how first days are.

What did you learn?

I learnt so many new things but I think watching phonics was one of the things I found most interesting. It was interesting to see how the teachers managed the class and how fast they went through the exercises and more importantly that majority of the kids kept up. Another interesting thing to see was the 4 groups each at there own learning level.