I went to the school a week after we took the exam and showed them to the students. I was pleased with the results, although in some particulars cases I felt disappointed because two good students didn't get a high grade, and I didn't know if this was due to a lack of interest or what, yet in class they participated a lot and seemed to have understood everything!
I told them also they final grade, brought out of a mix of class behavior, participation, homework and the exam. Only 5 students failed my unit, although few others don't have a grade because they go to the 'reforç' group and I don't have enough materials to evaluate them with the specific criteria they might need.
Once I am done with my final exams at the university I will go and see them while having the end of course activities. Since I already promised them to stop by again and say hi!
I am quite pleased having had some time back, overall now that is finals period, but somehow I miss them and how nice were in general. Oh well, I'm sure I'll see them again anytime soon during this two last weeks!
lunes 8 de junio de 2009
Exam
The 7th hour of my unit consisted in an exam I originally prepared for them, related to what we had done in class.
After they finished the exam they were asked to complete a piece of paper evaluating me as a teacher, answering the following questions:
1) What did you like most of the classes?
2) What you didn't like from them?
3) What will you change?
4) Did you learn anything?
The feedback was really positive, extremely. Although I'm quite aware they don't see me as a real teacher, therefore it's easier for them to grade me positively and since I'm just teaching a limited number of hours it's easier for me to make them interesting and exciting. I already explained that with more detail in my final report.
After they finished the exam they were asked to complete a piece of paper evaluating me as a teacher, answering the following questions:
1) What did you like most of the classes?
2) What you didn't like from them?
3) What will you change?
4) Did you learn anything?
The feedback was really positive, extremely. Although I'm quite aware they don't see me as a real teacher, therefore it's easier for them to grade me positively and since I'm just teaching a limited number of hours it's easier for me to make them interesting and exciting. I already explained that with more detail in my final report.
6th hour as a teacher and last!
On Monday 18th of May was my last class as a teacher, besides of the exam the class would take in a couple of days.
This class was mainly a sinthesy class, because I wanted to a review of the materials before we did the exam. We did a bit of warming up, as usual, a bit of chat about the weekend, about the soccer...Then I implemented an activity from the text book. I found a really interesting text related to computers world and the evolution of the new technologies in there. I used the audiovisual material that comes along with the text book, it was a track, where the students listened to what was said on it and then they told me what they understood from it, they answered also some questions related to it that were on the text book. That was the only time when we got to use the textbook, but I really found the track nice and clear, better than the ones I could have found.
We did another listening and then those exercises related to it. Always letting the students to participate, express their doubts and try to correct among themselves. My tutor always adviced me that is better to use example they give to us, or allow them to correct themselves, because somehow it got more "interiorized".
After that, which served me as a review for vocabulary and grammar structures we played some games. I brought from home several pieces of paper, on one hand one contained sentences such as: a scanner. And on the other hand, the rest contained things such as: is used to scan documents and images.
So they had to match the different pieces. There were three groups, and everytime any of them finished I would go over there and let them speak out the whole sentences. If it was ok, then they have a point. After, we switch pieces of paper with the group next to us. There were three groups, and they were competing quite hard among them. It ws really funny to see how they accused each other to cheat and so on. We ended up even!
Then we did a running dictation -following the same group structure- with a text about the video we just saw. I was moving around the class, in order not to give advantage to any of the teams who were closer to me. They were all sweatie and messy! running and crashing against the desks. I laughed really hard! I wish every class could be like this one.
At the end, one group got more than the first paragraph totally right, the others were a bit mess up, but it was cool. He didn't quite get the thing that need to talk among them, otherwise they are checking the first line all the time!!!
And finally I gave them a photocopy with the lyrics of Johny Cash's song, Hurt. They didn't like the song, they didn't even know who he was! I felt so indignated!! And they dared to tell me off because 'this guy isn't famous'. I just hope that maybe one or two got trapped by Cash music and I was able to open a bit more their minds.
And that was the whole session. I remind them we were having an exam next week.
This class was mainly a sinthesy class, because I wanted to a review of the materials before we did the exam. We did a bit of warming up, as usual, a bit of chat about the weekend, about the soccer...Then I implemented an activity from the text book. I found a really interesting text related to computers world and the evolution of the new technologies in there. I used the audiovisual material that comes along with the text book, it was a track, where the students listened to what was said on it and then they told me what they understood from it, they answered also some questions related to it that were on the text book. That was the only time when we got to use the textbook, but I really found the track nice and clear, better than the ones I could have found.
We did another listening and then those exercises related to it. Always letting the students to participate, express their doubts and try to correct among themselves. My tutor always adviced me that is better to use example they give to us, or allow them to correct themselves, because somehow it got more "interiorized".
After that, which served me as a review for vocabulary and grammar structures we played some games. I brought from home several pieces of paper, on one hand one contained sentences such as: a scanner. And on the other hand, the rest contained things such as: is used to scan documents and images.
So they had to match the different pieces. There were three groups, and everytime any of them finished I would go over there and let them speak out the whole sentences. If it was ok, then they have a point. After, we switch pieces of paper with the group next to us. There were three groups, and they were competing quite hard among them. It ws really funny to see how they accused each other to cheat and so on. We ended up even!
Then we did a running dictation -following the same group structure- with a text about the video we just saw. I was moving around the class, in order not to give advantage to any of the teams who were closer to me. They were all sweatie and messy! running and crashing against the desks. I laughed really hard! I wish every class could be like this one.
At the end, one group got more than the first paragraph totally right, the others were a bit mess up, but it was cool. He didn't quite get the thing that need to talk among them, otherwise they are checking the first line all the time!!!
And finally I gave them a photocopy with the lyrics of Johny Cash's song, Hurt. They didn't like the song, they didn't even know who he was! I felt so indignated!! And they dared to tell me off because 'this guy isn't famous'. I just hope that maybe one or two got trapped by Cash music and I was able to open a bit more their minds.
And that was the whole session. I remind them we were having an exam next week.
lunes 18 de mayo de 2009
5th hour as a teacher
On Friday, after I told the class off, things were kind of smooth. I told them to go to the Aula d’Idiomes because we were going to see a video. It was a video I made with my roommie in order to practice grammar: future “going to+ verb inf” vs “will+inf”. It was a five minuts video where my roommate and I were talking about the plans for the next two days and we decide to go to the cinema to see Star Trek. From there, we start to talk about sci-fi films and how they deal with irreal future, situations and places. We started to dream where will we be in 25 years, or what will happen to the mankind in a 100 years. We were superheroes, we became rabbits, we were rockstars, etc. And it’s all in the video. It is us using customes, musics and so on. I thought it was a cool and different way to practice what we learnt in class.
When they first saw the video they started to laugh. Afterwards, in the very first scene where we are wearing costumes they looked at me, trying to figure out what was all about and thinking that her CAP teacher was totally mad! It was so much fun!! Their face while seeing the video were of totally awe, mixed with some kind of embarrassing feeling.
Amyway, what is important is that they understood all what was said in the video, and I think they, more or less, have the difference between both future structures, clear in their minds. Some of them asked me for a copy of the video. And I gave the original to my tutor, who told me she was going to use it for other classes as well as for next years. I was really glad to hear this. It is really good when you feel your effort somehow pays off. If the class understood better the future because of the video, this is enough to compensate the extra hours working on it.
I also gave them a photocopy with 6 exercises related to what was on the video. They did it pretty good and participated the vast majority of the class.
It is funny. One class is never the same as another one. On Thursday I was totally mad at the class because of their lack of effort, next day I am laughing with them and they participate and enjoy the session. This is one of the things I like most about teaching: it is not a repetitive/monotonous work.
I am, somehow, sad because this is coming to an end. But I really need some time to write down the memory of the practicuum, plus to focus on my journalism exams.
When they first saw the video they started to laugh. Afterwards, in the very first scene where we are wearing costumes they looked at me, trying to figure out what was all about and thinking that her CAP teacher was totally mad! It was so much fun!! Their face while seeing the video were of totally awe, mixed with some kind of embarrassing feeling.
Amyway, what is important is that they understood all what was said in the video, and I think they, more or less, have the difference between both future structures, clear in their minds. Some of them asked me for a copy of the video. And I gave the original to my tutor, who told me she was going to use it for other classes as well as for next years. I was really glad to hear this. It is really good when you feel your effort somehow pays off. If the class understood better the future because of the video, this is enough to compensate the extra hours working on it.
I also gave them a photocopy with 6 exercises related to what was on the video. They did it pretty good and participated the vast majority of the class.
It is funny. One class is never the same as another one. On Thursday I was totally mad at the class because of their lack of effort, next day I am laughing with them and they participate and enjoy the session. This is one of the things I like most about teaching: it is not a repetitive/monotonous work.
I am, somehow, sad because this is coming to an end. But I really need some time to write down the memory of the practicuum, plus to focus on my journalism exams.
4th hour
Last Thursday class was a bit of a mess!
As I think I wrote on the previous post, on Monday we worked with the structure of the emails, plus some tips of how to write them (using pronouns, possessive adjectives, contractions). I gave them a photocopy to have an example of a real one and I asked them to compose a five sentences email as homework to do. They were supposed to send the email to an electronic adress I gave them, before Wednesday 9pm. Well, the thing is that only 2 out of, 20ish students of the class sent me the email.
I was really disappointed. I tried to do my best, elaborating a personalizade email for them, taking their preferences, hobbies and so on. I explained to them, we went over what they were supposed to do and so...Only to realized that two of them had sent it. I felt totally stupid and not being taking seriously. So the following session, this Thursday I had a serious talk with the class.
I told them how I felt they let me down, and that I thought I wasn’t asking too much. Only five sentences, with a list of vocabulary I already gave them, with a copy of one to inspire them...I think it was a pretty easy task to do. Some of them used the excuse that they didn’t have computer or the internet was broken. Which in the vast majority of cases is totally false, because two days ago we were talking about what do they use computers for. And all of them told me about printers, Facebook, MSN, scanners and so on. I discarted the lack of technology at home as a valid excuse.
I tried to show them the effort that I was putting in this unit, using only original content made by me, because I wanted to teach them while having as much fun as we could, trying to avoid the “John and Mary” typical workbook exercises. I also told them that my grades were as valid as my tutor’s one, and that she will take them seriously to elaborate the final grade. I asked them if they don’t see me as a “real teacher” or what was going on. Why they didn’t give out the homework? I chatted a bit about the effort culture and what do they want and expect.
After this ten minuts where I was talking, they didn’t mess around, neither talk. I confessed them that I like to teach and I like them as a class, but they should change their attitude, because I was going to grade them anyway and still ask for homework to do.
After that, we went to the ICT’s room, to do a collaborative writing in a Simpson’s wiki I had created in the Didactica Especifica classes. Since it was late when we started the class at the computers room, I asked them to finish the writing for Monday. Tomorrow we will see how many of them had turned the homework.
As I remember from the CAP classes I told them that they could send it or print it and give it to me, until Friday, but they will get a lower percentage of the grade. However, a lower grade is more desireable than a zero. Only few more students gave me the homework in this second chance. What’s the matter??!
This is pretty much all. Let’s see how the ICT activity turns out and see how this final week of my unit goes on.
As I think I wrote on the previous post, on Monday we worked with the structure of the emails, plus some tips of how to write them (using pronouns, possessive adjectives, contractions). I gave them a photocopy to have an example of a real one and I asked them to compose a five sentences email as homework to do. They were supposed to send the email to an electronic adress I gave them, before Wednesday 9pm. Well, the thing is that only 2 out of, 20ish students of the class sent me the email.
I was really disappointed. I tried to do my best, elaborating a personalizade email for them, taking their preferences, hobbies and so on. I explained to them, we went over what they were supposed to do and so...Only to realized that two of them had sent it. I felt totally stupid and not being taking seriously. So the following session, this Thursday I had a serious talk with the class.
I told them how I felt they let me down, and that I thought I wasn’t asking too much. Only five sentences, with a list of vocabulary I already gave them, with a copy of one to inspire them...I think it was a pretty easy task to do. Some of them used the excuse that they didn’t have computer or the internet was broken. Which in the vast majority of cases is totally false, because two days ago we were talking about what do they use computers for. And all of them told me about printers, Facebook, MSN, scanners and so on. I discarted the lack of technology at home as a valid excuse.
I tried to show them the effort that I was putting in this unit, using only original content made by me, because I wanted to teach them while having as much fun as we could, trying to avoid the “John and Mary” typical workbook exercises. I also told them that my grades were as valid as my tutor’s one, and that she will take them seriously to elaborate the final grade. I asked them if they don’t see me as a “real teacher” or what was going on. Why they didn’t give out the homework? I chatted a bit about the effort culture and what do they want and expect.
After this ten minuts where I was talking, they didn’t mess around, neither talk. I confessed them that I like to teach and I like them as a class, but they should change their attitude, because I was going to grade them anyway and still ask for homework to do.
After that, we went to the ICT’s room, to do a collaborative writing in a Simpson’s wiki I had created in the Didactica Especifica classes. Since it was late when we started the class at the computers room, I asked them to finish the writing for Monday. Tomorrow we will see how many of them had turned the homework.
As I remember from the CAP classes I told them that they could send it or print it and give it to me, until Friday, but they will get a lower percentage of the grade. However, a lower grade is more desireable than a zero. Only few more students gave me the homework in this second chance. What’s the matter??!
This is pretty much all. Let’s see how the ICT activity turns out and see how this final week of my unit goes on.
miércoles 13 de mayo de 2009
3rd hour
Monday was my third hour as a teacher. The class went from 3 to 4 pm. It was hot, the kids were unfocused and it was hard to get their attention. Plus the session wasn't the most entertaining one!
I gave them another photocopy with an email I wrote. It was informal, dealing with what we introduced the session before: possessive adjectives, pronouns and contractions.
They had to read it and then identify those different things. I wrote them down on the blackboard, in three separate columns (my tutor told me that by doing it like this, it would be easier for them to understand and have a clear image).
I think they more or less control the structure and are able to identify these 3 different things. I asked them to write an email using an specific situation that I made based on individual preferences. Some of the students had to go to a party, others were about to travel and some were going to a concert. They have to send an email to a partner and both resend them to me, so I can grade them. I made them to send the emails because I wanted to be the more realistic as possible. Oriol told us that if you are going to do something, like writing an email, why don't you do it "for good/real". So I gave them an email adress where before wednesday 9pm I should have all their emails.
Well, to be honest I have none yet. I hope this afternoon I'll get some of them. Otherwise I'll be really disappointed, plus I said that I was going to use that to grade them. They had more than 2 days to write 5 sentences, I don't know if it's too much, but I don't think so. I thought I was being reasonable asking for this deadline.
During the class, some of them were doing what I asked them for, but some of them were really messing around. It's hard to talk when they constantly interrupt you. We were doing the sentences exercise and this student kept asking word for word to write his sentences. I told him to use vocabulary they already control, but he kept going. I like this kid. He is smart and funny, but doesn't shut up for more than a minute. I had to give him a negative already. If tomorrow he still behaves like this, maybe I should talk directly to him after class. He mocks the rest of the classmates, talks, makes jokes...
It is really curious how by teaching at different hours you can see different behaviours. I have the feeling I'm trying to do my best, preparing original material, rehearsing at home, making suitable exercises for every student, trying to use what I saw during the observation period...but at the end of the class you realized you forgot to say this or that, or that you could have improved this...There are so many things going on at once!!!!
What I see is that I'm running out of time and some of the coolest activities I had prepared I wouldn't be able to do them.
In that class, we also worked some vocabulary and went over the grammar again, writing and reading sentences with the "going to" and "will+inf" structures. I think they more or less understand pretty much the differences between both structures.
I'm supposed to make an exam out of all what I'm teaching. I don't know if I'm not giving them too much, but on the other hand I know I only have 6 hours and I can't do anymore with it.
Now I'm thinking whether to change the computer session that I've designed for tomorrow, so I can do the cool video exercise. The thing is that I promise the kids we were going to the computer class one day, and I wanna stick with what I say!
Maybe I'll have to supress the video thing, and just grade them based in that writing, then the collective writing of the Simpsons wiki, plus the listening and speaking of the video I made and I'm playing on Friday.
Probably on Monday I should do some reviewing and the 7th hour, on Thursday, do the test. I don't know!! I had so many good ideas, but I can't make the practicuum longer, not because my tutor hadn't said so (she already offered me more hours), but because I'm starting to work and have my finals.
We'll see!
I gave them another photocopy with an email I wrote. It was informal, dealing with what we introduced the session before: possessive adjectives, pronouns and contractions.
They had to read it and then identify those different things. I wrote them down on the blackboard, in three separate columns (my tutor told me that by doing it like this, it would be easier for them to understand and have a clear image).
I think they more or less control the structure and are able to identify these 3 different things. I asked them to write an email using an specific situation that I made based on individual preferences. Some of the students had to go to a party, others were about to travel and some were going to a concert. They have to send an email to a partner and both resend them to me, so I can grade them. I made them to send the emails because I wanted to be the more realistic as possible. Oriol told us that if you are going to do something, like writing an email, why don't you do it "for good/real". So I gave them an email adress where before wednesday 9pm I should have all their emails.
Well, to be honest I have none yet. I hope this afternoon I'll get some of them. Otherwise I'll be really disappointed, plus I said that I was going to use that to grade them. They had more than 2 days to write 5 sentences, I don't know if it's too much, but I don't think so. I thought I was being reasonable asking for this deadline.
During the class, some of them were doing what I asked them for, but some of them were really messing around. It's hard to talk when they constantly interrupt you. We were doing the sentences exercise and this student kept asking word for word to write his sentences. I told him to use vocabulary they already control, but he kept going. I like this kid. He is smart and funny, but doesn't shut up for more than a minute. I had to give him a negative already. If tomorrow he still behaves like this, maybe I should talk directly to him after class. He mocks the rest of the classmates, talks, makes jokes...
It is really curious how by teaching at different hours you can see different behaviours. I have the feeling I'm trying to do my best, preparing original material, rehearsing at home, making suitable exercises for every student, trying to use what I saw during the observation period...but at the end of the class you realized you forgot to say this or that, or that you could have improved this...There are so many things going on at once!!!!
What I see is that I'm running out of time and some of the coolest activities I had prepared I wouldn't be able to do them.
In that class, we also worked some vocabulary and went over the grammar again, writing and reading sentences with the "going to" and "will+inf" structures. I think they more or less understand pretty much the differences between both structures.
I'm supposed to make an exam out of all what I'm teaching. I don't know if I'm not giving them too much, but on the other hand I know I only have 6 hours and I can't do anymore with it.
Now I'm thinking whether to change the computer session that I've designed for tomorrow, so I can do the cool video exercise. The thing is that I promise the kids we were going to the computer class one day, and I wanna stick with what I say!
Maybe I'll have to supress the video thing, and just grade them based in that writing, then the collective writing of the Simpsons wiki, plus the listening and speaking of the video I made and I'm playing on Friday.
Probably on Monday I should do some reviewing and the 7th hour, on Thursday, do the test. I don't know!! I had so many good ideas, but I can't make the practicuum longer, not because my tutor hadn't said so (she already offered me more hours), but because I'm starting to work and have my finals.
We'll see!
sábado 9 de mayo de 2009
2nd day as a teacher
Yesterday was my second hour as a teacher. Some students came to the desk while I was getting ready and asked me if I was going to teach again today, I told them so, and they replied saying "cool!", afterward they also asked if I was going to play music again! Those comments made my day. I know that the class behaves always better with the CAP students, because they see us as "one of them" (that sounds like The Goodfellas!). And I also know that this will be quite different if one day I am teaching on my own. Related to this, my tutor told me I should put more distance between the class and I. The only experience that I had with children consisted in working 3 years in a summer sport campus, with 6 and 7 years old kids. I am used to their hugs, and to establish a quite personal friendly relationship, which is different here in a E.S.O class. So I am taking the advice for whenever I will have my own class.
Anyway, as I was saying, yesterday I had class again. It was the day when we have two hours in a row, with the class split in half, and then the other half. I had prepared a really cool session, but logistic problems forced me to change the session the night before. We did a bit of reviewing of the computers vocabulary and the infitive of purpose, plus the "going to" future structure. Then I gave out a copy of two real emails sent by californian friends and we talked about writing emails. I gave them some tips, such as using pronouns, possessive adjectives and contractions to write a more fluid and less repetitive email. They had to look on the copies for those things and then read it in loud as I was writing them in the blackboard.
Then, we introduced another way to talk about future, "will plus infinitive" to talk about predictions which may or may not happen. I made a mistake while writing the structure down. But I told them and wrote it again. (teacher can make mistakes too, right?!)
Then we tried to think in sentences based on future predictions. Next time, I should make them to write the sentences down, so I can take a break from writing on the blackboard, plus, they have to think more.
And as soon as I realized the hour was gone. So "have a nice weekend to everyone" and that was it!
Now I am redesigning the session for Monday, since I used some of the contents yesterday, and that is what pretty much is going to keep my weekend busy! Making sure I have all the contents and reviewing the materials that I am creating to show them.
Bye!
Anyway, as I was saying, yesterday I had class again. It was the day when we have two hours in a row, with the class split in half, and then the other half. I had prepared a really cool session, but logistic problems forced me to change the session the night before. We did a bit of reviewing of the computers vocabulary and the infitive of purpose, plus the "going to" future structure. Then I gave out a copy of two real emails sent by californian friends and we talked about writing emails. I gave them some tips, such as using pronouns, possessive adjectives and contractions to write a more fluid and less repetitive email. They had to look on the copies for those things and then read it in loud as I was writing them in the blackboard.
Then, we introduced another way to talk about future, "will plus infinitive" to talk about predictions which may or may not happen. I made a mistake while writing the structure down. But I told them and wrote it again. (teacher can make mistakes too, right?!)
Then we tried to think in sentences based on future predictions. Next time, I should make them to write the sentences down, so I can take a break from writing on the blackboard, plus, they have to think more.
And as soon as I realized the hour was gone. So "have a nice weekend to everyone" and that was it!
Now I am redesigning the session for Monday, since I used some of the contents yesterday, and that is what pretty much is going to keep my weekend busy! Making sure I have all the contents and reviewing the materials that I am creating to show them.
Bye!
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