Professional Goals and Reflection on Placement – Page 3

First year placement 2017

Today is my first day back at university after two weeks on placement in a primary school. I have been in a small school which has only 42 pupils. There are two teachers, one head teacher and one support assistant within the school. The school operates with two multi-composite classes, primary 1-3 and primary 4-7. I worked mainly within the primary 4-7 class, however I was also able to spend a little time within the primary 1-3 class. It is a rural school but is close to a large town. Only a handful of pupils are from the village the school is in, the rest of the pupils come from placement requests from nearby towns and villages. There is a large percentage of children with different sorts of additional support needs within the school As a Mum of a child that falls within this category I was very interested to see how the children responded to the intimate environment that a small school provides.

Going into my placement, I expected to enjoy myself. I am looking forward to the day that I can lead my own class and this was another step in the right direction towards this. However, I was not prepared for just how much I would enjoy my placement. There was so much I could do to help the teachers to teach their classes. I felt that the time I spent there was not only worthwhile for me but also for the teachers and the children in the school.

Having previously spent time in another school and also having my own children, I know that I enjoy empowering children with knowledge and allowing them to enjoy the freedom that this knowledge brings to them. Over the course of my placement I had several opportunities to do this. In numeracy the Primary 4-7 class were building on their knowledge of place value. One primary 6 pupil was using sums to increase numbers by hundreds of thousands or millions. I sat with the child and asked her about the link between the first number and the resultant number. The child very quickly showed me that they could see the link. I reassured the child that the teacher didn’t need them to do sums but if that was what they needed to do that it was alright. They moved on independently without using the sums and completed their work with more confidence in their own abilities.

Before entering my placement I was paranoid about my verbal communication skills. I have had bad experiences in the past where I have been misunderstood by people and had accusations made against me due to poor communication skills. After these two weeks out on placement I feel that I may have left that part of me behind. I was able to make great communicative connections with the children on the placement. One of my biggest fears was communicating with the staff in the staff room. Small talk is a large weakness of mine. During breaks, we had some insightful conversations in the staff room. I was able to do a lot of learning in those times as well as while in the classroom. Going forward into another placement I will not be so worried about this side of it, I now know that I can maintain appropriate professional conversations with others.

Everyday the primary 4-7 class watch Newsround on BBC iPlayer. The class teacher would compile a quiz on the contents of the programme which would then be asked to the different groups in order for them to build up points for their groups. Towards the end of my placement, the teacher asked my partner and I to devise the quiz and ask the children. This was a good exercise with us. We found it difficult to make sure the questions were challenging to the children – they were very good at it. This is something I would like to take forward with me into my teaching career. It is most suited to older children but could easily be adapted to the age and stage of the children.

One of my main observations in the school was how well behaved the children were. As I previously said there is a high percentage of children with additional support needs in the school. This can bring with it poor behaviour. However, this is not the case in this school. The children are, with very little exception, very well behaved. They are respectful of their teachers and the other adults within the school. The teachers have developed strategies to allow them to keep control of the whole class, even when they are teaching 4 different year groups at once. The professionalism of the teachers enables them to overcome anything that happens in their classroom. They are a good team and clearly support each other very effectively.

I will be returning to the school to help soon. I will also be attending to watch the children take part in their nativity show in December. I really look forward to seeing everyone again.

Overview on Placement!

During my two weeks at placement I observed a variety of different practices. When I first walked through the doors of the main entrance I felt very overwhelmed as I didn’t know what environment I was about to walk into. My partner and I were sent to the Head Teacher’s office where we were welcomed and the run down of our two weeks were explained to us. We were also asked to sign a child protection and confidentiality notice. We were then escorted to where the ‘Breakfast Club’ was being held, and began to get to know the pupils within the school. I participated every morning at half 8 to 9 in the Breakfast Club. I found this time invaluable to get to know the children.

The first time walking into the staffroom was very intimidating as I am aware from experience it can be quite a territorial place. However, this was not the case and I felt very welcomed, I was even offered a cup of tea.

I got used used to the routines in the school pretty quickly. Every morning (before lunch and at home-time also) they would stand behind their chair and pray, before sitting on the carpet. Here they would do the days of the week, what day it was today, tomorrow and yesterday. Next they would say the days of the month, and what month it was currently. After this they would practice the date they were born. They would then learn the seasons. After this they would do the weather.

Most mornings consisted of doing maths work accept from a Monday morning where an active schools c0-oridnater came and took them for PE. Due to there being multiple ages in the class all the children were asked to sit on the floor so they could learn their times tables before being set to task. When the children were set to task I was asked to teach the Primary one’s their maths lesson. We learnt a variety of things from area to what ‘bigger’ and ‘smaller’ means. At first, I found it quite difficult to make my language appropriate to a Primary one level. Although after the first couple of lessons I became more confident, and I feel the children began to benefit more from this. My whole body language changed was I became more confident, I began to use more facial expressions and hand gestures. The teacher of the class even made a comment on how much my confidence improved over the two weeks.

Next the class mainly did literacy work. Here each primary class were taken to the carpet where the teacher would write down what the children were to do on the board. I found this affective because every child was aware fully of what they were doing. After this the children were set to task, and I had to circulate the classroom and provide help to the children who need it. At first, again, I found it difficult to change the language I used to make it appropriate to the age and stage of the child I was talking to. For example, I would help a Primary 4, and then go help a Primary 1 so it was difficult to change between both levels. Although I became used to this as I got to know the children.

Other curricular areas I observed was French. Here a supply teacher would come in to teach. As I am doing French at university I felt fairly confident in this area. Although due to the different levels I imagine I could be difficult to plan a lesson as the children will all have different knowledge. My role in the class was to help keep the children’s behaviour in check and provide the children help with pronunciation with words and phrases. For example, one boy found it particularly hard to say ‘Je m’appelle..’ (my name is…). Therefore I took him aside and worked with him until he felt more confident with this.

I also observed drama lessons. A supply teacher would come in to teach this also. She would read a poem from a Julia Donaldson book, and ask the children to act it out. I sometimes had to act as well which I found extremely fun, as it let me get to know the children in a more fun environment.

Extra curricular activities included swimming lessons at the local pool every Friday. During this time I had to ensure that I looked after to back of the line. From my placement last year I drew on my knowledge such as: if you’re walking next to a child ensure that the child is in the inside and you’re on the outside next to the road. In addition, if you are approaching a road ensure all the children stop and look right to left before crossing.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed my placement experience and I wish I could have stayed longer than the two weeks. Everyone was so welcoming and lovely, and it made my two weeks a lot easier. I learnt a lot about myself and my practice in that I need to be more confident in myself that I can do it. I can’t wait for my next placement.

Day one and two of placement!

Day one When I arrived at my placement I felt slightly nervous as I wanted to make a good first impression. All my nerves were for nothing as I was given a warm welcome. Once we were shown around the … Continue reading →

Day one

When I arrived at my placement I felt slightly nervous as I wanted to make a good first impression. All my nerves were for nothing as I was given a warm welcome. Once we were shown around the school my partner and I split and we went into our allocated classrooms. When I first walked into the room I felt quite overwhelmed as I didn’t know any of the children’s names and I didn’t know what to do with myself. However, as there is only ten/twelve children in the class I learned them very quickly. First we had P.E. The children did various games that related to handball. Some of these included: bouncing the ball twice and passing it round your back, and rolling a ball to your partner and copying the amount of hops they do before swapping places. After P.E we practiced for the Halloween parade. This was enjoyable as I got to hear the children perform their poems and songs before the concert. Walking into the staffroom for the first time made my stomach turn as I didn’t know what to expect, as from my experience in other schools it can be quite a possessive place when it comes to seats etc. I walked in and it was so relaxed and friendly and I felt like I fit in straight away. After lunch we returned to the classroom for ‘Literacy’. The first task that was set was reading a book that was a suitable level for the child. My job was to circulate and help the children if they got stuck on any words while the teacher ran an errand. At first I felt a bit scared as I’ve never been in charge of a class before but I quickly got used to it and began to enjoy it. The next task was set which depended on the child’s primary. The main purpose of the task for everyone was practicing phonics, and grammar (common and regular nouns) for the primary three’s. Again, my main purpose was to circulate and help any of the children if needed. I found out new tactics when helping children, e.g. by sounding out the word with the child it can help them figure out what the word is.

Day two

Day two was particularly busy as it was Halloween and Christmas all in one day. Let me explain. The school along with others all over Scotland were being filmed by STV for the Christmas choir TV show that will air Christmas Day. During the day we celebrated Halloween with the parade and had a variety of different activities going on. In the afternoon myself, my partner, the deputy head teacher and the choir were at Saint Leonard’s Church in Ayr to record the two songs for the STV show.

So far I am enjoying my time at my placement school and I am looking forward to the weeks ahead.

Feedback Study Task

The notes Rebecca and I made were very closely aligned as we both agreed on certain strengths and areas for development for the teacher and nothing she’d written surprised me. We both thought that all members of the classroom could see and hear the teacher from the first video which is a crucial factor for a successful lesson. However we both felt that the teacher had the tendency to ramble which could result in the children losing focus. Also we agreed that occasionally his body language was closed off by folding his arms for example.

Something that surprised me from the videos was the clip Bill Gates showed in the final video of the teacher who records all her lessons. The effectiveness of this task surprised me a little as I thought the children may find it distracting or off-putting to constantly be getting filmed. It also seems a rather time consuming technique.

I found these tasks relatively easy as I was under little-to-no pressure to spot everything the first time around. I could pause, rewind, and rewatch the videos to find and development my answers to evaluation points. Completing this task on placement will likely be much harder as it is only one-take and there is a lot to be observing and evaluating at the same time.

One idea I would like to hang on to from these tasks for the forthcoming placement is the use of positive body language. This is because if I display negative body language I could become unapproachable in the classroom.

I’m feeling rather nervous ahead of my placement as I really want to do well. However, I am also extremely excited for the experience and the challenge and hope to develop some great bonds with the pupils and staff at the school.

Self Evaluation Study Task

After watching the videos, I feel I am more aware of the importance of self-evaluation. I understand that the only way to improve and move forward is to take time to reflect on how well you did something and what you could improve for future. Without taking the time to look back and evaluate, you … Continue reading Self Evaluation Study Task

After watching the videos, I feel I am more aware of the importance of self-evaluation. I understand that the only way to improve and move forward is to take time to reflect on how well you did something and what you could improve for future. Without taking the time to look back and evaluate, you may stunt your professional progression. It is hard to get into the habit of self-evaluating. It can seem a little unnatural and uncomfortable, but the rewards definitely make it worthwhile and it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it.

With placement fast approaching, it will be useful for me to take time to reflect on how I perform when I am there, and what aspects could do with some improving. I know that it is okay to make mistakes (which is very likely in your first placement), as long as we learn from them. Hopefully this will mean I get the most out of my time at placement. Placement is an exciting but nerve-racking time, so it is important to use time efficiently and make sure we benefit from our time at school.

From watching the videos, I understand not only that self-evalutaion is important but also that peer evaluation is also key. A lot of the time, someone else can pick up on things you don’t notice. A second pair of eyes can catch things that may have slipped through the net. It is important for a peer or mentor to be encouraging, by giving praise as well as areas to improve. The videos talked about how vital it is for a trainee and mentor to have a good relationship of respect and understanding, in order to give effective feedback. I think it is also important that we, as teachers, are comfortable receiving feedback and don’t take it personally – we all want to be the best we can be professionally, and the only way to achieve this is through evaluation and reflection. We should make sure when we are reporting back to a trainee or peer, that we give constructive criticism and feedback, rather than judgement.

Observation on Videos

My partner and I had very similar notes while watching the videos and check list. We both pointed out were the student teacher went wrong while using both verbal and non verbal communication behaviours and when his interaction with the pupils lacked. The videos surprised me as I did not realise that teachers sometimes use body language that comes across as if they are not interested or angry. Also through the student teachers verbal communication he often used a monotone voice when he was talking about a lesson and the way in which he spoke to the children. I found the tasks relatively easy. While watching the videos I realised the importance of feedback because receiving feedback will give you a self esteem boost. Feedback also allows you to learn what to improve, also what went well during your time in placement or a lesson that you have taught. The idea I will take to placement will be to take feedback through observation as a positive point as it will show areas that do not need to be changed but also areas that may need to improve but does not need to be disheartening.

I feel nervous but very excited for placement on the 30th of October as I will have a chance to work within a school environment not just as a visitor or practitioner but as a student teacher. I am looking forward to observe the teachers techniques through teaching and my peers techniques while working with a group. Then I will be able to take that on as I go through my four years of university.

Feedback Study Task

On your own in front of a classroom of children, there is no way to truly know how you are coming across to your students. You can know the theory in and out, but it can be easy to let that slip – for instance lose your calm and to raise your voice unnecessarily and … Continue reading “Feedback Study Task”

This is where observation comes in. Be that via a small, discreet video camera in the corner of the room or a peer or mentor in the class room, observation by a neutral third party is the only way to take an objective look at our teaching practice.

Optimally we will have both. There are things an observer may miss, or the observed party could have had a reason for doing something a certain way which could be a useful point of discussion in a feedback session – for instance in the video of the observed Year 5 teacher he was able to explain that he interacted with an individual a certain way because he is familiar with the student. This opened an important discussion between the teacher and his mentor. In this instance the teacher was an ideal recipient of the feedback because although he did not initially agree with his mentor’s assessment of the situation, they reviewed the video and he took what she said on board. He then went on to implement her suggestion in the classroom. It would have not been possible to have such an effective feedback session if either the mentor or the video camera had not been present in the class.

It is important to give feedback and not judgement. Feedback must include things that the person is doing well in their practice to give them the opportunity to build on these strengths but also to hopefully leave the person more open to receiving criticism on an area they may have work to do – even offering realistic suggestions for their practice (Cottrell, 2013). Judgement, on the other hand, would be an unhelpful condemnation on the observed party. Comments on something that the observed cannot change are not productive feedback.

I found it interesting to see the “palm up” body language that we have seen in previous tasks put into practice when the teacher in the first video was talking to a small group of his Year 5 students. I am looking forward to placement because I am keen to receive feedback on my areas for improvement when communicating.

Reflection and Feedback

Today we have been thinking about self reflection and feedback in preparation for our first school placement in two weeks time. This is an area I find largely uncomfortable and certainly one that currently makes me nervous. It has been interesting to watch feedback sessions take place with two teachers. It has given me some […]

It has been interesting to watch feedback sessions take place with two teachers. It has given me some idea of the sorts of observations that someone may make of me. However, it also strengthens the knowledge of the sorts of observations I will need to make of my placement partner. Furthermore, through watching these videos today I have a much deeper understanding of the benefits of feedback and self evaluation.

Before today I would have been dismissive of recording myself in a classroom setting to reflect upon later. However it is clear to see that watching myself teach would allow me to see things happening in my classroom that I may miss while it is happening (in a good and bad way). Also, while I may feel that I come across to pupils in a certain way, watching a video of myself would allow me to re-evaluate verbal and non verbal communications which may be causing concern or confusion. Reflecting upon my own practice in this way will allow me to move forward in the right direction with my teaching.

Sue Cowley observed a third year student in the second of the videos we watched today. There was a lot to observe both good and bad about the practice of the teacher and Sue gave constructive criticisms and guidance to allow the teacher to better his practice with his class. In a group we discussed the video and found that we had very similar views to each other of the practices of the teacher. One difference of opinion that we did have was surrounding the teacher choosing to send three members of his class away from the main part of the class to sort out an argument they have been having over lunchtime. I felt that it was good to see the teacher care for the well-being of the children in this way. However other members of my group felt that this should have been left at the door of the classroom in order to not disrupt the learning for the whole class. Upon reflection, I can understand this stance and it will be something I carry forward with me.

There is now only two weeks left until I go on my first placement. I am nervous about the experience. Knowing where I am going and who I am paired with has lessened my nerves to an extent though. I am very interested to be within a school outwith the area that I live in and also one that is very small. I am intrigued by the logistics involved in a school with only two classes. The website for the school is informative and shows me that they are a busy vibrant school which I am looking forward to finding out more about.

Self-Evaluation study task

During this independent study task based on observations, self-evaluation and communication skills, I feel as though I have gained more knowledge on what I wish to be like during my time on placement and as a teacher in future years. After watching the Year 3 teacher who was being observed by Sue Cowley I compared what I had written down with a partner, although we had some of the same content gathered from this video, we also had different things wrote down which the other one of us never picked up on. For example, my praise after watching this teacher was that he had a friendly approach with the children, this meaning they will feel comfortable around him and be able to trust him, along with this they will have a sense of respect for him. However, I felt as though sometimes he never portrayed as much authority as what he should have, due to this sometimes the children were distracted and were never told to participate more or told to stop messing around.

Something that surprised me about this self-study task was that often we fall into a trap of doing and saying things which we think are okay, but when we look back it may have not been the best thing to do at that time. When watching the video on the teacher looking back on a recording of her teaching it made me more aware that often we are unaware of everything that has happened in a day, so often we forget crucial elements. It was interesting to see a teacher recording herself to look back on and I was very surprised this happened, as I personally haven’t seen anything like this before. However, I think it is a great way to look back and reflect.

I feel as though this self-study task has made me more self-aware and has showed me certain aspects I want to take forward and some I should try and avoid when out on placement. For example, how it is nice to be friendly with the pupils, but there also should be a professional barrier too. Overall, watching videos of teachers with their classes makes me excited to start placement to get involved within the practical side of things.

Importance of Self-Evaluation

Both mine and Shannon’s thoughts on the strengths and areas for improvement of the student teacher in the video were similar. We noted that although he mostly had an open and positive body language. He got down to the children’s level for storytelling and made eye contact with a boy he was asking a specific question to. However, he also had some closed body language also. For example I noticed he crossed his arms and Shannon noted he put his hand under his chin a lot- as though bored or disinterested in the lesson.

Nothing in the videos or my partners comments particularly surprised me. However, I did find the fact that the teacher in the last video recorded her class lessons quite interesting. I think this would be quite a good way of being able to fully reflect on your practice as you can watch it back and take notes on anything you would do differently next time.

I didn’t find the tasks too challenging, although I think that when I am actually on placement I might find it more difficult. This is because I will have to assess a peer that I know and do not want to offend. I think that I will have to work to find the best way of giving my opinion without it sounding too critical.

I am looking forward to placement, but I am also a bit nervous to be going out. I am excited to find out what the school, pupils, and my mentor are like and to be in the environment I will be in when I qualify and have my own class in 4 years.