last week "literacy lesson"

The second lesson was literacy lesson and the aim of the lesson was responding to short simple questions. The theme of that week was the national day so I asked lots of questions about the UAE and the seven cities to make it link with the objective. Also I introduced the life in the UAE in the past and in the present. I used different pictures on the laptop to show the difference of our life before and now and I tried to elicit the information from the students. It was difficult to the students to learn about past and now in second language however what I noticed that they understood what I was asking about and they were answering however they were answering in Arabic and what I had to do is to say it in English.

What I did for the focus activity was something different than the arts activity that we have done before. They did this time national day card which I prepared it and they had to decorate it. I prepared some pictures that they can stick such as sheikh Khalifa and the logo of the UAE which is the falcon. Also I printed the word " I love ……. " for the low and the medium ability and what they have to do is to write the UAE or copy it however the high ability group wrote I let them to write the whole sentence. Moreover, I let the students to draw the flag and I asked them some questions about what they are doing and what the color of the flag. The whole lesson went very well and they were listening and responding however what I have to change next time is make the 1^st whole section like a conversation between me and the students rather than asking lots of questions. What I used to do is just asking and waiting for the answers and that should come later in the middle of the week to check their understanding. And what I have to do more is to start the lesson talking and discussing in the first two days especially when I want to introduce new lesson.

last week "numeracy lesson"

In the last week of my teaching practice the lessons were complicated and not fit deeply with the objectives as usual and that because of the theme of the week which was about the national day.

 

During the 1st whole while I was using the small activity about joining two groups and recognizing the numbers.

I did numeracy lesson about joining two groups of objects to show addition up to 7 and recognize the numbers from 1 to 10. I did small activity that match with the aim during the whole and it went very well and the students were participating and responding while the focus activity in the corner was not matching the aim because of the national day theme which we had to do activities about it. During the whole I had three groups on small cartoon board with the two signs which is plus and equal to show addition and to teach the students these two signs. I used small pictures of the UAE flag and small flash cards of numbers from 1 to 10. I asked the students to join the two groups of UAE flag and to put the numbers under the groups.

On the other hand, the focus activity that the students had is a template of the UAE map and they had to print the flag color on it. I tried to let the students to count while they were printing. It went well however it was hard to keep my eyes on all of the 4 students and see if they were counting or not. Because of that, next time I may ask the students after they finish printing how many red color or green color they had print on their map and have in front of them the numbers and they can point on the number that they print so we can match it with the second aim which is recognizing the numbers.

This is the focus activity that the students did. they were printing the color of the UAE flag on the UAE map.

2nd week "second lesson on numeracy"

In this numeracy lesson I used different of instruments to achieve the aim of the week which was about using a variety of manipulatives and pictorial representatives of numbers to 10. The lesson has to be connected with the theme so in the activity I used umbrella template that match with the season's topic. In the whole I used different of instruments with flash cards that has numbers. I used each time one of the instrument and I asked each time one of the students to count and when I stop they have to pick the number from the floor. I noticed that using the instruments grabbed their attention and made them engaged to the lesson.

As I noticed in the previous week that the students enjoyed using the sponges with the paints so for this week I wanted to use the paints again however with different things.

The students had an umbrella template in front of them and they had to paint the umbrella with purple color because it was the color of the week. After that they had to put their thumbs on the paints and stamp it on the umbrella. I differentiated the activity to be suitable with their level and I asked them to count while they printing. I went through the activity with some of the students to avoid the problem that happened last week with the sponge's activity however in this lesson the problem that occur was with one of the children during the plenary time. He becomes out of my control and he was moving around his friend and distracting them. He was not listening or responding to my rules so I ignore him to finish the lesson.

 

Next time I think to avoid any distraction like that I may ask the child to sit beside me and help me so I will keep him busy. Also I will try to point on him if he did something right as reinforcement.

2nd week "literacy lesson"

In the second week we had a new theme which was about seasons and it’s the first time that they took something about that even in KG1 they didn’t learn about it. So it was big challenge to me to introduce something new and hard especially in the UAE we have only two seasons.

                                                                                                                 This is the pictures of the seasons and the weathers that I used in the lesson.

At the beginning of the lesson I used pictures of the 4 seasons with different weathers. My aim for the second week was to let the students to identify two seasons especially summer and winter and know the different weathers. I used some clothes to explain what we feel in summer and what we feel in winter and what kind of clothes we wear in each seasons.

The problem that I faced was losing the students attention about the lesson because I was focusing on how to deliver the new information to them. I was translating a lot which I didn’t like especially in the first day so in the second day I thought of solving the problem by spend more time in the whole and using more of pictures to make the listen interesting. Because of that, I lost the students attention which I noticed later that what I have done is wrong especially they are kids and their attention span is short. Later on, during the activities I figure out that the students may get the concept while they are working or talking with their friends. Moreover, they may get the information later on at the end of the lesson during the plenary or at the end of the week.

Next time I will spend short time in the whole even if they didn’t get what I was aimed for and I will send them to do the activity and during that time they may understand something because during the activities the students may understand more while they are on the carpet which I forgot this point totally. After that in the plenary time I could revise with them what we had started with however with different way.

First week "second lesson"

In the first week I did numeracy lesson which was about equal groups using manipulatives. I used plastic fruits in the first whole to explain the meaning of equal. Most of the children know the meaning of the word same however they don’t know what is the meaning of equal. I used two cartoon plates and I used different of fruits such as Grapes, oranges and an apples. Also I used the students to make the lesson more meaningful at the end of the lesson and what I did is I asked three boys to stand up on my left side and three boys on my right side and I asked them some questions. I repeated the same activity with the girls also however I let three on my left side and four on my right side to show them the difference and I asked them how we can make them equal.

Before we went to the activity corners I had to explain what they have to do especially in the focus group. The transition wasn’t too bad maybe because they were small group however what they did is asking to move to other corners and shouting to do the other activity which I asked them to do another. During the activity they had to use small flower sponges and they suppose to put it on the paints and print it on the cartoon plate that has divided already for them. They had to print three in each side to show that they understood the meaning of equality. I had to differentiate the activity however we still didn’t classify them in different ability group while I know each child level.

 I faced a problem during the activity with two low ability students which they were printing more than the number that I asked for even they had the model in front of them. What I did to solve the problem is I stopped them and I showed them what their friends did and how they did it nicely and I will stick their works on the display. What happened is I gave them another cartoon plate and they did it again as I asked and I assessed them by questioning to be sure that they got the concept. The solution worked well with the low ability student however next time I may use another strategy with them which I may do the activity and go through each steps together.

 

First week "literacy lesson"

Sorry for being late to write in the first week and that happened because of all the changes that I had to deal with and find solution for it. I found from the first day that there are lots of changes happened when I missed three weeks. The big change was in my class before I had 23 students while now 13 and every day 4 or five students absent so totally I teach 8 students most of the time. Most of you will find teaching few students better however I found it difficult especially it is the first to me.

After being away for three weeks the first lesson that I did was literacy lesson which I used a very nice story which is "the very hungry caterpillar". The planning was very good and the preparation as well. I used picture walk of the story and different pictures start with the letter 'p'.

 This is the picture walk that I used in the 1st whole.

This is the focus activity which the students had to cut the pictures that start with the letter 'p' and glue it on the color paper and who finish quickly try to write the letter 'p'.

Before I start the lesson my MST asked me to monitor the student alone because they were 8 students so I had to take risk and monitor them without my both MST's. The lesson started very well at the beginning and they were recalling the event of the story while I was using the picture walk however something occurs during the activities. I had two activities one which I focused on and the other which the students practicing writing the letter so I had to observe both which I didn’t plan for and to assess them in the same time. Some of the students in the writing corner were not responding and finishing their work and when I asked them to tidy –up they were still working. Moreover, my group didn’t clean-up the place very well and suddenly both of the groups were out of control.  To solve that problem I had to stop what they were doing and bring them to the carpet and say to them what they did that make me sad and explain in it Arabic. Also during the plenary time I didn’t see all their work because they were still not listening so I took their work and I showed them a video of butterfly lifecycle and during that time they become calm and engaging with the video. Next time I may stop everything and not showing them the video also to show them that what they have done is wrong. Also I may ask them to go and finish tidy up and talk with them more about what they have done and if its write or not and what they have to do next time.



The last day in the first week (3rd/ 10)

Today was the last day in the first week and I did literacy lesson with creative activity. The preparation of the lesson was good and the students were more interesting and more active to the lesson than the last lesson. Every time before I start the lesson I revise with the children our classroom rules and I tried today to let them say the rules in English and some of them did. I was so happy and my teacher told me that I'm going on the write truck of teaching the children. In this lesson my activity was different than any activity that the children done before. The students enjoyed doing the activity and my MST like it maybe because they are using lots of worksheets activity and the activity that I did with them today was unusual for them. At the end when the children went their houses I arranged the classroom with my MST and we tried to make it wider so the children will have space to move. I had printed some labels for the resources that they have so they can see some words in Arabic and in English. Moreover, I had organized the stories and classify them on the reading area. The final thing that I did was sticking the children work that they did with me on the displays to let them see their work. When I finished I was exhausted however, I felt that it's really my classroom and I was happy to make it better and nice for the kids.   

                                               This is the model that I did for the children

This is the activity that I did with the children however I prepared everything and they just stick everything together. Also what I did to make the activity more enjoyable is I used white paper instead of color paper so they was busy coloring it first then they stick everything. 

4th day in teaching practic (2nd /10)

In this day I did a numeracy lesson and I started with contextualizing the information from the children by asking them some questions about the shape of the week if they can remember it. I used some pictures and show them the difference between the square and the rectangle. I did an activity that each one of my group will a paper that has different shapes and they have to identify the square and color it. Moreover, they are in the beginning of the year and lots of changes happening in the school so both teachers didn’t classify the students in different groups according to their stage so it was hard to differentiate the activity for the whole group however I did it with each child. To be more specific, during the last three days that I was in the school I figure out each child level and interest so I know each one of them should be in which group. Another thing that I like to mention it that my MST liked the lesson and activity and she saw how the students were listening and responding.  

3rd day in teaching practice (Monday 1/10)

At the beginning of the day today I sit with my both MST and we had disused what we will do next week and we set up together the lesson plan however each one of us has different thing to do and prepare to her lesson. After that I went to set up my activities for my lesson which was about the /s/ sound and I introduced some words that start with this letter. I showed the students some pictures that started with our letter and I asked them some questions during the whole then I asked them to move to the centers to do some activity. At the end of the lesson I asked some of the students to show us their work and say what they did. During that time I recognized how mastered the outcome for literacy and how need supports. At that time each teacher could assess their children if they achieve the learning object or not. Moreover, I had to translate some words and the activities also because as I saw some of the student didn’t get it in English however the lesson was good and my teacher gave me a good feedback about it. Tomorrow I will teach numeracy lesson and I wonder how it will be because it will be the final class and as I noticed in the last two days that they become hyper or sleepy at the end of the day so wish me luck.

The first week in teaching practice (sunday 30/9/2012)

Today I did half a lesson on the mat and I introduced the shape of the week which is square and ask the students some questions about it. They were good listening to me and I tried to talk in English mostly with doing some gestures rather than explain everything in Arabic. The reason that I did half a lesson is my teacher wanted to finish the base assessment on numeracy that she is doing it and all of the teachers must to finish it this week however my teacher want to finish it tomorrow so the students will enjoy to do some activities that related to the theme. Therefore, I helped my MST with the assessments during the activity time and she thought that this will help me for my action research. Moreover, it was good for me to do this kind of assessment to see how my MST is assessing the children and to take a look to the student's level.

My first day in the Kindergarten

My first day as student teacher in a new school which is Al Zayediyah Kindergarten was good however I was little nervous especially that nobody of my colleagues with me. I start my day with greeting the principal and introducing myself to her and to the teachers. They were very kind with me and welcomed. Moreover, I met Ms. Vivian the head of English teachers and she introduced me to my MST Ms. Jeanette she seems very good teacher, kind and helpful. She explained everything that I may need for the next week and I explained for her what I have to do as well. In addition, there are some things that I'm concerned about which is my teacher let the Arabic teacher explain everything that she says and I can't blame her because they are second language learner but I'm worry that the students will get used to have an explanation in Arabic and they will be always waiting for that. Furthermore, they are using lots of worksheets which are good and they contains good activities however it's different than my previous experiences. In addition, the big issue that I'm thinking for a solution for it is the size of the classroom which is very small and there is no space for the children to move freely. Finally, I enjoyed my day sitting with the children and try to interact with them to get used to me.

Interview

 

Observation

 

 

EACE 471 Reading of literature

Some advises to help the new teachers

Being in the school for the first time as a student teacher could be exited and nervous for most of the students. I can remember my first experience, I was excited to teach and to deal with young learners however I didn't know how to start and what is the first thing that I have to do. These are some advises could help new training teacher

 

1.      Observe the children while they are learning independently it will help the student's teacher to know the students well and know what they are interested in.

2.      Use big stories with different colorful picture to grab the student's attention and its very good strategy to introduce new lesson.

3.      Ask the students to bring something from their houses that they like or prefer and talk about it in front of his/her friend for this strategy will build their self-esteem.

4.      Involve the multimedia and the popular culture in their learning to hold their attention on the lesson.

5.      In some lessons we can use creative arts such as drama, music and dance to make the learning more effective and fun.

6.      Always remember to keep you introduction of the lesson short because the attention span of the young students is short and they get bored quickly even us if we were doing the same thing for a long time we will get lost.

7.      Don’t forget the important thing about the classroom management which the children should have routines in behaving in the classroom and outside the classroom.

8.      Rewarding the learners and using the good reinforcement are very important to support them to do better and better next time also it will encourage the other students to imitate the student who did well and it build their self-esteem as well.

9.      Treat the students equally and always tell the students what the wrong that he/she did and ask him/her what should to do instead of that.

10.  Sometimes the lesson will not be as you planned for and sometimes the students will not be in the mood or they will not be listening so don’t be upset and be flexible and move to do some fun activity with them so they will be learning without they know that.

11.  The last thing that I want to share it is something I had problem with and one of my college teacher support me to try it and it works well. It was about using role-play and imagination strategy with kindergarten students. At the beginning this strategy could be difficult especially with children however after several time of practicing the students will get used to it. After I used this way of teaching I figure out that my students become good thinkers, solve problems, speak and work collaboratively. On the other hand, be careful of doing role-play for the first time when you have your college mentor or the school mentor observing you.

The mind map of my action research

The final project

Hello,

My name is Fatima I'm 22 years old. I'm married from five years and I have two boys. I'm a student in Al Ain Women's College.

This is my final year in studding Early Childhood Education. In this semester I have to do a big research "action research" that I have to write 6000 words about a topic that I'm interested in to learn and to make improvement on it. Moreover, in this research I have to write about the topic that I will apply in the school for 6 weeks and write what I planned for and what happened during the lesson. Furthermore, I have to support my project with relevant quotations and with my reaction about it.