Term 2 reflection, 2013

Term reflection:

Term 2 has flown by so fast. It’s hard to believe I have been teaching for 10 weeks. I have really enjoyed getting to know the children in my class and learning about them and their different needs they are a really lovely bunch of children. I have also learnt the way that the school works and it’s great to feel a part of it. This term has been a really big learning curve for me and it has made me aware that what I learnt at college only scratched the surface to what I actually do in the classroom.

Reading~

The reading programme took me a couple of weeks to set up and I don’t have it how I want it just yet, however I do think that it is running the best out of all of my curriculum areas. I have found that by giving children independence I get more work out of them and they are more focused on what they are doing. My guided reading groups are going ok however I still need to make sure I am using my modelling book and asking them open ended questions to get more information. Next term I will continue to insure children are increasing their stamina.

I am also starting the Early Words programme with the two lower students to boost their word knowledge. This will start week 1 and I will spend 5 minutes with each student every day.

We will also be doing the phonics programme and this will be run between my class and the junior class. I am going to run it from about stage 4 up and any children that are lower will join the junior room from this time for stage 3 and below.

Maths~

I am wanting to change Maths quite a bit as I am not really happy with it. For a start I am going to be changing the time I work with groups and will be seeing only two groups a day for a longer period of time. I am going to change my modelling book and will be using the bigger ones and making a point to consistently use them each and every day. During the second week Kristen and I are doing a classroom visit at another school so I am really looking forward to that to see how the teacher runs their programme and get some ideas that I can implement into my own. I am going to be focusing on my teaching and ensuring I am asking questions that make the children think and make links to. I will also be reducing the amount that I talk and encouraging children to explain and discuss with each other.

My maths calendar is also going to be changing next term and I will be making it more student directed/lead rather than teacher lead. I will also be including harder activities that engage the children.

Writing~

This has been quite a hard area for me to teach as I have never actually taught it as such. It has been a big learning curve and this is one of my focus areas for next term. I have learnt how to assess children’s writing using e-asTTle which I had never used before and I still find it a little hard to get my scores consistent however I know I will get better as I practice. Next term I am going to be focusing on the types of writing rather than the genre.

Other curriculum areas~

I have found it really hard to fit other curriculum areas in around an already busy schedule (including being out of the class once a week). I really enjoy giving children the opportunity to explore areas that are passionate to them and I have found my class really love Physical Education. I am going to plan to incorporate more of this into next term with the focus being on cross country.

My inquiry unit went well, however it dragged on a bit so next term I am making it short and sweet and planning to have it finished by week 4. Our focus for inquiry is Heroes which I think will be quite fun and I am looking forward to it.

At the end of today I asked the children to give me some feedback on one thing they think I did well this term and one thing I needed improvement on. Most of them were shocked when I asked and a couple made the comment of ‘We can’t tell the teacher what to do’. I found this really interesting and explained to them that I can’t become a better teacher if they don’t tell me what I can do differently to help them learn.

Some of the positive feedback was:

• You let us choose our own reading activities.
• You have done well in this class.
• You have given us rules and you remind us of them.

Some of the feedback I got that they want me to improve on was:

• Don’t give us the answers.
• Give us lollies more often.
• Don’t raise your voice because I don’t want you getting a sore throat.

During I am planning to spend a few days in my class getting at ready for next term and changing around things that worked and things that didn’t to make it better. I will also be spending a couple of days on my planning and making sure I have clear direction with it and know exactly what I am teaching.

Overall I have had an amazing term and am lucky to be in such a lovely school with supportive staff members. I am really looking forward to starting next term and getting the children moving. But for now I need a break to recharge the batteries.

This definitely applied to me the last couple of day.