Number of journal : 2/8

Week : Week 2

Date : 7th August 2015

Problems

For the second week of practicum, I was observed for the first time by my supervising

lecturer on 5th of August 2015 and 7th of August 2015. Since it was my first week of entering

the class, I find it was quite a challenge for me to fit in the classroom at first, but at a later

time there was no problem to actually teach these children if I am able to plan a strategy for

good class control and students’ participation during the lesson. However, I encountered few

problems on the second week:

i. Activities were too teacher-centred

ii. Lesson objectives are not specific

iii. Mixed abilities classroom

Analysis

This is my first time teaching the upper-level students. The only thing I had in mind

when I planned my lesson for the first week was, not to provide too much of children games

but to provide a lot of information with guidance (scaffolding). However, yes, there were a lot

of input given to my students but I didn’t notice that there was also a lot of guidance. It

means the lesson was too teacher-centred even when it is supposed to be done my students

I was the one who done their part. My supervising lecturer gave suggestion to me that I

could lessen down the teacher’s part and let students experience the lesson / give them

opportunity to experience students-centred learning in my classroom. This means more

collaborative learning should be planned for them so they can start working together but with

enough guidance given. I did implement this for my Language Art lesson and it is proven that

they really enjoyed group task.

Besides that, as for the lesson objectives; I was advised by my supervising lecture to

be more specific in my lesson objectives. This means, I cannot be too general in stating the

aim/focus that I have for my students. Most of my lesson objectives, previously, were stated

generally without the details of how the objectives can be achieved throughout the lesson.

The pros of being specific in stating the objectives are I will be more aware of how the lesson

should be ran and how the objectives should be achieved (in what ways).

Lastly is mixed abilities classroom. During my primary school time, or even all PBS

experiences as well as previous practicum, I had never been exposed to mixed-abilities

classroom. Mixed abilities classroom require extra effort and work in preparing the lesson for

different abilities or levels of students. It may sound simple or easy, but it is actually quite

challenging and tough for a teacher to provide too many different activities for 30 above

number of students of different abilities. At first, since I have zero knowledge of this matter, I

simply prepared a less-challenging task for my lower-achiever students. But during the first

class, I could see that one of them could not even spell simple word. It will be hard for them

to participate in the lesson if they don’t even know alphabets. So there were some

improvements in the worksheet for them, I prepared dotted lines activity so that they can be

familiar with the penmanship skill to write the alphabets. And the rest of the class, I teach as

usual because gladly they can understand instruction and the language I use in class

(unless necessary, there must be translation or showing picture/ action demonstration so

they understand the meaning)

Suggestions for Improvement

There are several ways that could be done to overcome the problem mentioned above:

I did change my way of teaching. I made it more students-centred learning by letting

students do the task in group so that they get to communicate, make interaction,

share opinions and exchange ideas.

I must start to look into details of the lesson objectives I want to achieve in the

classroom. Specifications may help a teacher to achieve the lesson objectives more

effectively because he/she knows which area to focus on.

I should provide different task for the lower-achiever students instead of the usual

dotted-lines activity so that they will not get bored with the activity. But to assess their

improvements, I started to prepare extra blanks for them to rewrite the sentences

without the dotted lines.

More appealing activities should be prepared for them so they can experience

different types of learning-experience and enjoy learning English.

Time for Implementation

I will try to overcome my problem soonest possible.

Conclusion

As a teacher, I need to increase my knowledge on how to make my lesson more responsive,

interactive and lively. When I was observed by my supervising lecturer, she shared few

strategies and approaches that can be used in the classroom and the attitude I should have

as a teacher. I am hoping for excellence and flawlessness in my teaching and learning

process in all tomorrows.

Checked by

Signature

Name

Miss Hannah Sim Phek Khiok Miss Dayang Norashikin

Date