Week journal 1 (11 April 2014)

 

Significant Situation 

I made a very detailed schedule for 1IGH5 and 2IGH1 for the fourth period. In this schedule I wrote down what their homework is and what will be done during these sessions, the grammar item(s), and the speaking item per week.
Then I e-mailed this to my students and I've also told them during my lesson that they will need to check the schedule for their homework and other assignments.

Date:	Intelligent Business:	Grammar item:	Speaking item:
7 April (Monday)	Check red book: Unit 12	Present simple, past simple	Pronunciation: tongue twisters
10 April (Thursday)	Check: Unit 12 red classwork: green book unit 12 Homework: red book unit 13	Pop quiz present simple, past simple, questions

Reflection

I decided to make a very clear schedule in order for the students to know exactly which book they need to bring (red or green), which unit they need to do or bring, what grammar item we will be dealing with, when they have a pop quiz and which grammar item(s), and what subject will we be discussing for the speaking part of the lesson.

The effect of doing this with these two classes is that everyone has no more excuses, because some students usually say that they didn't know what they had to make or that they were ill the week before, etc.

Most students told me it was a very nice way to know in advance what they need to prepare before the next English lesson.

My coach told me, ''Hi Lily, looks good. Smart to put in the holidays, there are many of those in the next months''. 

This situation is important to me, because I really wanted students to stop having excuses each lesson as to why they didn't make their homework which results into me having to kick them out. This is one of the teaching aims I have for this LIO; to be stricter with students e.g. when they don't have their homework or book with them.

I value being clear as a teacher, but also honesty out of my students and participation. I expect my students to behave a certain way and have their things in order. Moreover, in order for me to expect my students to have their homework with them and their books then I should be clear and honest as a teacher as well.

In conclusion, I think that this schedule will benefit the students and me as a teacher because it is very clear, organized, and straight to the point (exactly which units, which book, etc.). 

My learning question for the next week journal is:
-How do I make a diagnostic test on the weekly grammar item with Socrative?

I will be using and/or reading this online article:
1. http://www.socrative.com/how-it-works

Internship Progress

Next week, I'm going to be making a pop quiz for 2IGH1 on the grammar item of that week: the past perfect and the present perfect.
 Until next week!