When I taught my first lesson at primary school

1. After teaching my first lesson…
Before the lesson I had positive expectations regarding the activities and how they
were arranged to be learned by students but then, after teaching my first lesson in 5th B
grade, I felt just good as I could not accomplish all those expectations. Partly, the first
activity I did with flashcards students seemed willing and enthusiastic to participate when
I asked for volunteer. They engaged easily in this activity with flashcards to introduce the
topic of Family and repeating all together the words related to the members. However,
when I distributed the copies for the next exercise with a song they showed no interest in
doing it so and they looked so excited talking in a loud voice that I had to ask them to stop
speaking so that their classmates could also do the activity. I thought it was going to be
motivating but rather, they started talking and when I played the song they said that it
was difficult for them to follow and complete it with the words. So, my classmate and I
helped them to complete it. Although a few students could follow and do it very well,
some others were rather lost because there was a group who did not keep silence. Finally,
with lot of effort, we could complete the song. The teacher of 5th grade told me that the
problem was that student are not got used to work with that kind of exercise as it
appeared rather difficult for them to follow. That is why; I think that this activity probably
did not function due to their attitude and ability as regards the song, and it was not very
productive and motivating even though they could all complete it. So I do not know
whether the problem was me who did not know how to keep them motivated, or the song
that it was difficult or the children who were excited. Some were willing to do it some
others not so much but we got they could all do the activity.
As it was so hard to keep them quiet and working it was not possible to complete
the lesson plan even though my classmate and teacher also helped me and tried to calm
down the children. It remained two activities to complete due to the previous situation I
experienced. I had to overcome nervous and try hardly to keep them quiet so that they
could do the activity.

2. In order to improve the lessons, I consider that I must continue looking for creative and
interesting activities suitable for their abilities. May be I did not choose the correct one.
Considering my partner’s lesson in 5th D, I think that children were also willing to
participate with the flashcards and the song indeed. I believe that as they remained quiet,
it was not so hard for my classmate as me to cope with the lesson. He could effectively
manage the class even though we had also to help students with the song, but they were
willing to do it. Ramiro, my classmate helped me a lot when designing the lesson plans as
well as when helping me to make students keep silence and make students to work with
the activity of the song. Therefore, I can say that we helped one another and team work is
positive. I hope next class I can work with students more effectively.
GreciaRoldán.