1) The author observed a class at Carlos Lleras Restrepo School and found that the observation exercises helped them understand their students' strengths and weaknesses. It also changed their preconceptions about public schools.
2) Before teaching their class, the author felt prepared because they designed lesson plans based on student interests. However, they were also nervous about making mistakes in front of their university professor. During the class, the students participated actively and the author felt confident.
3) After the class, the author was happy because all the objectives were achieved and the students understood the material. They were also satisfied with their time management. However, not all students could participate in the activities due to time constraints.
Interactive Powerpoint_How to Master effective communication
Reflection paper-practicum-class
1. Reflection Paper Practicum Class
By Lizeth Abello
Before, during, and after the class I oriented in May 22nd 2018 at Carlos
Lleras Restrepo School, I found different feelings and perceptions about teaching.
First of all, I admit the observation exercises were fruitful and appropriate since I
could know my students and detect their strengths and weaknesses. Also, I
demystified the image I had about education at public schools. For instance, I
realized that some teachers, students, and sources are appropriate and do not limit
learning. As a result, the steps before teaching the class were helpful to design the
needs’ analysis and to create my lesson plan to present a very accurate class.
Then, before the class starting, I felt trustful because I knew I had prepared
the lesson thinking about the students’ interests and I expected it to be successful.
Nevertheless, I was afraid and nervous because I did not want to make mistakes and I
did not know how I would feel with the presence of Mr. Camacho. Fortunately, some
minutes after the class started I felt confident, my students participated actively -so
actively, that all of them wanted to participate and compete- that I forgot that my
university professor was paying attention to me.
After the class, I was very happy because all the objectives were achieved; I
noticed the pupils understood the topic and felt encouraged to practice. In addition, I
felt satisfied with the time management because I controlled it very well so the class
started and finished on time and all the activities from the lesson plan were done.
Nevertheless, because of that control of time, I could work with the roulette with
only one student from each group, and my idea was that most of them participated.
Going deeper into the activities, I think the warm-up (Electricity) was suitable
because through it, the students could test themselves about adjectives that helped
2. them to do the rest of the activities. Also, I think the topics I used were interesting for
them because they wanted to participate all the time. However, the competition
activity was a little bit messy because the students were very active, forgot the rules,
and just wanted to win without thinking about the instructions I had previously
given.
Additionally, I still think my tone of voice must be louder because I believe it
is a drawback to control students’ behavior. For instance, during the class I did my
best to speak aloud to let the students understand and behave, but what I found was
that for them it was really hard to listen to me, so they had to come closer. Luckily,
that disadvantage helped me to make the students pay more attention and keep quiet
to understand the instructions and explanations.
As a conclusion, in general terms the class was very accurate and almost
everything went well, but there are some aspects I have to work on. For example, I
need to establish clear rules to make the students obey and know their limits,
especially when it comes about games and competitions. Then, despite this time my
low tone of voice was an advantage, I have to continue to practice because it can be
an inconvenient for those students that do not care about paying attention to the class.