I have just finished for half-term.
In this week's reflection I wanted to highlight the benefits of having 3 placements all in different educational settings.
I was 17 when I first volunteered in a school – I helped out at after-school drama clubs at local secondary schools. I worked there for two years and the experience was incredible. I transformed from a shy young man who didn't know where do start and give insightful information to others into a education practitioner who could provide a range of teaching and learning strategies available for learners. This initial contact those years ago provided a useful experience for my future teaching career – although teaching comes with a great deal of responsibility, I have learned over the last few months that having fun is key in transferring knowledge to young people. For example, it’s often better for students to learn minimum core skills in a activity they find fun and engaging, and to practice practical and academic learning through challenging and strengthening of such learning in achievement and progression activities . A good teacher should have a vast bank of fun activities, available and ready to be used. Indeed, it’s the teacher’s responsibility to captivate pupils and hold that attention throughout the course of the lesson. I feel that having 3 very different placements where expectations and learner journey's are are all very different has prepared me effectively for such needs in the teaching progression.
Experience is what gives you the confidence and strength to evolve and progress in any job. Anyone thinking of getting into teaching , I would recommend should definitely get some work experience in a school. Just as it did for me, this will provide you with an understanding of what the profession is really like and ultimately ensure you are making the right decision for your future.
I feel a real key learning curve for me by having 3 placements is having to plan lessons for very different educational settings but the method and evaluation of these lessons remain the same regardless of the placement I am at that day. Effective lesson planning is focused on ensuring that the best opportunities for students to showcase what they already know and what they can learn more of ? Its also about
- Clear learning objectives in the best way to communicate with students you are with.
- Clear learning outcomes in the best way to communicate with the students you are with
- A exciting and engaging short starter to the lesson that provides enthusiasm, promote thinking and get students engaged from the start - sometimes connects to the main lesson topic or not
- A series of teaching and learning activities which deploy and strengthen learning in a variety of styles and strategies.
- A plenary which draws learning together but is not just a summary, it must re-engage,review,test understanding and apply learning from the session. Making it active as possible for students then just teacher reiteration.
- Opportunities for assessment for learning, formative assessment should be practiced as much as possible I believe. This can be teacher Q&A , collaborative learning from students, pupil self-review against learning objectives, outcomes of problem solving, discussion work, application of learning. All provides opportunities my students. Regardless of the setting I am in or session I am leading that day.
I have had a very productive week this week at all placements.
Brooksby - most of the time spent has been on rehearsing and refining character and physicality for the show being performed 2 weeks after half-term. Often students will not put the required energy into the work and you have to remind students about assessment criteria and risk of not obtaining higher levels if not putting the required effort in. I have heard students mention they will do it on the night, that mindset was quickly discussed with them and when working with Sarah we made sure we gave feedback and praise to ensure students were A) on task and B) putting a good effort and performance into each rehearsal section we were working on. However students did work very hard and are in a good position to obtain some very strong marks in their assessments. I will continue to plan sessions which promote a hard-working but rewarding environment to learn and rehearse in. Also I will write lessons which give students opportunities to have fun and rewarding sessions related to their ongoing development and logbook work on character and physicality when working on a ensemble performance of a musical, in this case '' The Wiz''.
Oakfield - It was Artsweek this week at Oakfield on the theme of Scotland. I have worked hard to prepare lessons for all year groups with the Music Teacher Jack, which are interactive and fun for all students to participate in. I had opportunity to take Early Years Students , Key Stage 2 and 4 and Sixform classes. I planned lessons which gave students in this settings the routine they like but also new experiences which can be beneficial for their individual learning and planning for their achievement and progress. I had chances for students to listen to a variety of different music tracks and have a chance to feel and interact with Scottish Bagpipes as a new learning tool for students. They played games and learned songs with me also by communicating to the group in speech and Makaton signage for students with communication and vision/hearing impairments. I wanted students also to have chances to explore activities in a variety of ways if they felt uncomfortable in some activities. E.G if they didn't want to work with Bagpipes they could choose any instrument they wanted to use.
I really enjoyed doing Arts week and had great support from staff and parents to make it a real informative experience for me in my development as a teacher. I learn a lot from having to adapt activities and lessons at short notice for students to get the most out of the teaching and learning activities explored. Even if it means going sometimes off the track of the aims of the session to encourage students achievement and progression in other areas for the individual student.
I hope to show these development notes in my next graded Observation with Dorothy on the 2nd June and work towards the targets for the observation to progress me into a Good/Outstanding session and be marked as such for the observation.
Roundhill - Currently at Roundhill, Drama is in the stage of the academic cycle where the Year 9's are preparing to leave for a Upper School and the remaining students in Year 7 and 8 are being prepared for the next's years work. I have a very supportive placement mentor with the Drama Teacher at Roundhill, Liz, where she has allowed me to write a scheme of work based on my personal interests. She often comments she learns a lot from me, as she looks at my teaching style and how I use those learning strategies progress learning. I have wrote a scheme of work on Mask's for the Year 8's and our sessions with them went extremely well. All students showed participation and understanding of Mask Work and produced some good work when working in masks and scenarios where they interact with other masks for the first time.
I teach a young man in Year 8 with Cerebral Palsy and for the first time he felt confident and able to put on a mask for the first time and engage with a piece of music with a friend in Mask's. Could not stop Liz or the teaching assistant from crying I am afraid. It is these moments you really understand the impact you can have as a teacher and the opportunities you put in front of students for them to have their moment to shine and make you realise you are doing a good job.
I also am working to help some Year 9 students create a video to give to those leaving the school in July. We discussed ideas and looked at strategies for them to make a video that reflected their time at Roundhill. I will work after half-term with them on this and give them advice to make a funny but fitting tribute for their educational journey whilst there.
I handed in also my education project so I am pleased to be lighter of some paperwork.
Overall another great week, but now chance for me to have a few days rest but then back to planning for a very busy last few weeks at all of my placements. I also will have my final assignment to hand in on the PDGE and 3 graded observations before I finish the course. I like being busy and working hard. Lets me know I am doing all I can. Its my time :D
Wish me Luck Journal !! :D