Week 3

This week’s article really caught my attention.  Actually, I like being observed and receiving support and comments from observers.  In my opinion there is a cultural negative assumption about observations. In our country (Costa Rica, Central America or at least in the schools I’ve had the opportunity to work for) is not exactly common to have co-workers observing the way you develop the class or how you handle difficult situations with students and giving suggestions on what you supposed to do. This task normally falls to administrators or coordinators of the school.  On the other hand, I consider this as an important and totally necessary tool to acquire new perspectives and points of view.

In his article, Michael Israel states the importance of making the “teachers observing teachers” strategy a culture in schools as a way of professional growing.

I would like to read your comments about the following.

What happens when teachers of a school are not being observed?

Can administrators or coordinators require excellent academic performance by the students if they have not taken the time to observe teachers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORvucgr1pck

Good material !

Week 2

JOURNAL

Journals are an efective way of keeping track of diverse processes or situations. In this case, this journal will reflect the process of my teaching work.  Some comments about articles posted by the instructor (professor) and what happens during the week in the classroom will be presented here.  My journal entries will reveal situations, doubts, questions, suggestions, or opinions about 6^th graders teaching processes. I chose them because I’ve been working with them since I started in this school.

“The instructor as a guide encouraged the student teachers to analyze their learning process and to reach conclusions about how they learn… Also, (student teachers) they became aware that the challenges they faced were not self-contained; others, including their instructor, were facing or had faced similar problems.”       (A. Daloglu, Reflective Journal Writing in the Practicum Course: What are the Roles of the Responder? daloglu@metu.edu.tr )

As the extract above remarks, I expect this journals to be commented by my instructor and classmates. I think this is an outstanding tool for communication and experience sharing.



Week 1

How do I expect to be benefit from my field experience?

At the end of this quarter and the Professional Practice I expect to:

1. Acquire better skills in teaching and education in order to make an impact in students’ life.

2. Involve furthermore into teaching and educational matters.

3. Renew my way of teaching and transmitting not only knowledge but life.

4. Improve the way of planning, assessing, and evaluating students.

5. Learn tips and techniques on teaching.

When I started my carrier, I wanted to be professional teacher only for preschoolers. (…and I did) Then, God led me into a different path where teaching English became a totally new experience that opened me new doors.  In the past, I would never figure out myself being an English teacher, now I enjoy it. I always used to say “I love teaching those who want to learn”. Now, those who “don’t” want to learn have become my challenge.  The fact of showing a learner the magnificent opportunities that are able to those who speak English have turned out to be one of my major objectives.

A teacher must not only get into the classroom and fill out an amount of pages with the topic of the day.  A teacher must love his/her job. She/ He must have passion for what is being done and be in love with the task. Be enthusiastic, and share experience with the student.

A good teacher leads students into the risks taking area by strengthen their self-confidence using exact and specific words that help them develop self esteem.

The creativity, flexibility, tolerance, and perceptiveness must be part of the good teacher’s traits.

A connection must be real between the teacher and the students or at least an open and comfortable environment where students feel free to express their doubts, ideas, or thoughts.

I hope that the Professional Practicum may lead me to develop or increase these aspects. I hope to learn and carry to classrooms with my students all the knowledge I can.