Week 1 Reflection (Observation Week)

The first week of Practicum was purely observation of lessons. It's interesting to see how different teachers have different styles of teaching the class and from there i get to pick up different aspects of what makes a teacher special and unique. This helped me to think about what kind of teacher I want to be when i become a full-fledged beginning teacher later this year. Here are some learning points I've picked up based on my observations.


#DAY 3

Miss Siti 4E3 Chemistry: Classroom management

1) Establishing rules and routines: disciplinary measures/reinforcement in place for students who did not complete their tasks or homework.

2) Getting students to write down their answers on the whiteboard before  teacher evaluates the students answers and correct/ clear any misconceptions. (Killing two birds with one stone) This is good alternative instead of checking students answers one by one.

Janay LSS Physics: Assessment

1) Use of peer assessment activity on scientific communication to get students to understand how their work are being evaluated.


#DAY 4

Mr. Yap Physics Class: Pedagogical approach


1) The use of Star Wars video and bell jar with vacuum pump was used to illustrate the concept of sound not being able to be transmitted through vacuum.

2) Mr. Yap uses e-book to complement students textbook and uses it to guide the students on the key points in the textbook. The use of ICT.

3) Mr. Yap attempts to give relevant and at times real life examples to students - making connections.

Mrs Whelan Chemistry Lab Class + Demonstration: Pedagogical Approach

1) Recap with the class the different apparatus in the laboratory together with actual apparatus (beaker {approximate}, burette {accurate}, measuring cylinder, pipette {exact}, conical flask, gas syringe)
2) Test students understanding through self test and textbook exercises.
3) Underlining examples of gases with respect to density and solubility.
4) Captivate students' attention by doing an experiment on gases hydrogen and oxygen - to excite the students.

Mrs Oh Mei Ting LSS Physics 1E2: Classroom Management and Pedagogical Approach

1) Establish rule and regulation in class. E.g. If students did not bring worksheet or complete task beforehand, he/she will have to face the consequence by punishments (e.g. Standing up during class).
2) Mrs. Oh has a fierce, serious and firm demeanor.
3) Mrs. Oh gives clue like stating the first letter of the word to give the students an idea of what answers she wants from her students. Helps to get the students worked up in getting the answers through random or intelligent guesses.
4) Class dynamics and interaction by getting them to compete in their own row.
5) Make your die activity for winning rows.


#DAY 5

Mdm Rehanna 3N6 Chemistry

1) Started off with supplementary worksheet.
2) Scaffolding the question by guiding the students with visuals.
3) for every question, provide the student bite size breakdown of information. Break it down and simplify it so that the students understand the question.


Mr Felix Yeoh 2T7 Physics: Classroom Management/ Classroom Design

1) Give students chances but do not go overboard when they abuse the system.
2) Students who fail to complete homework/ task punished by standing at the back of the class and given a stern warning.
3) Class U shape formation
4) Simplify the complex terminologies in passage by providing helping sentences and making it into a separate activity.