EXPECTING AND GETTING THE BEST FROM OUR STUDENTS

WHY SHOULD WE AS EFFECTIVE ELT PRACTITIONERS HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS?

It is important for us to have high expectations for all our students because it is a good way to motivate our students. So, we should let our students know our expectation we have for them. In this way, they will have a clear idea about they should do and what we want them to achieve in our subject matter. We should also ask our students what expectations they have for them in order to take them into account when teaching them.

HOW COME WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE THEM TO OUR STUDENTS? HOW DO WE DO THAT?

We should communicate our expectations in a clear and friendly way. We should also communicate them in a positive manner. We need to explain that achieving our expectations is possible if they do their best to achieve them. Likewise, we should guide our students to reach their own expectations in a positive way. This means to explain the importance of English around the world and to make them aware that they are the key in their learning process. We, as teachers, are just a guide and a counselor.

 HOW DO WE SUPPORT THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR LEARNING EXPECTATIONS?

 First, we should know their learning expectations very well. Then, we can support them to achieve those expectations by encouraging them to do their best. Another way to support them is to demonstrate that we care about their learning by giving feedback and by praising them because of their performance.

Our students will feel more confident if they are aware that we are with them in their learning process. In this way, they will feel more comfortable to reach and achieve their expectations.

 HOW DO WE DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS' LEARNING?

We can demonstrate that we are responsible for our students´ learning in many ways. For example, we can show our real interest in their learning by asking them about their expectations and interests about English. We should let them know our expectations we have for them to achieve. After knowing their expectations and letting them know ours, we should demonstrate we really want to achieve those expectations by doing our best, and helping them as much as we can. We should support and guide them in their learning process. However, we should let them know they are responsible for their own learning, too. Furthermore, we should let them know they are more responsible for their learning than we are. We should let them know they are the principal actors and actresses in the teaching learning process.

HOW BENEFICIAL WAS THIS BOOK TO HAVE A BETTER IDEA ON WHAT TEACHING IS ALL ABOUT?

This book was really helpful for me because I learned a lot about teaching. So, I got a better idea about what teaching is. It shows the reality of the teacher´s role and that gave me all the information I needed to be sure about the profession I have chosen. This book was a really useful source of information which I didn’t know anything about. Now, I know a little bit more about teaching, and I try to put into practice some pieces of advice to organize and manage a classroom, to organize and implement instruction, and to provide feedback to my students. I think that now, I feel more comfortable and confident when teaching because of the information of this book.

 

INCLUDE A DAPA OF ONE YOUR LESSONS.

DAPA

The Broken Telephone (Warm-up)                        1:40 PM to 1:52 PM

Description:

1:40 PM

-       I greeted my students.

-       I told my students about the activity.

-       I explain the steps and rules of the activity.

-       I didn’t explain the purpose of the activity.

-       I didn’t CCQ. I just asked them “Do you understand?”

1:44 PM

-       I asked them to form two lines (Boys and Girls)

-       I asked the last person of each line to read a sentence I had written in some pieces of paper.

-       I asked them to whisper the sentence to the person who was in front of them until the message reach the first person of each line.

-       I asked the first person of each line to write the sentence on the board.

-       The students continued doing the same until there were no more sentences to whisper.

1:50 PM

-       The students and I checked the sentences they had written on the board in order to find mistakes who were the winners.

-       I ended the activity.

 Analysis:

-       According to what I know about Classroom Management, I showed some energy at the beginning of the activity in order to motivate my students to participate in the activity.

-       According to what I know about Giving Instructions, I gave clear steps and rules, but I didn’t CCQ. It was a big mistake.

-       According to what I know about Learning Styles, most of my students are visual and I didn’t use any visual aid.

 

Plan of Action:

-       In the near future, if I use this activity, I will try to give short and simple instructions in order to avoid problems.

-       I will use some visual aids in order to do this activity more interesting and in order to exemplify.

-       I will CCQ by asking my students about the steps and by giving examples.

Questions I am still thinking about:

-       What should I do to give clear and simple instructions?

-       How can I be more energetic?

-       How could I involve all my students?

Advice for Novice Teachers:

-       Whenever you explain an activity, you should CCQ.

-       Keep instructions short and simple in order to avoid vague instructions.

-       You should show self-confidence when guiding an activity.

MONITORING STUDENT PROGRESS AND POTENTIAL

WHAT'S THE RELEVANCE THAT FEEDBACK AND HOMEWORK HAVE FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHERS?

Homework is a useful resource that effective teachers use to assess their students´ progress. So, effective teachers should know how to select and to assign homework because this homework should be suitable and significant for students. Homework has positive effects on student achievement when it is explained and related to the topic studied in class. Besides, effective teachers should know how to deal with homework and students´ responsibility.

Feedback is more than wrong or right. Feedback is an important technique to increase learning in our students. Effective teachers use feedback as a way to provide specific explanations of what students are doing correct or incorrect. Finally, effective teachers use feedback to encourage their students and to let them know that they are important for us.

WHY DOES ASSESSMENT PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN TEACHING?

Assessment is very important and it plays a central role in teaching because it is use to evaluate student progress and learning. Besides, it is important to determine the effectiveness of a lesson, and we can determine it through a good assessment. Effective teachers assess their students´ work before giving feedback to them. Besides, we can use assessment to assess and evaluate our own teaching practice in terms of student learning.

WHAT ARE SOME EFFECTIVE WAYS OF MONITORING STUDENT PROGRESS?

We, as teachers, have some effective ways to monitor student progress such as homework and assessment. Homework is a good way to know if our students have understood any topic and to expand our student´s learning. Besides, we can use assessment as a good way of monitoring our student´ progress. Through this assessment we can give useful and suitable feedback to our students.

DAPA

Word Tennis     7:00 AM – 7:11 AM

Description:

  7:00 AM

- She greeted the class.

- She started to ask us about tennis.

- She didn’t say the purpose of the activity.

- She asked us to divide the class into two groups. (Girls and boys)

- She gave us some pieces of paper which had some words.

  7:04 AM

- She asked us to rewrite the words in a different order.

  7:08 AM

- She asked group A to show its first word in order for group B to guess the word.

- She asked group B to show its first word in order for group A to guess the word.

- Both groups continued doing the same routine until there were no more words to guess.

  7:11 AM

- She ended the activity.

Analyzing:

- According to what I know about Warmers, she should have explained the purpose of the activity.

- According to what I know about Classroom Management, she was very confident in order to succeed in the activity.

- According to what I know about CCQing, she gave an example in order to CCQ, but I think it wasn’t enough. 

Plan of Action:

- In the near future, if I use this activity, I am going to explain the purpose of the activity.                

- I am going to give more than two examples in order to CCQ.                     

- I am going to be more energetic because according to what I know about Classroom Management, a good teacher should show energy in order for his students to be motivated.             

- I am going to be mobile during the activity because according to what I know about Classroom Management, a good teacher should be mobile in order to catch his students’ attention.

Questions I am Still Thinking About:

- How can I improve this activity?

- How can I be more energetic?

- Is it enough just to give examples when CCQing?

Advice for Novice Teachers:

- Keep instructions short and simple and CCQ.

- Give clear instructions.

IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTION

HOW CAN TEACHERS IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND MAKE THEM CONDUCIVE TO MEANINGFUL LEARNING?

First of all, teachers should know their subject matter very well. Then, teachers should know how to transmit their knowledge to the students in the classroom. So, teachers should use some instructional strategies such as direct teaching, guided teaching and/or independent practice. Besides, effective communication is very important in the classroom as well as clarity in explanations. So, teachers should know how to communicate expectations and how to give clear directions during a class. Finally, teachers should engage their students in order for them to learn better.

WHY IS COMMUNICATION OF CONTENT AND SKILLS KNOWLEDGE A CHARACTERISTIC OF GOOD TEACHERS?

Communication of content is a characteristic of good teachers because it is the way teachers and students interact in the classroom. Teachers who know their subject very well should know how to communicate this information to the students in an understandable way. So, teachers should know the importance of clarity in explanation, and they should know how to explain in a clear way.

HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN YOUR OWN TEACHING PRACTICUM, AS THE AGE OF YOUR STUDENTS IS A CRITICAL ONE?

I try to engage my students by using some strategies such as calling on students in random order, illustrating and clarifying some information. Besides, I like to use questioning techniques in class, and in this way, I try to involve everybody.

I also try to engage my students by varying activities in the classroom, for example oral and written practices. Besides, I like to give my students real examples. I mean things they are familiar with such as music, actors and actresses, movies, and the like. Finally, I try to lead every activity we do in the classroom. In this way, students are more focused and concentrated in the activity.

Mind Map Presentation: Attention

How does attention empower my own teaching practicum?

Attention is a very important management parameter that we should take into account when teaching at any level. All of us know how difficult is to get students´ attention. So, it is really important for us to know how to manage attention in the classroom. 

We, as teachers, should know most of the attention moves in order to use the most appropriate move or moves in a specific case. This empowers my teaching practicum because if I know how to manage attention I can keep my students on task during my classes. Besides, I can get their attention when talking or explaining something. This empowers my teaching practicum and improves my students´ learning.

Organizing for Instruction

How do you focus on instruction?

Well, I focus on instruction by taking into account the time I have for each class, and based on that, I try to organize and prepare each class as best as I can in order to use the time for instruction effectively.

How do you maximize instructional time?

First, I maximize instructional time by arriving at school early. In this way, I can prepare or place all my materials before my students enter the classroom. I also maximize instructional time by letting my students know what our routine is. For example, they already know they have to form a line to enter the classroom, and they already know what their seats are. Besides, I keep my students working while I check the homework assignment. This means, I first do the warm up activity or a review of the last topic. Then, I explain the topic. After that, my students and I do the exercises in the oral form, and then, I ask them to solve them in the written form while I check some homework assignments.

I think, a good way to maximize instructional time is by preparing materials in advance as well as a good and clear lesson plan for each topic.

How do you expect students to succeed in your classes?

I expect my students to succeed by letting them know the expectations I have for them. I have explained to them that I don’t want them just to pass the subject but I want them to learn some Basic English. Besides, I try to encourage them to learn English for their future. I have explained to them the importance of English around the world but especially in our country.

How do you plan and prepare for instruction?

First, I plan my lesson plan and create the materials I use in each class. In the lesson plan, I include just important information and the most suitable exercises about the topic. I think it is also important to give some time to each part of the lesson plan in order for it to be organized. Besides, I create and prepare some useful materials to explain the topic very well. In this way, my students understand quickly and better. Useful materials facilitate the teaching learning process.

Do you make last-minutes changes when things are not working? Based on what premises, have you made such changes? Did they work?

Sometimes it is necessary to make last-minutes changes when you consider things are not working. I make last-minutes changes when I consider it is necessary, for example, when I lose some minutes of class because the students enter the classroom late, I modify some things in order to recover that time. For example, when I don’t have enough time to write on the board, I dictate the information or I just explain it.  Another example can be when the students don’t want to participate in the warm up activity I suspend it and I start explaining the topic. In my case these changes have worked because I have had a good lesson plan to follow.  I didn´t get lost or frustrated.

What needs to be done to better your instruction?

I think time is the key to improve my instruction. I think sometimes I fail in my instruction because of the time. I think time is not enough to cover everything, although I organize everything and prepare my materials in advance. I think public schools need at least five hours of English a week in order for us, as teachers, to use that time to give a better instruction.

Classroom Management and Organization

Classroom management and organization is an interesting topic to take into account when beginning classes with a group of students. We as teachers should know a lot about this topic because it is not enough just to prepare an excellent lesson plan if we don’t have the appropriate classroom management and organization.  So, Organization becomes a very important word when we try to have a very good classroom management, but specifically classroom organization which includes classroom arrangement, discipline, the creation of routines and a plan to teach the students how their learning environment is organized.

After reading this chapter, I have analyzed my performance in my first classes. I think I have some previous knowledge from my previous teaching practices, but according to this chapter I am in a novice level according to classroom management and expectations for student behavior, but in public schools, we don’t have the resources to have classroom organization as is established in chapter three. In our country most schools don’t have more than desks and boards in their classrooms, but we can organize our classes in order to have a good sequence in our classes.

This chapter is very useful for novice teachers who are about to start our working life as real teachers. It gives us some useful tips such as take a week to establish rules and to create rapport in our classroom before starting formal classes. This will help us to have a better classroom management and organization. 

 

 During this practice, I will try take some time in order to know my students. Then, the students and I will establish important rules and routines they will have to respect in my classes. Likewise, I will try to maintain the discipline in the classroom in order to prevent inattentions, problems, and disruptions.  I will also try to have extra material in case of unexpected problems when teaching. Finally, I will report and resolve inappropriate behaviors promptly and I will reinforce and reiterate the expectations for good and positive behaviors.

Teaching Practice at C. E INSA

Last Monday, I started my teaching practice at C. E INSA. My tutor is Licenciada Nora Anzora de Jerez. This week I was there just observing some English classes. It was insteresting to observe the interaction between my tutor and her students. She is very kind, professional and creative when teaching English. She is also very friendly with her students, so her students are not afraid of participating in class.

I felt very comfortable and relaxed at school this week because this is the same school where I am doing my Teaching Practice IV. I already knew the many people and how the environment is there

The Teacher as a Person

Everybody thinks teachers should know their subject very well, but sometimes, this is not enough. Teachers should have some characteristics that identify them as persons. It is important to be aware that we as teachers should play some important roles in order to be more than traditional teachers.

I think the role of fairness and respect is the most important, but social interaction with students has almost the same importance. These two characteristics are the key to establish good relationships with our students and to create rapport in the classroom.

The most important value in our classroom should be respect. We should respect all our students in order for them to respect us, and we should also ask our students to respect each other.  Besides, respect is related to fairness because if we are not fair with our students, we cannot say we respect them. So, respect involves fairness and vice-versa. Furthermore, this role should be present when interacting with students outside the classroom (social interaction). This means to interact in activities that are not directly related to our subject or the syllabus such as sporting events, concerts, conferences, etc. 

In my opinion, social interactions with students and the role of fairness and respect are two of the most important characteristics of the teacher as a person. We cannot have a good social interaction with our students if we don’t respect them or if we are not fair when interacting with them in or/and outside the classroom.

We should erase that traditional idea that teachers ask for respect without  respecting their students, and that teachers interact with students only in the classroom. We should demonstrate that teachers can be respectful, fair, and friendly with our students.

What Makes Teachers Great?

In our educational context the adjective great is related to effective teaching. So, teachers will be great if they are effective when teaching their subject(s); however, there are some characteristics that make teachers great. 

First, the real desire to be teachers is the key for us to become great teachers. If we have a real desire to be great teachers, we will become great teachers. This means that if we have the real desire to learn as much as we can about our subject in order to have a strong content knowledge, and if we improve our verbal ability in order to give the students clear information, they will learn very well what we teach. 

In order to become great teachers, we have to think not only of us, but also of our students. Teachers are great when they know his students very well. So, teachers should be very empathetic in order to understand their students´ behaviors, desires, needs, and differences. Knowing and taking into account all these aspects teachers can become great because they will be capable not only of teaching well but also capable of interacting with students in a good and friendly way.

  

Finally, what makes teachers great are their moral values because teachers are models, so we should practice moral values like: respect, honesty, responsibility, punctuality, and solidarity, in order to give good examples to our students.

Prerequisites of Effective Teaching

Which prerequisite is the most important?

It is very difficult to identify which prerequisite is the most important. All the prerequisites are important because they are related, but I have identified two of them that are the most important because they are  much more related than the others. So, it is not enough to have just one of them. I am talking about “verbal ability” and “content knowledge.” For me, they are on the same level of importance.

We, as teachers, can have a strong content knowledge about our subject. We can know a lot of things related to it, but if we don’t have the verbal ability to give all that information in a clear way, we are not effective teachers. In our case, as English teachers, let´s suppose we know a lot about English grammar rules, spelling, composition, and vocabulary. But if we don’t have the verbal ability to teach English in a clear way in order for our students to get and understand it, this means we are not effective teachers. Likewise, let’s suppose we have a great verbal ability to communicate to people. This means we are easily understood when teaching English. But if we don’t have an appropriate content knowledge, our students will learn ineffective English or wrong English. So, in this case we won´t be effective teachers, either. 

In my opinion, these two prerequisites are the most important because they are the key of effective teaching. They shouldn´t be separated because one cannot be an effective teacher just having one of them.