HIGH EXPECTATIONS

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

I think that students will achieve their goals and improve their knowledge if they realize that I expect the best from them. If I don’t care about them they will ask themselves why they have to succeed since I don’t show interest to help them, I do not make teaching an art to enjoy. So, it is important to have high expectations. 

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

We can communicate that we are really interesting in their learning by:

Encouraging them to do things well

Showing energy when teaching

Making them understand that they are able to go beyond

Giving them support when it is needed

Showing that we really care of them

Not making them to feel embarrassed for something they could not do       

HOW DO WE SUPPORT THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR LEARNING EXPECTATIONS?

Providing feedback

Challenging to better day by day

Involving all of them in practical activities

Putting them in different learning context

Teaching a lesson according to their level

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

We demonstrate that we are responsible with them when:

We listen to them. (if there is any problem that a student wants to communicate) not only caring about what happens in the classroom but also focusing in their general life

We understand them. When any student presents an argument about some troubles we may assist him.

We have social interaction with them. By treating them friendly

INCLUDE A DAPA OF ONE YOUR LESSONS.

May 26 2011

I greet the class. (From 3:00 to 3:45)

I tell them the topic and write it in the board. “Usage of prepositions of place”

I ask them to answer some questions I write in the board using prepositions of place:

-      Where is the teacher?

-      Where is the mirror?

-      Where is your notebook?

-      Where are your pens?

-      Where are the brooms?

I give them 10 minutes to complete it. However it takes two more minutes.

I start asking the questions to some students. It takes like eight minutes.

I ask to perform the following activity: “order the following words to create a sentence” there are eight statements in disorder. It takes fifteen minutes to be completed by them.

I ask to do it quickly. 

As soon as they finish, I start checking the notebook.

Some students do a good job; the ones who get mistakes have the opportunity to correct it.

The stamp rings and I have to finish the class. I say: “see you next week!”

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

It really is a good book because it provides the effective tools to improve my teaching skills. In my case, it helped during my teaching practicum at school; I could figure out how the profile of an effective teacher should be: role caring, friend, passion when teaching, to respect my students and so on…….. I also learn to have expectations for students, to show that we care of their learning process. There were many challenges during my practicum and sometimes I had to look for some tips in this book and they were helpful for me. I think that this book will continue helping me how to teach since I know that I am still a practitioner with long life learning.

CHAPTER 6

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

According to the book, educators recognize the important of feedback to students on their work. Feedback helps students to increase their learning outcomes; on the other hand, effective teachers provide specific explanation of what students are doing correctly or what they are not doing correct. For many teachers, feedback is primarily use to correct students, so they avoid indicating right or wrong answers because this can have a negative impact in students learning. Also, according to the book, homework remains an important part in effective teaching when it is used as an extension of the classroom. Many teachers get frustrated when assignments are not completed by the majority of students (that happened to me when just the fifty percent of my students completed the task, horrible!) because if students do not complete their assignments, it is probable that my lesson was not understood. There are three important purposes of homework: practice that is the reinforcement, preparation that exposes a student to a concept, and elaboration that facilitates the exploration of related concepts. However, before assigning homework we must state: the purpose of it, the time, space for it, explain the benefits of it, etc.

WHY DOES ASSESSMENT PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN TEACHING?

Assessment is an important element in the teaching process it helps to determine the effectiveness of a lesson plan in terms of student learning and engagement. Also it is to evaluate student’s progress. Assessment is important in a lesson plan to see if my goals and objectives have been reached; if not we as teachers should think what is wrong in our teaching. Besides, assessment plays an important role in teaching because it is use to monitor students in term of level of knowledge they have grasped so we can know which students are progressing and which are not.

WHAT ARE SOME EFFECTIVE WAYS OF MONITORING STUDENT PROGRESS?

There are many ways to monitor students used by effective teachers. Some techniques (the most important) are: formal and informal assessment, and formative and summative assessment.  Teacher uses informal assessment when they scan and circulate around the classroom to see if students are completing the task or he talks to small groups of students about specific tasks or activities. Teacher uses formal assessment when he elaborates standardized tests, writing activities, or projects. Effective teachers always use tests in class because they know how to interpret and use the information provided by a student in a test.  If the question is incorrect, he determines what was misleading that student to answer wrong.

IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION

BASED ON CHAPTER 5, HOW CAN TEACHERS IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND MAKE THEM CONDUCIVE TO MEANINGFUL LEARNING?

According to the book, the teacher must interact academically with students and with the curriculum.  Here we can link many elements to get effectiveness when teaching: the explanation of the material, the type of question to ask them, or they ask. Also, we as teacher must do activities according to the students needs. Flexibility and adeptness with a variety of strategies also contributes to be effective. It is believed that teachers who use employ a range of strategies reach more students because they tap into more learning styles and students interests. Some strategies are: using of concept mapping, lecturing, hands on learning, conceptualization.  

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

 It is a characteristic of effective teachers because it helps students to participate actively in class. The teacher affective characteristics are often of primary concern; teachers must constantly communicate a climate of support, according to the book, to ensure that students participate actively. Effective communication also requires teachers to clearly understand the subject matter and how to share that subject matter with students so Ss understand deeply.

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

Well, I always try to encourage them to participate even though some of them do not feel like doing anything. I always give them an example first and then they do the rest. For me it is hard to attract their attention because they are always thinking about many things while I am teaching. What I do the most is to acknowledge what is in their mind and it really works a lot whenever they refuse to participate. Then they do it happily. I know it is difficult because of their age but I am learning everyday to manage the class, a large class. 

MY CLASS(video)

Here, students are working in pairs. A semicontrolled practice. I give them a piece of paper which has some drawings that they have to match with the name of the object.(forniture)

ORGANIZING FOR INSTRUCTION

ORGANIZING FOR INSTRUCTION

How do you focus on instruction?

In my case, I try to promote the enthusiasm on my students. I think is a good way to motivate them to learn something new every day and for me is easy to teach if their affective filter is low. I also try to include in my lesson plan activities that can be achieved by them. I don’t mean that I just include too obvious or too easy exercises; I like to make them think.

How do you maximize instructional time?

By the moment I am still working on it. Timing is the most difficult that I have faced during my practices. Even though I prepare my lesson plan timed carefully, sometimes I cannot complete it. Well, I try to prepare the materials some days before to see also if there is something I can change before the class.

How do you expect students to succeed in your class?

I always expect that my students learn something from my class: if a point of my lesson plan is not  is not clear I try to explain to them again till they grasp the information. I also give them examples before they start working in their practice.

How do you plan and prepare for instruction?

I always focus on their prior knowledge. I prepare my classes with examples of things they already know; so, based on that see also if there is a gap in my students. As a teacher, I try to link everything to real life so that Ss can learn better.

Do you make last minutes changes when things are not working?

Of course! I always do it. There was a class in which I had to teach something related to grammar; they did not get it! I turn into some practice of the simple present tense negative form. After that I realize that my Ss were not prepared handle some grammar aspects.

Did they work?

I think it really worked because the present tense was already familiar to them. I just to give them some examples and they completed the rest. Uuuuuuf!

What needs to be done to better your instructions?

I need so much! I think that I need to dominate many topics because by the moment  I realized that I know nothing.  Sometimes my Ss ask things that I do not know, sincerely , I think it is a great challenge for me. But this is the process. I did not go to school to teach; I went to school to learn.

Classroom Management And Organization

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT  AND ORGANIZATION

According to the book, an effective teacher prepares for the organization of the classroom with the same care and precision used to design a high-quality lesson. I consider that if a teacher has a good ability to create a well organized lesson plan, he/she is able to use his/her   management skills. In my case, I still have difficulties when creating my lesson plan, of course, since it is the first time I teach in junior high school; I have no experience.  I sometimes feel like crying when I feel that my class is out of control since I know that effective classroom managers are thoroughly prepared and keep their students actively involved in the teaching and learning process.  Moreover, it’s hard for me to apply elements of organization. Students know when a teacher is well organized or not; consequently, the learning process will take place or not. I really worry because I do not know if my students have really understood the class. Also, I still have problems to organize the space of the classroom. I have 45 students and I think it’s hard to carry out warm ups and fillers;  I just cannot control my students yet but I know that this is great challenge for me as I know that some of my classmates have just  ten or fifteen Ss. Hence, I know I will learn, for sure.  Well, the book states that the most important skill of an effective teacher is the ability to prevent negative behavior from students. To keep a good discipline in the class is what I consider a headache. Students just do not know how to follow the teacher and they do not care about anything. I my case, sometimes my students show me that they do not like what I am doing and I feel uncomfortable because of that. Maybe they think I am still a baby, jaja,   but I try hard to keep a good classroom atmosphere and  to promote a positive behavior. Till the moment, I haven’t had too many difficulties; of course, the teacher helps me when that is about to happen. Finally I can say that teaching is not easy as I thought before; now I have that experience as teacher and I know this is just the beginning. 

class observation in Centro Escolar Colonia La Mielera

Students performing a controlled activity. They are copying some sentences given by the teacher.
During the class, everything seems to be under control. Somehow students make a little noise but they participate actively. Some students are shy and they are not pushed to talk since they do not want. The teacher knows how to catch Ss attention by telling them funny sentences and I think that they enjoy the class.

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Teacher explaining the homework assignment.

She uses both languages to teach. Spanish is used as a bridge. I think that teaching in junior high school is a big challenge for me since I do not have any experience but I know I will learn  how to teach a large class (I have 45 Ss). Moreover, I willl learn also how to catch the attention of my students and how to create an effective lesson plan.

What makes a Great Teacher

WHAT MAKES A GREAT TEACHER?

This question seems to be the most frequent in those who are studying and training to be a teacher since being a great teacher is what they want to achieve. There are some characteristics that give an answer to this question according to the video What Makes a Great Teacher:

Self confident.  A great teacher knows what he or she does. He shows security and no fear when teaching.

Energy and enthusiasm. Even though the teacher has problems he or she must act as if there is no problem and make the class interesting.

Passion.  A teacher must love his or her job. For him it is not a must is a pleasure.

Have a heart to teach. He looks for the best strategies for the students to learn better.

 Creates a good atmosphere. He or she wants everybody to be active in classes and to participate when necessary.

Enjoyment. When a teacher does it, students learn better because the class is entertaining.

Funny. He or she is not strict when is not necessary. He makes students laugh and have a good time.

Tolerant. A great teacher has to be opened minded to understand difficulties with some students. Why some students learn easier than other.