17/12/2009

Period 2: Lead Teach, Year 7, Observed, Notes from Evaluation.

Forgot to put timings on lesson plan, in future double-check plans.

Resources worked well and improved plenary strategies. Plenary of topic also transitioned into a Christmas Quiz, which worked well as a smooth pathway to break time.

Need more awareness of students not on task

And some positive points from the observation sheet:

Lesson content changed to to fit with trip. Went across well.

Good atmosphere in lesson. Good plenary, students mostly involved.

Just when you think you’re on top…

It’s the run down to Christmas, and yesterday I was preparing for a time to relax, reflect and spend time with family and friends. One day at work and the realisation hits me that there is an ever growing list of work to complete before January. The missus has booked most of my holiday off to spend time together in the new place, so I am now juggling that with such delights as: preparing for a Year 7 spreadsheet series of lessons (first week back) which will form the basis of my written assignment, marking OCR Nationals Unit 4.2, working on the Subject Knowledge Audit, indexing the evidence I have gained so far in paper form, and any other planning which will need to be completed for my new timetable in the new year.

I now have the battle of balancing my non-teaching commitments (i.e.: my life) with work. I have support in everything I’m doing, but I feel bad for letting it take over so much of my time, especially at Christmas.

On a brighter note, it’s Southampton v. Norwich tonight in the cup. It’s gonna be cold, but as my mate just text me: “Wembley is so close I can almost smell it…”.

15/12/2009

Just about recovered from Calshot, and Reading yesterday. The countdown begins.

Period 3: Lead Teach, Year 9, Notes from Evaluation

Very little teaching required. A “push lesson”.

I changed the lesson slightly on the spot, by asking students to file their work in the correct order at the start of the lesson. Although usually a slightly chatty group, I displayed clear instructions on the board asking them to log in and sit in silence, failure to do this would result in everyone leaving the room and starting again. This worked perfectly and really helped me get the lesson started promptly, and I believe the students got more out of the lesson as a result.

From this, and it being the last lesson of term, I allowed the students to play a Christmas flash game that I sent to them on AB Tutor for the last 5 minutes.

I was satisfied that the lesson outcomes were achieved with students all creating hyperlinked buttons and clearly striving to add content to their MMP’s.

Calshot Activity Centre: 9th-11th December 2009

Residential Trip, 3 Days, Notes from the Dorm.

Day One: Before leaving for Calshot Activity Centre I was assigned a group of 10 students (7 boys, 3 girls). Traveled to the centre via coach and was required to deal with certain behavioural issues, and began encouraging mature positive behaviour from students. Next time on a coach: sit in the middle so you can see everyone!

Upon arrival I helped students make their beds in my section of the dormitories, responsibility for around 8-9 rooms. Attended the site tour.

Activities: Watched students participate in the velodrome activity and took some images for my evidence folder. This was followed by climbing which most of the students enjoyed, with one or two needing extra encouragement from myself and their peers. During this time I encouraged some team working to get through the task. Dinner: not great, must eat breakfast tomorrow.

Lesson Evaluation, Reading in Reflection

All set for Calshot Activity Centre tomorrow. Will post a review upon returning to an internet connection.

Period 3: Year 9, Lead Teach, Notes from Evaluation:

Improvements made from last PPT master slide lesson.

Was difficult to talk a set 2 group through making a masterslide due to difference of ability and occasional chatting, which disrupted explanations.

Used AB Tutor Control to show my screen whilst making a master slide as I was explaining the process. This seemed to work well, focussing students.

Need to refine lesson plan with more accuracy for set 2. Group worked slower and needed a whole lesson to create a master slide with the correct features.

All students created master slide with house style, buttons, and font. Assessed by “fly-by” walk around. Plenary activity/consolidation lesson for last day of term: all PPT’s displayed on screen, tested by other students.

Long subject day at Reading yesterday. The afternoon session focused on digital identity and how we appear online. There are parallels to be drawn with this lecture and this blog. Although a personal reflective journal of my experiences, I am also aware of its status in the public domain. Although not read by many, it is accessible to all.

04/12/2009

World Cup draw this evening. My prediction: England, Mexico, Algeria, France. I could have been far more pessimistic.

Period 1: Year 9, Lead Teach, Observed, Lesson Evaluation.

Lesson Objective and Intended Learning Outcome:
Objective stated to the group, outcome achieved, assessed through general circulation of room and 1:1 support.

Planning:
Little planning required as this was a continuation lesson from previously. Lesson plan provided me with basic structure and learning outcomes for the lesson.

03/12/2009

Professional Studies: An insight into the legal framework and expectations of an NQT. I was struck by the similarity to the GTP year, in that each NQT has a mentor, a weekly meeting to check if they are working to the right level and hitting the right standards, keeping a journal, being observed (admittedly alot less), and providing end of term reports. It will be interesting to see if the NQT year is more/less intense that my current training year.

Period 2: Year 7, Lead Teach, Observed (informally) by cover, Notes from Lesson Evaluation

Tried different tactics of behaviour management in this lesson. I kept students behind for 5 minutes at break, will see if this has an impact next week.

Students provided interesting feedback to the ‘Thinking Hats’ concept. Resources for this worked well, although activity could have been shorter, some students became bored and wandered off task.

Better timings in this lesson.

02/12/2009

I’m not going to beat myself up about today. I didn’t enjoy it, but there is always a positive to take.

Period 5: Lead Teach, Year 9, Observed, Notes from Lesson Evaluation.

Students have access to Office 2003, not 2007 which the lesson was planned on. Next time check what version of software students have.

Lesson started well, but I needed the intervention of my mentor to continue the lesson when I hit a snag on the difference between master slide layout on 2003.

Until required intervention, I felt students followed instructions well and listened when asked.

Not enough pace at the beginning. Need to find a balance, and understand the differences between Set 1 and Set 2.

Stayed on for Digital Media and Games Club. Had a great time, and was also pleased a set 2 student joined me after college to finish some incomplete work.

Gonna work for a bit this evening, catch up on some filing,  have a glass of wine, and watch The Thick of It. I am gaining inspiration (very strong language) from Peter Capaldi’s character Malcolm Tucker, but without the swearing in the classroom.

01/12/2009

Advent calendar chocolate beckons this evening. Perhaps I should make a countdown calender for the end of term. A very busy inset day (27/11) and Reading University yesterday have not left me feeling particularly refreshed, or fighting fit, for the remaining weeks. Let alone the prospect of a cold, windy Calshot Activity Centre next week. Bring on the Christmas holiday… where I’m meeting with a fellow GTP-er to work on the Subject Knowledge Audit. ‘Tis the season.

26/11/2009

Period 2: Lead Teach, Year 7, Observed, Lesson Evaluation.

Lesson Objective and Intended Learning Outcome:
From contributions and enthusiastic responses to questions at the end, I feel the lesson objective was achieved. The learning outcome was to understand the meaning of a win-win situation. Assessment of this was also gauged during the plenary.