Video Reflection

I made my video in a first grade class. I have to admit that at the beginning I was not sure if I should make the video with first graders, since most of them do not know how to write and read, also I have always believe that this is the most difficult level to teach (I do not know why). But then I felt comfortable with them. These kids are so sweet, they always like to participate, they love to sing; they are really active in class.

I did not say anything about the video because I wanted them to pay attention to the class, not to the person who was taking the video. I started the class as their regular teacher does, saying “good morning class”, and I love when they all together say “Good morning teacher!” Then we sang some songs they used to sing. I think that starting a class is really difficult, and even more difficult if you are working with kids because they need active teacher in order to not fall sleep.

This class was about the colors; the teacher asked me to present only four colors. I did not know how to present them this topic, even though it is the easiest topic you can present. The problem I think is that you see it common, but kids do not know these simple topics. I decided to put color papers to show them the word and the color together. I was surprise because most of the kids knew the colors in English. Some of them were confused, but I guess it is normal.

I really felt comfortable in the class I taught because the students were active the whole class and they like the class; I explain my self very well and the kids understood most of the instruction I gave them. Something I love was a comment a little girl make me, she said: “Teacher, que clase más deliciosa;” I was surprised with this because I did not expect a comment like this.

I feel happy about this class. My development in the class was as I wanted to be.

Last Day of Professional Practice…

After 9 days coming to this school I had felt comfortable with everything. At the beginning I have to say I was scared, but then I just love it. The kids, the environment, everything went good. I got closed to the kids and I learn many things.

Today is my last day of professional practice, and the classes are going really good. We reviewed the topic we have seen this week and introduce a new topic in first grade. The kids did not misbehave. I decided to work today with this little girl from first grade. She always is asking permission to go out to drink water, or go to the restroom, whatever excuse to go out. This girl never works in class. She is just like in another world. Today I ask her to stay next to me while Teacher Patricia taught the class. Whatever teacher Patricia said I repeated to her, and she paid attention and repeated every time I asked her. We were seeing the first 4 letters of the alphabet. She paid attention to me and understood the lesson. Then I gave her the practice and she sat down quiet and started working. She did not go out the class in this time and for first time she finished the work in class. I felt happy because I did something different for her and she gave this big smile when I left.

I think that this is the essence of what it means to be a teacher… make little thing that can change a person now or in a future.

Eighth Day of Professional Practice…

Today we keep on reviewing topics in first and fourth grades. Only in second grade we have a new topic, the numbers from 11 to 25. It is funny because the count from 1 to 10 easily but when they get to eleven and twelve you start listen less and less. When they get to twenty you listen their voices again.

The kids are really quiet today, and this makes classes calm and quiet.

Seventh Day of Professional Practice…

I came back after holy week and the kids are full of energy. They want to tell you about their vacations, the processions, and about everything. They get really messy in the classes because of all the stories they want to tell. It is funny because in the moment they see you after a week off, they run to hug you and kiss you. They are just lovely.

Today the classes were exhausted. First grade is reviewing the number from 6 to 10 during this week. They are having a hard time to learn the numbers. That is why the teacher and I decided to play a song about the numbers, to see if this makes them easy to memorize the numbers. The song we chose is “Ten little Indians” the song is funny and they like to dance while singing.

In fourth grade we are still working with invitations using would you like to… Sometime using structures become more difficult for kids. We are going to practice this during the week so that they get comfortable with the topic.

Sixth Day of professional practice…

Today was the first day that I have applied oral tests for first and second graders. I have had always that doubt about how to apply test for kids that do not read and write.

This week is of English tests only and that is why I am only coming one day during the week. I think it was a good experience for me to learn how to apply this “special” test. It is not complicated, but you need to be sure of what you are evaluating. Sometimes what happened is that teachers present in class the topics in certain way, but by the time of the test they change the way. Students get confused during the test and that is why students obtain bad grades. It is important for us to take in to count that we need to maintain the same structure of our lessons in our tests.

One thing is absolutely true; make oral test is much more tiring for the teacher. Since you have to make it 127 times (in our case) while if you make a regular written test, you do not have to repeat it so many times.

I feel happy with the experience I had today with the tests…