Service Learning Reflection:
Throughout my teaching experience, I completed a service learning, social action project that involved the creation of a mathematics program designed for learners in grade 3 who struggle with learning areas in the subject. This project gave the opportunity to engage and work with the community, teachers, parents, and school staff. The purpose of the project was to develop and improve the understanding of math concepts within learners who have difficulties. The topics that were explored during the six 45-minute mathematics lessons were rounding off, finding the difference using a number line and 3D shapes and properties. Although this project was difficult, it was rewarding and led to the development of learners cognitively as well as my own growth and learning.
The social action project had a great effect on the learners, the school community. It was effective due to the collaboration of myself, the teachers and community members like Build rite Hardware group which provided the printing for the lessons. Furthermore, the project started with teachers and parents identifying which learners require support in the subject of mathematics based on their classroom work and assessments, hence, this ensured that those who were attending the classes are in most need of the additional help. The topics of each lesson were based on the content being taught during the week by their own teachers. This was effective as it ensured learners thoroughly understood each learning area or topic before moving on to the next and avoiding falling behind. This also made the lesson relevant and reinforced what they previously learnt. Learners thoroughly mastered each topic with the use of hands-on activities like making their own 3D shapes using nets, using whiteboards and markers to practice rounding off and finding the difference, completing worksheets and completing questions given to them in their extra math’s books provided by their class teacher.
The project was effective as it was also aided by community involvement which was the Build rite hardware group. Their assistance and sponsorship emphasizes the role businesses can play in education and helping the community. Their provision of printing allowed the learners to work with and engage with good quality materials to thoroughly understand each topic being taught. This highlights the importance of utilizing external resources to benefits schools and students.
This project has helped me to grow and develop as a person in many ways. It gave me many opportunities which involved working with learners who have ADHD and those with certain learning needs that required differentiated instructions and various learning techniques to aid their understanding. This gave me an opportunity to explore parts of being a teacher which I did not have the opportunity of experiencing and learning about before. I also developed skills and techniques of working with learners who struggle with learning and understanding because of certain learning barriers. I used differentiated instruction and techniques to cater for the variety of learning levels. I found myself further breaking down mathematic concepts for the learners to thoroughly understand. Additionally, this experience has helped me to cope with learners in a different setting: an informal, after-school setting where learners are tired and have had a full day of activities. Hence, I found myself having to do brain break activities to help them focus thereafter on the work at hand. I also developed as I found myself formulating more hands-on and fun activities to help learners stay engaged regardless of their tiredness and exhaustion after a long day. Working with parents and teachers also improved my communication skills as I had to keep them informed of the learners progression in various sections of the subject as well as any concerns. I became better at building relationships with the community as well by approaching build rite hardware group and convincing them to print hands-on activities for the learners to engage with.
My social action initiative brought about many benefits to the learners, teachers, school and community. For the learners, it relieved them of the stress of not understanding various concepts they were learning in class as they mastered each topic during the extra mathematics sessions. The learners who struggles improved their skills and deepened their understanding which boosted their self-esteem and confidence. The project also proved the importance of support classes and I am certain that I have laid the groundwork for future after-school programs that can address other subjects and learning areas. This also benefited the school as it created a relationship between the school and build rite hardware. This creates an avenue for sponsorships and donations for other opportunities and needs.
The project is sustainable as it has become a consistent program in the school which is run by my mentor teacher. It also has the potential to grow and expand. The community partnership can be an avenue for future projects and ensures resources are available regularly. I also believe that this initiative can evolve and grow into more classes involving other grades.
Reflecting on my social action project, I believe that I have left a deep impact on the school, community, teachers, parents and learners. I also believe that it has caused me to grow as a teacher. I was able to leave a positive impact on the lives of some of the grade 3 learners who attended my program, developed skills, improved their abilities and learnt from it. This project proved the significance of small projects and the impact they can have when they are done using the right resources, relationships, thought processes and involvement. I look forward to using the skills I have developed and things I have learnt during this experience to develop and grow as a teacher in service and education.
Micro-teaching Reflection
During my online microteaching lesson, I displayed 15 minutes of the main part of the lesson which was the teaching and learning phase. I successfully interacted with the learners on the topic of homophones with the use of a PowerPoint presentation. The part where I explained homophones, what they are and showed learners examples of homophones went well. Additionally, the part where I got learners to actively participate in the lesson by doing activities on homophones went well and the learners were actively engaged.
I encountered a few challenges along the way. One challenge or vulnerability was the fact that I did not include any differentiated activities during the teaching and learning phase. I got learners to carry out activities on the PowerPoint based on the similar task each time. I realized that I should have included different types of activities like a quiz or a game. Another challenge I faced was the fact that learners may have gotten a bit bored by the last activity and I should have included something a bit more fun and interesting. I also felt that the internet connection was a bit slow and I struggled to hear the learners once throughout the lesson. Lastly, I felt that I lacked confidence as I was nervous during the lesson as it was my first time doing an online lesson but I hope to build my confidence throughout my years of teaching.
The lesson objectives were met during the lesson and the learners thoroughly understood the topic as I completed various activities with them and they were actively participating in the lesson. At the end of the lesson, learners fully understood and could differentiate between homophones, they could also use them correctly in sentences.
In terms of the ICT tool which was used during the online lesson, it was suitable and allowed learners to thoroughly understand the content. I used a PowerPoint to teach the content and complete activities with the learners. It involved detailed descriptions of homophones which the learners understood and grasped efficiently and activities which the learners engaged with using their writing tools on Blackboard collaborate.
I understood the importance of flexibility when using technology and during the delivery of lessons. I also learnt to use more tactile learning activities which are more fun and exciting for the learners to keep them engaged until the end of the lesson. The peer feedback which I received after my lesson helped me to understand how I could have enhanced my lesson by using a game or fun activity at the end of it to prevent learners from becoming bored and disinterested.
My Life of a teacher reflection
During my teaching experience I completed 2 days of taking on the “Life of a teacher”. This included teaching for two full days during my time at Northlands Primary school. This was a very difficult and challenging task for me. I had many obstacles and fears that came my way which led to me performing poorly. I did not cope at all doing these activities as they involved taking on all the roles of a teacher for those days which included teaching for 2 full days, completing the administrative tasks of the teacher and so much more!
Unfortunately, I only completed 2 out of the 3 days of taking on this role and task as I was fearful and lacked confidence. Throughout the two days of taking on the role as the teacher, the lessons that I taught went well but I lacked confidence in transitioning the learners to the next lesson or activity of the day. My mentor teacher intervened many times to assist me in these situations.
The activities which I found extremely challenging involved managing the classroom. I was too shy and lacked the confidence to keep learners quiet, ensure that the classroom is actively engaged and well managed. During the day, learners were rowdy and unsettled due to my lack of experience in managing them. I also found time management challenging, I would often lose track of the time and the teacher would often intervene in rounding up the learners for the next task, break time or home time. Additionally, I found it difficult to be enthusiastic and animated with the learners during the day due to a feeling and a sense of discomfort in my mentor teacher’s space.
With the consultation of my teacher competency results, I feel that I am ready to enter the profession of teaching to a certain level but there is a lot of improvement that needs to take place. I still need to build confidence in the classroom environment, develop my classroom management skills and time management. I feel that more experience will help with this by pursuing the role of an assistant teaching to learn and gain more experience until I have a classroom of my own.
In consultation with my teachers advice on the progress I made during my teaching experience, I have understood that there is a lot of skills I need to improve on in order to become successful at this degree. I have now understood that I need to become more punctual in the classroom, become more actively involved and go beyond my scope of this profession. I also need to build confidence, skills in classroom management and time management.
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