Serial Days

Right, as part of our course we have to do school placements, and at the end of each week we have to write a reflective learning journal. Now the week before last was our 'serial week', in which we go in and get to know the setting, work out the routines and become familiar with the staff and children, before.  

So, here you have it....

I'm in a school in Hull, it's an hour drive which isn't great, but its a lovely school. I'm in a Year 1 class, and the children seem lovely. The class teacher is male, which is nice, as they are less common than females. My serial week was a bit chaotic due to me or the teacher not being in, as a result of meeting, car troubles or illness, and then obviously we've had half term, where we've been in lectures, so hopefully when I go in on Monday, we should be able to start sorting things out, working out what I'm teaching and when etc.

Over the 2 weeks I have to:

• Create a teaching timetable
• Log 12 hours of Science-be it lesson observations, activities, teaching, discussion or questionnaires, through a variety of ages
• Chose 2 children from my class and gather reading evidence for them, consisting of work, observations, and discussions & questionnaires
• Do a 'miscue test' on my 2 chosen children
• Do high frequency & tricky word tests with aforementioned children
• Discuss planning with the class teacher
• Plan and teach 5 whole class sessions
• Plan and teach 5 small group sessions
• Observe & take part in school activities such as assemblies, break times & staff meetings

So nothing much then....

I'm excited, especially having been to the school and met people, though I'm nervous also :s *eeek*

Now we are provided with prompts for our journal, so here you have it:

Identify one area of significant learning for me this week as a teacher

The importance of complete observation: Of stepping back and just watching, not interacting, or assisting, or doing some things...just doing nothing but watching, especially in an unfamiliar environment, with new children and unknown rules

Identify one area of significant learning for an individual child, a group of children or the whole class

I guess this would have to be Child H, whom I worked 1-1 with during Numeracy time one day. I had number cards 1-10 and I was getting the Child to order them and then show me the right number of beanbags that matched whichever card I held up. In terms of intellectual development, I'm not sure there was significant learning, but from what I could gather, it was quite good that Child H came and worked with me, quite willingly, that he participated and was engaged for a short period of time.

Discuss the implications of this learning for both my professional development and my teaching and learning

I'm going to look more at my learning, as I think its more relevant at this point, considering I didn't really do much in terms of developing Child H's learning, I guess I just seemed nice enough for him to feel comfortable around, which is lovely :)

I guess in terms of my own learning, well I knew observation was important, but I guess I've been reminded to think of things from other peoples point of view, by watching, and listening, by absorbing what is going on around me.

How has my CPD (continuing professional development) time this week linked to my professional development and theoretical knowledge?

Basically during my CPD time I observed a Year 6 Science lessons, I took photos of displays around part of the school, I read the schools Health & Safety Policy, Handwriting Policy and looked at information on the boards in the staffroom. I also wrote up my 'to-do' list, and planned the Science activity that I am going to do, with children from Foundation Stage up to Yr 6, as part of our Science assessment, and possibly my Research Project. I also looked in some of the children's work books, and at the resources in my classroom and the storeroom. These things are all helping me to create an overall picture of the school and how it works.