THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL

My  Observation Process

For this semester, my observation process took place at Institución Educativa Juan XXIII. This is a public institution located in Montería city in Juan XXIII neighborhood. This school offers people different educational levels  from  pre-school  to eleventh grade. It has different schedules: morning,  afternoon and weekends 

Along the development of this observation process, I went  through many different stages in which I was focus on specific details and features of teaching and learning processes. This  observation were manage following  tasks with some semi-structured and unstructured questions, Besides there were open moments to comment and reflect about the classes being observed. During these observations a set of diaries  were written  in order to reflect on the teaching aspects.  I would like you to read some specific but brief  reflections I wrote based on these  enriching experiences.

1. THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

 REFLECTION 1:  THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

The learning environment refers to the diverse physical locations, contexts, and cultures in which students learn. Since students may learn in a wide variety of settings, the school becomes a responsible in the organization of the learning   settings in which students will be interacting on. In my opinion the learning environment affects positively or negatively the teaching and learning process.  It not only refers to the location and supplies, but to the influences these aspects have in regard to the promotion of knowledge and participation in learning processes. If students feel comfortable where they are learning, meaningful understanding on the subject (English) will be achieved.

2. PROMOTING PARTICIPATION ( BUILDING CONFIDENCE)

 REFLECTION 2:  PROMOTING PARTICIPATION ( BUILDING CONFIDENCE)

 When a teacher promotes participation, he encourages his students to participate through the use of different language skills. However, to encourage a learner is it not about asking he/she something that they might be able to answer. I consider, that the important thing is not to make the students speak in isolation, but to create awareness of what they are saying and to reflect on it.  Learners must feel they are learning, they know, so they can. Building confidence it is also an important task for a teacher. To build confidence is to  encourage students to be brave to share their ideas believing in themselves. 

3. USING L1 VS USING L2 IN THE CLASSROOM

 REFLECTION 3. USING L1 VS USING L2 IN THE CLASSROOM

The use of L1 and L2 in a classroom has been discussed for many years. From the classes I observed I could evidence both languages. Although the students were able to understand some phrases in English (L2), they were used to translate everything into Spanish (L1). To this situation the teacher was neutral and did not tell the students what to do, he gave them freedom in one way or another.  From my personal opinion, I believe that both languages can be used inside the classroom, nonetheless as teacher we need to promote the understanding of the importance of L2 in our cognitive and academic development. Because if our students are capable to understand  the language, then they will be able to use it. 

4. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND ITS ROLE IN THE CLASSROOM

 REFLECTION 4. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND ITS ROLE IN THE CLASSROOM. 

 Classroom management is the process by which teachers and schools create and maintain appropriate behavior of students in classroom settings. The purpose of implementing classroom management strategies is to enhance prosocial behavior and increase student academic engagement (Emmer & Sabornie, 2015; Everston & Weinstein, 2006).  Considering this previous concern and based on my latter observation process, I can ensure that classroom observation is a basic element to establish and maintain well and organized atmosphere around the classroom. The teaching practices I observed from the teacher gave me and real and contextualized understanding of how this ability works in the classroom and how a teacher can reflect it in his classes. In fact, achieving control and management in the classroom is something complicated since currently we can find more than 40 students per classroom, which in some ways becomes a barrier to class development. 

5. PEDAGOGICAL ALTERNATIVES ( ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE CLASSROOM)

 REFLECTION 5.  PEDAGOGICAL ALTERNATIVES ( ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THE CLASSROOM)

As teacher we have all the activities set and prepared in our lesson planners. These activities are the ones which are supposed to be ready to use in our classes.  However, there are specific moments in the development of a class in which we need to use sudden activities that arise from the moment, students' doubts, ideas and opinion promotes this activities. I consider this kind of activities are necessary to develop a class especially when we want ot surprise our students  with something new, something they are not expecting that catch their attention to promote their active participation. For example, the teacher always used, video beam to present flashcards, even though, he was innovative when presenting the students some listening activities with  interesting songs.

6. SMILING, CONTROLING THE MOOD TO AVOID YELLING AT THE SS.

 REFLECTION 6. 6.   SMILING, CONTROLING THE MOOD TO AVOID YELLING  AT THE SS.

 For me as human being and professional it is really important to avoid confrontation inside the classroom with our students.  We are learning and growing integrally, so there are no reasons to behave improperly. From the teacher I observed I admired his positive attitudes towards the pupils. He never raised his voice. he had always an smile and he was controlling his feeling at the same time. There was a class in which he was not feeling good so as to teach that lesson. However he did it. Nor the students neither me did realize that until he finished the class. Moreover, the teacher never yelled to the students. Nowadays, we can find some teachers that due to the kind of the students they have; they are continuously losing their cool. Nonetheless this was not the case.