martes, 29 de noviembre de 2011

See You :)

It´s been a very nice profitable year, I wish you all good in your exams and I expect you will continue reading and searching for tools and ideas.
Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

Teacher Claudia.

sábado, 15 de octubre de 2011

Reading about Assessment

Here´s what you have to read as regards assessment and evaluation. The name of the book is HANDBOOKS FOR THE ENGLISH CLASSROOM, Michael Harris and Paul Mc Cann, Heineman.
Read chapter 2 and write down your doubts to be discussed in class.


If the book is not available at the library ,I will leave one for you with Graciela.

You have enough time to read :)

jueves, 13 de octubre de 2011

Topics to think about for the Practical Work

As you have read you´re going to prepare your MINDS to do the best you can next Wednesday, 19th .
The topics you are going to deal with are these:
-How old are you....? How old is he/she.....?
-My day . Daily routine
-What´s the time? It´s time for.......
-There is /are.How many?
-Personal information. Hi ,I´m.....; I´m from.....; I´m......years old, etc.

Ok start looking for material, games, ideas and everything you need to make a nice plan IN CLASS. You can photocopy lessons from books, bring teacher´s books, all is accepted.
I will give you the photocopy of the topic you choose, so you have to use the one I give you and you can extract ideas from your material.

lunes, 26 de septiembre de 2011

OBSERVATION TASK Nº 7 -STOLEN GOODS-

As you observe the lesson, note down several things that you would like to "steal" from this teacher and the lesson in order to make them part of your own teaching. This may include personal qualities, teaching skills and techniques, activities, classroom routines, atmosphere, games etc.Include notes to help you remember any important details. You may also want to record this in your portfolio.


Stolen Item 1:
Description of the item:
I stole this because:


Stolen Item 2
Description of the item:
I stole this because:


Stolen item 3:
Description of the item:
I stole this because:


Stolen item 4:
Description of the item:
I stole this because:


You can go on like this, it is not necessary to complete this observation in one class you can complete it in different days but at least two should be completed by next week.

miércoles, 21 de septiembre de 2011

Happy Students`Day!!!!

Congrats to all my students and here´s my favourite saying by Thoreau for you:


"Doing what you like is freedom but liking what you do is HAPPINESS"


I hope that all of you will be happy people because of loving being a teacher.

See you for a new observation very soon.Today´s party day!!!

sábado, 17 de septiembre de 2011

jueves, 15 de septiembre de 2011

More Snapshots!!



Our "Zero Class" Journey.

First of all CONGRATULATIONS to all of you! Even the ones who went to San Roque and I was not able to see. This kind of activities are the ones that fill our hearts and minds, aren´t they? You were outstanding!!! Full of happiness and eager to share everything with the kids.
Now, I want you to share your thoughts and feelings in our blog. Make it short but powerful, show your feelings and everything you want to tell. In this way we make the experience more powerful yet, and what is better, contagious! Here you have some snapshots from the experience!! next entry the ones from San Rque.!


jueves, 25 de agosto de 2011

What is your role as an attached student?

FIRST, YOU ARE OBSERVING. WHAT? THE TASK ALREADY AT HAND FOR THE WEEK.
SECOND, YOU ARE A HELPER. THAT IMPLIES, STICKING THINGS ON/OUT OF THE BOARD, PLUGGING IN TH TAPE RECORDER, DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL, HELPING WHEN NECESSARY.
THIRD, YOU ARE WITH THE CLASS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. THAT MEANS , YOU READ THE PLAN BEFOREHAND, ASKING AND HAVING A CRITICAL LOOK AT IT.
FOURTH, YOU WRITE DOWN ALL THE ACTIVITIES, GAMES, MATERIALS ETC THAT YOU FIND EXCITING , NEW , NICE FOR YOU TO USE IN THE FUTURE.
FIFTH,REFLECT ON EVERY CLASS IN YOUR JOURNALS.

As regards ATTACHMENT!!!!

Here you have a list of trainees , some of them are already with attached students. I would like you to share with classmates , I mean if you´ve been an attached for a month now , move on find another and leave your place to a classmate.

Alejandra Nuñez
Belén Capello
Natalia Sandoval ( Ya se encuentra haciendo su residencia en Wings)
Marina Montenegro
Florencia Terraes
Ariana Avellanal
Ivana Cáceres
Liz Armendía
Silvina Sosa
Sara Romero
Vanesa Pavón
Paula Romero Tepper
Camila Muzzi
Raquel Ramírez
Lorena Gomez (Haciendo residencia en Wings)
Vallejos Luján
Ethel Aguirre

Try to contact them as soon as possible!

Observation Task nº 6 THE LEARNERS

As you arrive in the classroom, choose (privately!) one student to focus on in your observation. Watch this student through the lesson and make notes under the headings below:

a- Choose a random 2´period. Write a narrative description of what he/she is doing.

b-Choose a random 2´period again. write a narrative description of what you imagine he/she is thinking, feeling.

c- Towards the end of the class, write students own description of what has happened in the lesson. Have they enjoyed it? Have they learned something? What helped them? What was difficult for them? How did they feel? This is an interview done in L1 to students after the class, you take notes.

jueves, 11 de agosto de 2011

Observation Task nº 5 OPTIONS AND DECISIONS

This Observation should be handed on August 24th, not a minute after!!
Dealing with unexpected problems
Example:
Situation: A student arrives very late for the lesson.
Action: Teacher said "Hello" politely, (the student sat down quietly and talked with his neighbours).
Other options:(here you give your suggestion) Teacher could have asked why the student was late.
In this way you will make comments on these different topics:
A)Dealing with unexpected problems:
Situation:
Action:
Other options:
B)Grouping of students; arrangement of seating.
Situation:
Action:
Other options:
C)Setting up activities; instructions:
Situation:
Action:
Other options:
D)Student participation in the lesson
Situation:
Action:
Other options:

If you can´t observe one of these topics, focus on the others. Make any other note you consider worth sharing with the class. GOOD LUCK!

miércoles, 27 de julio de 2011

WELCOME BACK TO REALITY!!!

I know that you´re studying hard for exams and things like that, but I hope you haven´t forgotten your observation task nº4. Remember it´s a sketch with arrows showing who talks to whom .

Have a nice week, see you next Wednesday.

jueves, 30 de junio de 2011

Last Week before the Holidays

Remember about the Practical Work on Wednesday,6th of july.

In order to have OBSERVATION TASK Nº4 the first week after the holidays, here it is:

CLASSROOM INTERACTION

Draw a map of the classrroom,(like the one below). Choose a 2´period during a whole class speaking stage of the lesson. Add arrows to the diagram to indicate who is speaking to whom.

ST---ST ST ST ST ST ST ST
ST ST ST ST ST ST ST ST

ST ST ST ST--- ST ST ST ST
/
ST ST ST---ST---/ST ST ST ST
/
T

OK! These are supposed to be arrows, I don´t have the tools of word here. So draw from the one who speaks to the one that continues and so on . If it comes back to the teacher many times you show it with the arrows.If it is group seating draw the sketch accordingly.

sábado, 25 de junio de 2011

Reading Tasks

In order to help you have a portfolio full of ideas read these chapters in two different books:
1)- Drilling In Jim Scrivener`s New edition. Have into account that he refers to drilling in general,you have to adapt his ideas to children´s classrooms.
2)-Read section 1 (Speaking) and section 6 (Rhymes and Chants);in 500 activities for the primary Classroom

Having read these suggestions ,I hope you will take notes of the activities and drillings you find most appropriate to have with you in your resource pack (portfolio).


THE OBSERVATION TASK REMAINS THE SAME TASK Nº 3.
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!

jueves, 16 de junio de 2011

Going On

Observation Task Nº3 (From Jim Scrivener new edition of "Learning Teaching")

Classroom Snapshot

1- Describe how learners are seated/standing in the room.

2- Describe generally what is happening (e.g. "a tape is being played and learners are writing answers)

3- Who is talking? Who is doing any other thing?

4- Describe; a) the atmosphere; and b) Levels of engagement.

REMEMBER TO FIND A STUDENT FROM THE PRACTICE TO BE HER/HIS ATTACH.IF IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE,GO TO THE SELECTED SCHOOLS TO OBSERVE. GOOD LUCK!!!

jueves, 9 de junio de 2011

Observation Task 2

Adapted from From Jim Scrivener"Learning Teaching"

What helps kids learn?

The Classroom
Make notes on seating, sight-lines, space,air, warmth,light, board, equipment, etc.


The learners
How motivated are the learners? Why? To what extent are they taking an active part in their own learning? To what extent are they expecting the teacher to do the work for them?
How can you relate these previous questions with the atmosphere, rapport or personal characteristics of the teacher?

Search, search and search

The new task is : look for drills, different kinds, different levels.
Where? Bibliography suggested at the beginning of the year, teacher´s books, internet sites,and from any other source that you find.
Work in groups again and you will model the drill to the whole class.

Be creative, make children have fun!!!!!

jueves, 2 de junio de 2011

Time to Reflect

The time to observe and to think has come.You are out there watching and writing down your first impressions. Try to enjoy the process that has started as much as you can. Have a nice experience!


This is the second entry for your journal.You can organize them like this:
Entry 1 Date: Name of school: Course:

If you haven´t observed a course yet, it is not necessary to complete that info.

lunes, 23 de mayo de 2011

We are very close to .................................Can you guess?

Here you have two lists, match the half sentences as you think are appropriate.
*The content of a lesson depends on............
*The younger the child......................
*Start the lesson with a "Warmer" that........
*If you are presenting new vocabulary.........
*If you are presenting new structures.........
*Remember to make the language................
*Lessons with younger children should be based mostly on.............
*Lessons with older children can contain...........................
*Recycle language and vocabulary as much as possible:..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
a)....use structures the children already know.
b)...recalls the language of the previous lesson and connects with the present lesson.
c)...the character of the class you are teaching and their age and level.
d)...as relevant and communicative as possible.
e)...listening and speaking.
f)...in different context, different activities and using different skills.
g)...a mix of skills.
h)...use vocabulary they already know
i)...the shorter the attention span, so plan a series of activities per lesson.

I WILL LISTEN TO YOU IN CLASS ! WHAT ARE WE VERY CLOSE TO START? GUESS!!!

Journal

Hope you didn´t forget about it.

What is it that you have to do?
You have already been appointed an activity, some of you have already performed, some are still missing, but all of you can reflect about:
Which were your worries, concerns, etc when preparing the activity?
How did you organize the activities within the group?
What did you feel after the performance?
Was it as you expected or not? If not, why?

SO EVERYBODY..... TAKE YOUR PENS AND START ....WRITING

domingo, 22 de mayo de 2011

CLARIFYING

As you were asked to hand in the paper containing the activities before and after the one you present, I will clarify it again:
Tell exactly what you will do before, for example: What will the children do?
What will you give them? Which words? Which actions?
In order to think about that, try to connect the three activities.If I do something in the first one , it´s because I need it in order to help my students, understand, do , write, draw or whatever you intend to do in the third activity.

HOPE IT´S USEFUL. REMEMBER NEXT WEDNESDAY LAST TIME TO HAND IN!



IMPORTANT: Read the blog during this week some more assignments are waiting...
Have a nice Sunday:)

lunes, 9 de mayo de 2011

Practical Activities

You have already been appointed an activity from Halliwell.
a) Understand it deeply to perform it for your classmates.
b) Look at it again and decide what kind of activity it is (settling/steering).
c) Decide which activities can go before and after the one you have to work with.Justify your choices.

REMEMBER THEORY : VARIATION----DIFFERENT MOODS----CONCENTRATION SPAN


This has to be handed in on Wednesday,18th of May.


HAVE A NICE WORK :)Teacher Claudia

martes, 26 de abril de 2011

HANDS ON !

By reading Halliwell chapter 3

In groups of 4/5 students.Set a list of realistic expectations for your future classroom.(Pyramid group work).


With your original group add 3 more activities that stir or settle a class.

Choose a topic, create two activities .One that engages children´s minds and another that keeps them physically occupied.

Which ideas and or techniques could you extract from our example class with the colours?

Analise the class again and tell in which order the teacher introduces the different skills.

lunes, 18 de abril de 2011

PRIORITIES

Identify Content goals for young learners by analyzing different textbooks, make a list of structures-Topics and functions generally found in a primary school syllabus.

Make a list of possible or desirable attitudinal goals.

Make a list of priorities when teaching young learners.

Empty handed? Never!

By reading chapter 1 "Working with young language learners",Halliwell;IN YOUR OWN WORDS relate these CONCEPTS to working with young learners.
eg INTERPRETING
Young learners are very good at interpreting meaning , general messages,not individual words.We help them making full use of....................

INDIRECTLY-------READY--------FUN/GAMES--------REALITY

Now, provide examples for these characteristics:
-They are creative with grammatical forms and with concepts.
-They are eager to communicate.
-They are gifted for guessing activities.
-They are imaginative thinkers.

martes, 12 de abril de 2011

Dealing with our audience

After reading chapter one from Scott & Ytreberg answer these questions:

1-What´s the best way to introduce new language to children?
2-Which are the problems we may find, when introducing fictional concepts? Is that a problem?
3-Can we skip steps when organizing and or explaining something to them ?
4-How can we check if a 6/7 year olds understand or not?
5-What´s the best way to foster their positive attitude towards learning?
6- Mention two main differences between 6/7 year olds and 8/10.
7-Explain these concepts in your own words and giving new examples (different from the ones in the book):
words are not enough
play with the language
language as language
variety in the classroom
routines
cooperation vs competition
grammar