Observation Task 1: Introduction to the learning

environment
Focus: The learning context
Student teachers will settle into the school, find out calendar/timetable and
any other important information about the school.
TASK and OBSERVATION: Put this into paragraph form at the end of the day.
Introduce yourself to your Mentoring Teacher. Tell him/her about yourself, also
about the Bachelor of Applied Science Program and your tasks for the day.
Find out from your MST when a good time each week will be for you to discuss
that days task.
From 1 PM to 4 PM
Find out when the breaks are/ where you can go during the breaks/where the
restroom is/ where the refrigerator (for your lunch and cold drinks) is, etc.
12-12:30 and 1-1:30
Find out about your Mentoring School Teacher:
Where is she/he from? India
How long has he/she worked at that school? This is her first year in the nursery
How long has he/she been a teacher? This is her first year being a teacher
How many students are in the class? 24
How many boys? 17
Girls? 7
What nationalities? Local Indian Pakistani Philippine - British
Find the staffroom and introduce yourself to two OTHER staff members
during your breaks. Tell them why you are in the school and when you will visit.
Find out their names, what they teach and where they are from and add to your
TP booklet.
Miss Marcelle (Babies class teacher and foundation French teacher) Egypt
Miss Aileen (Toddlers class teacher) Philippine
Find your way around the school/workplace and find the
Library (At the middle of the college)

Cafeteria (Beside the nursery which us the colleges food court)

Playground (Outside the nursery, in front of the main door)

Find the following for your TP booklet:

o Photocopy or photograph a class list and the classroom calendars.
Complete the School/workplace Profile paper (next page)
o Identify important dates (holidays, school events, trips etc.) on the
School/workplace Calendar
o Map the themes to be studied, important school events, trips etc. during
the weeks you will be in the school.
o Make a copy of the weekly/daily class timetable

Get involved with the learners as directed by your mentor. Find out
what they are doing and why.
Ask permission to take photographs of the displays, the learning
environment and learners.
Find out how the school/workplace wants to be contacted and
who you contact if you are going to be late or absent.
By e-mailing Miss Liz who works at the reception

Complete the following:

Name of School
British Orchard Nursery
Name of Principal
Miss Chas
Name of MST
Miss Mehrin
Email of MST
Mehrindarvish@yahoo.com
Phone of MST (if willing to share with you)
Name of Assistant teacher
Michel, Agnes, and Lin
Teacher starting time
6 AM
Teacher Ending Time
4 PM

Learner Starting Time

8 AM
Learner Ending Time
Some 12 and others at 4 PM
Classroom Number
Bouncing Bunnies
Good time to discuss your weekly tasks with1the
PM to 4 PM
MST
Break Times and Lunch Time

Students:
Breakfast at 10 AM
Lunch at 12 PM
Teachers:
2 teachers at 12 PM
Others at 1 PM

REFLECTION: Write in paragraph form

We have spoken about making a good first impression. What did you do
today to make a good first impression? How did you feel on your first day?
Did your feelings change throughout the day? Explain what happened and
how you were feeling. Do you feel you made a good first impression? Write a
brief overview of your first day at TP.

7th of October, 2015 was my first day on Teaching Practice. It

was a great day, by which I entered the class before students
arrival time, and Ive introduced myself to my MST and her
assistants, and they were very kind and helpful which helped me
getting rid of feeling nervous. I entered the class smiling and
excited which gave them good impression about me. They were

interested in knowing me more, and I felt that they were so happy

with me by joining them today. I was little nervous because it was
my first day being a teacher, but thanks to them, I was not
nervous after few minutes. Moreover, when students started
entering the class, teachers and I started playing with them at
their free playing time. Then we helped them having their
breakfast after the circle time. Later on they took a lesson about
the letter P, and made a piano activity. Most of the students were
attached to me, and that made me feel good, because they were
considering me as their mom, which means they were not afraid
of me. This relieved me and helped me in joining and participating
more with them. At the end of the day, I was feeling so good, and
I was very excited to come next week. In addition, I didnt expect
that I will feel free with the students and the teachers from day
one, but believe it or not, I felt that they were my little brothers
and sisters and that class my second home.

Task and Observation

My TP was at the British Orchard Nursery whose principal is
Miss Chas, and my mentor school teachers name is Mahrin. She
is an Indian teacher. I was surprised when she told me that this is
her first year working in the nursery, as well as being a teacher.
She is the main teacher of Bouncing Bunnies class, and Michel,
Agnes, and Lin were her assistants. Bouncing Bunnies class
includes twenty-four students; seventeen boys and seven girls.
Students were from different nationalities; locals, Philippines, and
most of them were Indians and Pakistani. Although they were
speaking different languages, and they were from different

countries, they were communicating very well, as if they were

together since they were born. Before day starts, I asked Miss
Mahrin about her free time to help me answer my task questions.
She told me that after 1 PM most of the students leave, and this is
her break time until the end of the day. So this is the best time for
her to sit with me and answer my questions. I also asked her
about starting, ending, and breaks times. I found out that there 4
teachers in the class, including assistants who arrives around 6:30
AM, and their day ends at 4 PM. While students start at 8 AM and
finish at 4 PM. Furthermore, breaks times are divided among
teachers; two of them are having their break time at 12 to 12:30
PM, and the other two from 1 to 1:30 PM. Moreover, if I am going
to be late or absent for my TP, I should contact Miss Liz by e-mail
whos working at the reception. I also, met Miss Marcelle; an
Egyptian teacher whos responsible of babys class, and Miss
Aileen; Philippine teacher who guides the toddlers class. During
my day as a teacher, students were having circle times and some
alphabetic activities, this made them enjoy the class and
participate in the activities, which will help them later in their preschool class. I noticed that most of the students were so happy
answering the questions due to their teachers encouragement.
After students left, I sat with Miss Mahrin, finish my task, and took
permission to have some photos of the class timetable and
calendar, and she was very helpful. Knowing that taking photos of
the students at the nursery is not allowed, because some parents
dont allow that. Finally, I knew that students are having their
reading and break times at class, while teachers go to the
colleges food court, which is located beside the nursery. Also,
students are having some of their day time at the playground,
which is at the front of the nurserys main gate.