Reflection

 1    
 
My teaching practice this semester is taking place in Asma Primary
School in Sharjah. I have observed 5 Math lessons until now in grade
1/6. The students are grouped randomly in each table, each table has
four students, each ability is mixed with the other. Each Math lesson is
delivered in an organized way and is being well delivered, where the
teacher uses the “I do, we do, you do” method, she explains the lesson
first, using PowerPoint presentation, then explain the LO to the students,
and also uses the group work either with her or usually the students get
to work together, and when it is time to solve the questions in the book
or it is time to solve any worksheets, the teacher models first and solve
two questions with the students and then get them to solve it by
themselves, and assess them by asking questions. The Math Talk is used
in every lesson, where discussion about previous lessons and predictions
are being talked about with the whole class and teacher. The timing for
transitions are very short, the students are not noisy when it comes to
transitions because classroom management is being used, for example,
taking out stars for the student or whole group. Sometimes when it is the
time for students to work on their activities, the teacher asks me to
monitor them and check their answers, so, I keep rotating on each table
and make sure each student understands, either by asking them
questions, or make them solve it in front of me. I have observed math
strategies used by the teacher when teaching, which is the GRRM. In
conclusion, I love how I am benefitting and learning some new teaching
strategies and techniques from my MST.

Reflection 2  
 
It is my second week in Asma school observing grade 1/6 and 1/5, I am
getting help and support from my MST even though there are problems
with combining classes together. No matter what goes on in school, I am
trying my best to fit in and help my MST as much as I can. I am growing
professionally, and that is making me feel more independent.
The second math lesson I taught was on Monday 15/10/2018, and the
lesson’s learning outcome was to identify parts of 10, students will be
able to know which two numbers are supposed to be added together to
find the sum of 10. The math was delivered through me explaining the
lesson, then students applying it through the activities. I used a power
point presentation to have the math talk with the students. To create and
maintain a positive environment in the classroom I used the reward chart
and group stars. The timing for the transitions went well, the students
were a bit noisy, but I handled them. I monitored the learning when the
children were working on the activities by asking questions and
observing. I have observed the students while they were working on the
activities, and also observed them while they were solving the questions
on the book with the teacher (mst)’s help.
 
Reflection  3  
 
In week 3 I have observed several classes and learning techniques. One
of the techniques is when my MST started separating the students
according to their abilities, I helped her to make a chart for both classes
1/5 and 1/6, the chart includes 3 colors, red, yellow, and green with their
names on it. The red spot is for the low, yellow, for the medium, and
green for the high ability students. The teacher uses this technique only
when it comes to the activities and solving questions in the book. When
she says “colors”, the students straightaway know that it is time to
change their seats, and she then focuses on the low ability students. This
week’s mathematics lessons were about subtraction. I taught 1//6 a
lesson on Sunday this week, the lesson was an introduction to
subtraction. The lesson consisted of me showing them a video that had 3
stories of subtraction, recapped the previous lesson too, and made them
play a game which was the to help them understand subtraction more.
Also, the activities included manipulatives such as plastic animals, balls,
and fruits. The students had to take away depending on the number they
have and find the answer. I have also observed the way my MST handles
the whole class since there was a trouble with combining a whole class
into 1/6 and 1/5.

Reflection  4  
 
Week 4 went smoothly, I observed 2 classes in mathematics class. In
addition, I observed science classes since my MST is the teacher, I
helped her marking quizzes and books. The learning objectives were all
about subtraction since this week is about subtraction. On Sunday, I
taught vertical subtraction. I loved how my MST used some techniques
that I used during my teaching and my discussion with her. The
techniques were when it is activity time, students should rotate to each
table to try different manipulatives and numbers. On Tuesday, there was
heavy rain and the electricity in some classes switched off, one of the
classes was the one I am in. My MST had to plan to plan for plan B
since the computer and projector got ruined from the rain. She used the
students as models to model numbers and used the book and whiteboard.
Yesterday I helped the teachers and school staff to organize for the flag
da, and that made me feel happy because I had extra activity and work to
do.

Reflection  5  
 
Today, Wednesday 7/11/2018, is my last day in Asma Primary school. Today
was a tough day. However; I had fun doing what I was asked to do by the
principal. The whole day was about attending parents meeting and thinking
skills workshop with my MST, and substituting and handling two classes and
staying with them in one class since they had no teacher and class. This week
I gave a lesson about how to subtract the number 7 using different ways and
numbers. Since the past 2 weeks there were visitors from the MOE to check
on how the school and classes are going, the principle and one of the visitors
entered the class while I was teaching. I got a little bit scared but I got used to
it later on. I got so happy later on because the principal gave me a quick
feedback about the way I was delivering the lesson to the students.
In this teaching practice, my whole observation was about mathematics and
teaching mathematics and a bit of science for a try. My MST benefited me so
much and I got so many ideas for the classroom and teaching techniques. At
first, on the first days I was nervous and confused because I have never tried
teaching Math, and especially in Arabic, but within days and with the help of
my MST, I taught 7 lessons easily. I loved how my mentor teacher uses
routines in class, and rewards. I wrote down the things she used to do to help
me improve even better in my other teaching practices.
The school day ended, I got flowers for my MST, and principal, gifts for the
kids as a way of thanking them and showing them that they will truly be
missed. I waved goodbye and proudly felt that I made a good impression and
left a good print to the whole school staff.