Teaching Practice Reflections: Week 1

List three successes of your teaching this week and state why you feel each point was a success.

• Exit Tickets – I used exit tickets this week at the end of my lessons. I feel these were hugely successful, and informed my teaching style and lesson planning. I reflected on the feedback I received daily from the students and put into action any changes I needed to make to address the students’ learning needs.
• Reflection – I made a conscious effort to self-reflect after every lesson this week. I took lengthy notes on my reflections in my professional portfolio folder. I believe it’s hugely important to take time out to reflect after each lesson. Teachers who explore their own teaching through critical reflection develop changes in attitudes and awareness which can benefit professional growth, as well as improve the kind of support we provide to students.
• Differentiation – I set extension exercises for GAT students and I also set time aside to ensure the SEN students understood classroom tasks and homework. I feel giving myself a few minutes at the end of class to circulate and observe students as the class wraps-up gives students the opportunity to ask about the homework assignment. Differentiation in the classroom is an important skill for teachers to give pupils the best chance at learning, regardless of their abilities, strengths and weaknesses.

List three areas for improvement which you will focus on next week and outline an action plan that you will put into place for each area

• Cooperating Teacher: Next week, I want to continue to seek the advice and support from my cooperating teacher. I really admire her teaching style and work ethic, and I want to use this contact as much as I can over the next five weeks. She is one of those inspiring teachers whom I feel honoured to have as a mentor.
• Student names: I want to learn the students' names as it helps build a rapport, and build a positive student, teacher relationship. I can do this through repetition and roll call.
• Behaviour Management – I want to use more non-verbal communication to manage behaviour in the classroom. Going forward, I will raise my hand in the air to ask for silence instead of using vocal commands.

Discuss one theoretical idea that influenced your teaching this week

"When the cook tastes the soup, that's formative assessment. When the customer tastes the soup, that's summative assessment," Paul Black

This week I started each lesson with the learning intentions, then accessed prior knowledge.

• I observed students during in-class activities.
• I set homework exercises as review for exam and class discussions.
• Questions and answers sessions, both formal (planned) and informal (spontaneous).
• Student feedback – exit tickets.

What was your most enjoyable moment while teaching this week?

The most enjoyable moment this week was my very first class back. It had been almost 6-months since I had taught, and I was feeling a range of emotions about starting back. The moment the class got started, everything fell into place and I remembered why I love teaching. My hard work and preparation the week previous had paid off and it felt great to be back in the classroom again.