A week of firsts

 After the long weekend, the first day back at school was tough. A reading and listening lesson with a group of 10 year olds, based around a folktale, didn’t quite go to plan, so by the end of the day I was feeling dejected. I have quickly realised that there are so many variables contributing to “success” or “failure” in the classroom, that it is impossible to predict or fully determine the outcome. The important thing is to cultivate a Positive Mental Attitude and take away some learning point from each classroom experience, moving onto the next one, with just a wee bit more wisdom and kit in the armoury. My first observed lesson took place the following day and I was much happier with it and received some constructive feedback from my mentor, who is always prepared to make time to listen or provide some advice.

 I have learned an interesting technique for facilitating group work. It is called “pens to the middle” and involves the students (seated in groups of 4) putting their pens/pencils in the corner of their desks and not picking them up to write down answers, until there is consensus within their group. This ensures that there is discussion amongst peers and that the voices of the quieter or weaker students are heard.

Another first this week was the appearance of Ollie the Owl to a primary 2 class (a group of 6 year olds). Ollie was a last minute purchase from the shop at Grosvenor Hall in Ashford, a furry stuffed toy, with a benevolent expression. Jimena is a very shy little girl, an only child, who says virtually nothing in the classroom, so I was apprehensive when it came to her first “conversation” session with me for the Trinity exam. Her classmate, Luca, held her hand and whispered reassurances to her in Spanish, as she nervously avoided looking at me, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. Unsure how to proceed, I produced Ollie from my bag, introduced him to Jimena, who immediately became animated and started talking to the owl. He became her mouthpiece for the questions I asked and though she spoke partly in Spanish, I was overjoyed to hear a few simple words and phrases in English and to witness her complete character transformation, as a result of a simple prop.

Friday gave me the opportunity to assist in a music lesson (my first experience of CLIL). With the teacher I had prepped the topic of singing a canon, starting a song with one part of the class, with other groups starting subsequently, providing a kind of echo or repeat. We sang “Row, row row your boat...” and “Do-re-mi” several times in rounds, growing in confidence and volume each time. It was a positive note(s), on which to end the week and secretly I probably enjoyed it every bit as much as the kids.