Diary

DAY 1 (18/01/2016)

First day, I start a new adventure with lots of enthusiasm and excitement. When I arrived I knew where to go because it is the school where I studied when I was little, located in La Cala de Mijas, Málaga. Upon entering the center they jumped me the memories of all the good years I spent there.

Once I was with my other companions of the Practicum we were presented to all the teachers, 30 to be exact. The secretary, who happened to be my tutor, was the one who was presenting us with everyone and explaining a bit of how the school works; then we went to the principal's office and talked with her, the head teacher and my mentor, the secretary. We commented different aspects of the center, as the structure, the methodology followed, some projects do as learning communities where some days are going parents of students to class and do the same groups to try different subjects and as we discussed is It is working very well, and I think it is a great idea to integrate the family in the education of their children. When we were talking the director gave us a tour of all parts of the school that we might know him as the bell rang to start the second was the subject each day we went to class.

School corredor

entrance

As my tutoris the secretary she thought a good idea: when she did not have class I would continue to accompany the class with different teachers; I think it's a good thing to be in class with different teachers because I can see different ways of teaching class and how that influences the behavior of the students. The class that have given me is 4ºB and when I walked into class they were about to start a class of natural sciences with a teacher who shows a great vibe in class, makes very dynamic classes, asking questions often students so that they are attentive and following the class and also puts many funny examples that do two things, make children understand what explains and while the class more entertaining. I've also observed that having a good relationship with the class is easier to be respected, because in some ways they feel more admiration for you. Regarding the class, I watched a while and then the teacher told them an activity to analyze what kind of food they had brought on breakfast, as we were studying food. At that time the teacher asked me to help a student who has difficulties and have had to make a significant curricular adaptation. I stood next to he, we took her breakfast out and began to see gradually what kind of food was everything and although you could tell she has difficulty writing and fully understand what they ask takes a while to finish but finally went out well and when he reads aloud the teacher made everyone will applaud because it was the most balanced class breakfast. It made me feel very good to see her smile.

We finished the class and then we had to do a math test with my tutor, so at that time I was looking for interactive activities to make Spanish language after recess with children. At recess I was with one of my colleagues who are also doing their practices and as we walked by the school's children they kept asking us if we were new teachers or in the case of the smallest to come to give us hugs.

When the playtime ended students made a row for us to take them to class my tutor and myself. Now we had an art lesson, and other drawings dedicated end they had to give to the teacher, it was a symmetrical designs and drawings where they had to use colors in different ways. At that time I was finalizing the activities would do in language. When he started the language class, the teacher began to advance the lesson, and while students were coming one by one to reinforce the agenda that had been the previous days. The truth is that it went great, I think they finished to understand what I explained to them and also took the opportunity for children to write with the computer keyboard so that they learn to use it and to write more fluently. The day ended, we accompany all students to exit to see that they are going with their parents and when all were told a little with my tutor who was the experience of the first day and then went home with a very good feelings.

First week (19/01/2016 – 22/01/2016)

This first week has been very interesting, where I have learned the running of the center, the different methodologies used by each teacher, to help students with homework, etc.

As I said earlier, my tutor is the secretary of the center, so we have decided that the time she is at the Secretariat I would stay with the group (4ºB) with different teachers who were entering the classroom to give their classes. I thought it was a great idea and so I'm looking at different ways to teach the agenda and the impact it has on students, because, as I see, the more dynamic and the more you involve children, behave better and learn faster.

To start, my tutor, which in turn is 4ºA course tutor has a rather traditional way of teaching her subjects, but there are days where she tries to make classes more dynamic and fun to break the monotony. She has been with the same children since they started primary school, so for the children is a kind of mother who they respect a lot. In her classes (math, language and art) what I do most of the time it is to help students to complete their tasks in class and try to make them understand what has been explained. I try to make children think and reach them themselves to find the answer, somewhat complicated because this age still have trouble assimilating different concepts, but when you have a complete understanding it very rewarding feeling.

In terms of content we have been teaching in language we have been seeing determinants, prefixes and suffixes, some issues that do not give a lot of play but have assimilated well with the help of various examples and some readings which have been analyzing words. In math we have been seeing measurement units (decimal multiples of the meter) where I did a poster out on card stock where the different units and some examples I made using students how to move from one unit to another.

Inside school

The next day I gave my first class alone, which I will speak in more detail in another section. As for the math classes I observed it costs them mentally imagine distances and make changes from one unit to another because I think it difficult to understand that a long distance can be expressed in a much smaller number. Regarding my role in these classes it was similar to language classes, the teacher gave an explanation and I helped students with the completion of the same, with special attention to the girl who is delayed and a significant curricular adaptation makes some simple activities that the rest of the class it has some significant gaps in the field for which no sense to continue giving new agenda because all we'd get is a mess was made. As for the art classes most of the time they were doing different things related to the day of peace, as a custom dove, write a poem and decorate it, etc. In these classes you can not do much more than watch cartoons of children and sometimes tell them to change some details.

We also had two days physical education class with a teacher who gave me class when I was at school, so at first it was a weird experience, but as we already knew we had a good connection. In PE classes I observed that some children in class are more shy in PE they like to be noticed in the courtyard. My role was secondary classes only helped with the material and when they did see good activities. Another subject in which I was but a short time was in values, where they were seeing is a reporter for which the teacher took my presence for students to be reporters and I did an interview with me; was a pretty good class.

Regarding the classes of social and natural sciences, I have to say they are the classes that I have liked and where I'm learning more, because the methodology used by the teacher seems very interesting and effective . He uses the textbook but is not the main element in his classes, some classes do enough between interactive and entertaining for the children because it is constantly asking things to make sure they understood what has been explained. It makes small checks instead of controls complete style to go assimilating all concepts.  He also makes them practical activities for them to see that it serves what they are learning, for example he made them take the breakfasts to students and discuss what they were going to eat because we were watching the types of foods and what would be a balanced diet. But he did not enter the agenda also made a kind of game where we associated meals and countries, which I think is a good idea to increase the culture of the students. Definitely it sounds like a very interesting way to teach the subject and also as I have seen, with very good results.

Relating to Friday the highlight was that we had interactive groups with parents, where I could see that children are more attentive when there are parents in the class and that because they are very attentive and motivated learn a lot. I will comment on the "evidences" interactive page these groups in more detail.

In conclusion I want to say that I liked much more than I thought this experience and I looking forward to return on Monday.

Second week (25/01/16 – 29/01/16)

As had dealings with many teachers I'll analyze what I did with each during the second week.

- PE: We had two sessions this week, we were doing basketball, one of my favorite sports, so I enjoyed participating in the classes. My role was to see that they made the exercises well and help them with what they needed. I think everything PE classes can not fail because some values could be promoted more as companionship and that everything is not winning.

- Math: This subject is given by the tutor of the class ; This week we continue to see the issue of units of measurement, where my role was to help students solve the activities and focus more on helping those most in need in the classroom. In the case of the girl with greater difficulties did some activities adapted to her level. These days I also gave my first class, which is explained in the "my interventions" window. I think the professor along very well how to teach, watching what they find most difficult and trying to strengthen it. What would improve focus activities towards real life and everyday life.

- Language: it is also given by the tutor; we studied some types of words and doing thereof activities. In those days we also did a test where I did part of the dictation, did well on other days related to the day of peace, as they could be doing poetry readings or activities related to the topic.

- Art: at this course my role was quite secondary, dedicated to develop activities for other days. Pupils teach liked what they were doing in class and I gave them a little advice for improvement.

Peace day

- Science: One of the days we were talking about the earthquake that took place in this area, which was a great encouragement to learn, because they were very attentive to what the teacher explaining and making constant questions. We take the issue to tell them about the continents and how the continents have drifted apart over time. The other days were addressing the issue of food and digestive tract, and took the opportunity to teach them about food culture.

- Social sciences: to star the week we had a test, so I could not do much in class. The next few days were spent talking about the population and its variants. We also talked a little about the world's population.

- English: English classes may have been the most traditional, which also didn't gave me room to help, just read some words on the agenda. I think the system of listening and repetition that uses the master does not have many positive outcomes for students.

- Music: it was the same teacher of natural and social sciences, I could only attend one of his classes of music, but I enjoyed it because among all kind invented a "chirigota" and they had a great time.

Third week (01/02/16 – 05/02/16)

As each teacher has a different methodology I did not have the same role in all subjects as mentioned in the diary from last week, so Iwon´t stop commenting on everything I did, but to appreciate what we consider most important for my learning.

Without a doubt the most innovative teacher and liked most was the teacher who gave natural and social sciences, since it made very interactive classes, sometimes let the students put their questions for tests, he likes people to have their own opinion, they need to ask to avoid having doubts, he gets everyone involved, etc. I think in their classes, students are more attentive because they have a greater role and because classes are not unidirectional.

I also learned a lot with my tutor, how to treat the class, how to solve domestic problems, knowing how to create a good working environment ... but mostly learned a lot working with children who have more difficulties. Every child is a universe, a concept that I have learned very well. I enjoyed helping all those students, because when they get to understand something you can note the happiness on their faces. It is also true that we must learn to be very patient and put in place other although sometimes it is difficult.

presents

My tutor was also over three weeks teaching me all things related to work from as correct, as I was correcting things many days, even as to the final notes, she taught me the software they use to be putting all corresponding notes. I am very grateful for teaching me so much.

This week I also went sometimes to help a class of first year-impaired children some where I saw that the most basic concepts are the most difficult to teach students.

We were also fortunate to have interactive groups, something that students really like and which comprise much because they are motivated and in a good atmosphere; I think one of the best measures of the center. I will comment further on the "evidences" section.

Finally I want to say all the affection that students have shown me from daily hugs, letters, drawings ... everyone wanted to tell me things they had done or would do, they did not want me to leave, valued much everything I did for them, etc. And the last day I took a small detail to everyone but what I did not expect was to leave with a bag full of gifts from the teacher and especially students. All these gifts I will keep them forever because they have managed to have even more eager to become a teacher because I think there are few more rewarding jobs, but also want to be the best teacher in order to make my students critics and full of values they can change the world in the future.