Managing time, space and learning resources

Observe and use the observation sheet provided for you to document your observations.

1. As you observe the class, look into the characteristic of the learners. Note their ages.

2. How many boys are there? How many girls?

3. Focus on their behavior. Are they already able to manage their own behavior?

4. Can the learner already work independently?

5. Describe their span of attention

There are different abilities of the learners are that I saw. First, there are learners that can easily understand the teacher’s question while the others are not especially the boys seated at the back another is when the teachers said that they need to be quiet they follow the teacher.

In a class where I am observing, the range of their age is 13-18 yrs. old there are 40 plus students. At some point the learners can already manage their own behavior. Based on what I have observed, the learners cannot work independently;

they just depend on the works of their classmates. In terms of their attention, they have a better span of attention compare to that of the lower levels. But they need a guide from their teachers to correct their wrong doings. Based on their concentration in the class they need also guidance because some of them cannot understand the said task of their teachers.

In terms of their listening skills and ability to contrite, the students only show that they are listening when their teacher is around but if not will just roam around the room talking with one another and playing to each other. They do not yet know how to concentrate. They are just concentrating only when they are interested. But most of the time they are not listening to what the teacher told them.

ANALYZE

Analyze and answer these questions on observed classroom management practices. It is also good to ask the teacher for additional information, so you can validate your observation. Write your notes below; and then organize your data in the table that follows:

1. Are there areas in the classroom for specific purposes ( storage of teaching aids, books, students’ belongings, supplies, etc.)? Describe these areas. Will it make a difference if these areas for specific purposes are not present?

2. Are there rules and procedures posted in the room? List them down. Do these rules reinforce positive behavior?

3. Did the students participate in making the classroom rules? If the resource teacher is available, ask him/her to describe the process. What’s the effect of students’ participation in rule-making on students’ behavior?

4. What are the daily routines done by the Resource Teacher? (prayer, attendance, assignment of monitors, warm-up activities, etc) how are they done?

5. Is there a seating arrangement? What is the basis of this arrangement? Does this help in managing the class?

6. Observe the noise level in the classroom. How is this managed?

7. If a learner is not following instruction or is off-task, what does the Resource Teacher do? Describe the behavior strategies used.

8. What does the Resource Teacher do to reinforce positive behavior? (behavior strategies)

REFLECT

Reflection as a future teacher.

1. Why do you need to reinforce positive discipline?

As a future teacher, I will treat my students fairly. I will not compare each one of them. Instead, I will guide them to build a classroom that could be considered as a market place of ideas where every student has the freedom to participate and share their own knowledge and opinions with respect to their abilities, social backgrounds and levels of intelligence. They can be different in their backgrounds, religion, racial groups, culture, capabilities and cognitive levels. I will use some techniques in teaching that I’ sure it is appropriate in their cognitive level. I will let them share their ideas and thoughts so they will know more each other and I will convince those low achievers to interact well in the class because I know that they also have their own ideas and thoughts that they want to share. I know it because we have all individual differences in everything.