Observation and practicum journals second period

1. Observation journals
Taller de Práctica Docente.
Asencio Nadia.
MY JOURNAL 1
Class number: 1 (Observations)
Place: Kurt Godel School.
Unit: Body parts.
Level: Elementary.
Date: 28/05/2014
During this class I was very surprised about several things. First, I
noticed that there were not there are no routines and I think that they are
very important for the children in their learning process. So, I want to add a
routine in my practice. Then, the classroom was very disorganized and messy.
There were lot of things on the floor, on the tables; some children were eating
and playing (since they just had come came back from the break) and those kind
that kind of things put me very nervous. I think that I am very strict with the
order and the organization of a class and I always try to teach to my students
that the order and the organization are essential.
Moreover, I could observe that the teacher did not include any contexts
for the activities; and many times the students did not know what to do since
they did not understand the exercises. I think that the students did not
understand because the teacher’s explanations were not clear and she did not
catch students’ attention ask for the students’ attention and for the lacking of
context as well. I believe that some rhymes or songs are useful to engage
students’ attention ask for students’ attention or to organize them. And in
order to provide a context, the teachers have got a lot of resources to use
such as songs, stories, videos, personal experiences and so on.

2. Another alarming aspect is that the teacher spoke a lot in Spanish and she
asked students to translate traduce the main vocabulary or the main grammar
structures into Spanish. So, there was not any interaction in the target
language. Also, the teacher only provided a few opportunities for students to
use the target language.
The students worked with a booklet based on “Starters” vocabulary and
grammar structures, they worked with a very nice story but I think that the
teacher did not provide the adequate activities to exploit it in a successful way.
Furthermore, she did not provide any context or an adequate atmosphere or
any pre-reading/while reading activities (As the story was presented I do not
think that it was a context, because the T only asked ss to open their books and
read it). She did not teach the main vocabulary, so when the students were
doing some after-reading activities she only translated the vocabulary as a
strategy to “help” students in order for students to complete the exercises. In
several opportunities, the students asked for my help but I explained to them
that I was just observing the class and that they needed need to ask their
doubts to the English teacher.
I believe that I will have several challenges during my practice, but I feel
confident and ready to face them.
Taller de Práctica Docente.
Asencio Nadia.
MY JOURNAL
Class number: 2 (Observations)
Place: Kurt Godel School.
Unit: Body parts.
Level: Elementary.
Date: 02/06/2014

3. I could notice that the teacher did not greet the students and she
started to handout some candies for them. But they did not understand why
she was giving them some sweets and when they asked her she did not answer.
Later, she started to ask them some questions about the candies, about their
colour and size. However, I could not understand why this activity was included
in the class.
One more time, the disorganization and the lack of order were evident.
Moreover, lots of students were playing with cards, with other peers, talking
about the break and so on. Then, the teacher asked a student to handout the
booklets in order to check an activity but only a few students paid attention to
her and she did not ask for attention either.
Another aspect that made put me very nervous was the way in which the
teacher asked for silence, she only said: “shhh” a lot of times and the students
did not listen to her. I think that there are numerous rhymes or songs to ask
for students’ silence and as teachers have to be more creative and effective
when we have to make decisions regarding, in this case, classroom management.
Moreover, one more time there was lack of context, the activities did not
have any connections at all; there were were not any routines, visual aids or any
closure. So, I realize that my classes will be very different and my main aims
are that students enjoy the English classes and that they get engage in their
own learning process.
Practicum Journals
Taller de Práctica Docente.
Asencio Nadia.
MY JOURNAL 3

4. Class number: 1 (Practice)
Place: Kurt Godel School.
Unit: Body parts.
Level: Elementary.
Date: 04/06/2014
During the class I could notice that this group is respectful and easy to
organize. Moreover, it was very easy to catch ask for their attention with
rhymes and songs, but the most important thing is that students enjoyed saying
and singing them. Moreover, it was nice for me to notice that they were
enjoying the class and that they were motivated with the different activities.
One important aspect to work on is the fact that they are use to speak
speaking in Spanish and not to to not be being so exposed expose to the target
language. So, two students approached me to tell me that they did not do not
know English, and that they did not understand me. I think that they felt
nervous and anxious, because when I asked them to wait and to listen to me one
more time, they could understand me and they completed the exercises in a
successful way.
Furthermore, I have included routines and rhymes to organize them. They
were great! Students were organized the entire class, they put the class in
order, they were concentrated and since they finished all the activities I had
to asked them to complete the homework in class.
I felt happy and very confident after this class! I knew that it was a very
lovely group, and I know that I have the opportunity to do a lot of nice things
with them.
Taller de Práctica Docente.
Asencio Nadia.

5. MY JOURNAL 4
Class number: 2 (Practice)
Place: Kurt Godel School.
Unit: Body parts.
Level: Elementary.
Date: 09/06/2014
As Like the previous class, the group was very easy to organize and to call
ask for their attention. I have included routines (we greet each other, sing a
hello song and a days of the week song; we write the date on the board),
contexts (stories about some robots) for the exercises activities and
connections among them (As we read in the unit 4 from Didactics IV (by Dario
Banegas) a teacher plans a sequence of activities and they should move from
presentation to controlled practice, less controlled practice to free practice.
This sequence will allow students to make connections among the activities and
maintain their attention) It was evident that the context and the visual aids
helped the children to understand the target language, and they were
motivated to use the language to interact.
The fact that I was their teacher last year helps a lot since they already
know the rhymes, songs and routines. And it helps me a lot to know the students
too, since I feel that I can cater cater for/help them in a different way.
The tutor was observing this class and I did not feel so nervous or anxious
like as I was during my practice in kindergarten.
However, the students could not finish all the activities that were planned
for this class, since the first exercise activity took a lot of time. I need to
follow the tutor’s advice in order to manage time better during the class.
Taller de Práctica Docente.
Asencio Nadia.

6. MY JOURNAL 5
Class number: 3 (Practice)
Place: Kurt Godel School.
Unit: Body parts.
Level: Elementary.
Date: 11/06/2014
As usualAs usually, we started the class with the routine and while we
were dancing and singing the “hello” song, some students were playing and I just
stared at them to let them know that they had to get involved have to involve in
the activity that we were doing, not playing with their peers (what I meant was
that I stared at them to let them know that they have to stop playing with
their peers). When the tutor told me about this, I realized that I should move
a little bit more in the classroom in order to manage situations like this one.
We finished activities that we had not been able to could not complete
the previous class and I had a better time management since I applied some
strategies that the tutor told me. (For example, after I explained a certain
activity and check ss’ comprehension I told them the amount of time we had to
complete it) However, I still have to improve a very important aspect which is
giving instructions since some moments when I notice that some students do
not understand some activities. My tutor also told me about this and she
provided me with more strategies. (She told me that I can ask ss some
questions to check their comprehension; we can complete the first exercise all
together as an example)
Another issue was that students love to colour and they wanted to colour
everything and they took a lot of time to do it, so had I have to tell them that
they only had have some minutes to colour and they could finish colouring at
home at their houses.
Moreover, in my opinion this class was not the best one I did not follow my
planning so I did not do the presentation stage so for some students it was

7. difficult to complete a specific activity because I did not activate prior
knowledge. I tried to remember why I did not follow my planning but I do not
know, maybe it was a cause of my nerves.
Taller de Práctica Docente.
Asencio Nadia.
MY JOURNAL 6
Class number: 4 (Practice)
Place: Kurt Godel School.
Unit: Body parts.
Level: Elementary.
Date: 16/06/2014
This was my last class and I knew that I had several aspects to
improve since my last class had not been was not the best one. I had
to take into account time management, giving instructions and to
follow my planning.
It was a very interesting class since I had planned to relate the
vocabulary and grammar structures that were presented the previous
classes with “the world around us”. One of the main aims of the class
was that students be able were able to identify what help helps us
grow and change, and to recognize that we are all similar in the way
we grow up and change, and I believe that the aims were achieved.
(Because ss were involved and interested on the different activities
and they could also understand the main vocabulary/grammar
structures and relate the content with their lives)

8. Moreover, students completed some written activities and a
listening activity. They were quite interested in the exercises
presented and they liked the material presented. We worked with
pictures, photos and flashcards with some funny drawings. (we also
worked with a listening activity and with a game –extra act: simon
says – for them to move and to imitate: baby, adult, etc)
It was a 40 minute class and it was a challenge to finish all the
activities that had been planned were planned and to improve my
teaching skills. I think that I it was able to improve them and I could
enjoy the class. We also played a game and students enjoyed the
class too.