Day 6

It’s the final day of the a day a week pracs. I asked to come on Monday, just to see how the class operates on a different day. I finished off the artwork from last week. The students had to cut out pictures of food and make a collage on their painting. Like any craft lesson it can get a little messy. Some students stuck two pictures on and said they were finished. They had to be encouraged to fill up all the spaces. The end product was pretty impressive for my first art lesson, though the paint should be watered down more.

There was one incident that really tested my behavioural management skills. One student took another student’s cut out and took ownership of it, when he finally gave it back he just tossed it at the student. I asked him many times to do it properly, becoming firmer each time. I needed to let him know that his behaviour is tolerated neither by his classroom teacher nor by me.

It is important to know how students behave so you can deal with them appropriately when they misbehave, as different strategies are required when dealing with different students.

Day 5

Since it's Catholic School's Week my class has not been getting a lot of work done. As I mentioned before, there are many disruptions that will affect the class timetable.

I taught my first lesson today. Though it was chaotic, but overall, it went well - or so my colleague teacher say. I had two stations, one for drawing and the other was for painting. I felt it was difficult to keep an eye on both groups, but I guess it will come with experience. I think I can improve on my management strategies. I handed out two pieces of paper at the beginning of the lesson - one for tracing a plate, the other for drawing patterns for the tablecloth. I thought it would be an efficient way of doing things, but forgot they were only little. Some students were confused as to which paper to use. My colleague teacher suggested, in future, I should split class in half, one group do tracing, the other drawing the patterns, thus minimising the confusion.

We also went to the local pizzeria for an excursion. The class is doing a unit called 'necessities in life', my colleague teacher discussed with the class beforehand of the restaurants they can 'open' in class, it came down to a pizza shop. It is a good experience for the students to visit the pizzeria and asks questions. We also had a few slices of pizza!

All the students were very well behaved. This brings out the management skills my colleague teacher has and how the students respect her by listening to her and be on their best behaviour. I later asked if the class will still go on an excursion if I wasn't there and she responded, "I'll ask a parent to come with us, we can't go by ourselves just in case something goes wrong" by involving the parent, we can mark off Element 7.2.3 Provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to be involved in the teaching program where appropriate of the NSW Institute of Teachers' Professional Teaching Standards.