Miss Turner's reflections

Monday 28th June

2010-06-29T00:34:00.000-07:00

Period 1
Coordinates and symmetry with 2X4.
I gave the pupils a sheet with the negative coordinates marked on (half of a face) and using symmetry they were to complete the face. Once this was done, they were to colour it in in the colours of one of the flags of the countries competing in the world cup.
The lesson worked well with the boys being able to talk about the teams and matches and the girls being meticulous with their drawing and colouring in.

Period 3
Cover first half of S3 Maths.
In pairs they were to work through UKMT Junior Challenge questions. Interesting to see that despite complaining about having to work they were all engaged.

Period 4
Project presentations with 1Y2.
Disappointing given the time they had to prepare but with some teams clearly having done more research than others. Presentation skills will be something to work on next year so I must come up with opportunities for them to do so.

Period 5
Algebra review with 2Y1.
The class were unsettled as usual, being straight after lunch, and they were not happy about doing 'actual work' either. Despite grumbling some work did start to happen giving me the opportunity to sort out end of year returns etc but they were very noisy and unsettled. Fire alarm then went off effectively killing the lesson. They returned for ten minutes but nothing was done.

Organised 2Y1 homework booklets
Put in order to top up homework booklets
Organised 4E2 textbooks and homework booklets

Thursday 24th June

2010-06-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

Period 1
Project presentations with 1Y2.
Presentations not ready from any of the students so did some sudoku and kenken instead. I need to ensure next lesson I have a backup lesson in case the presentations are still not ready.

Period 2
Observed seniors with p7s.
It was nice to see the sneiours enjoying spending time with the new S1s. I particularly liked the 'fruit salad' game where different people were given a different fruit and then different fruit names were called out to encourage students to move within the group. When fruit salad is called out, all students move seats.

Period 3
Line symmetry with 2X4.
Powerpoint and worksheets were all ready and some students really enjoyed drawing in the lines of symmetry. Several struggled to see where the lines would be and in future lessons with them I think they would benefit from having tracing paper. They could draw a line where they thought there was a line of symmetry, trace over half the shape and then flip the tracing paper over to see if it fits exactly.

Period 5
Presentations with 2Y1.
Several of the students had not given their presentations in their lesson on Wednesday and so they were to be fitted in in today's lesson. The results were disappointing to say the least and it was upsetting that a top set couldn't get together and deliver good presentations on the topic researched.

Period 6
Primary 7s relay race.
Really nice lesson where the p7s were split into classes and then each class split into two teams. One member of each team then stood at the far end of the corridor (in this case, a senior) and then students had to run to this person to get each question. It worked really well, the p7s enjoyed it and it was lovely to see the seniors enjoying themselves too.

Organised 2X4 textbooks
Organised 1Y2 textbooks and homework booklets
Organised 2Y1 textbooks
Completed CfE Maths eprofile spreadsheet

Wednesday 23rd June

2010-06-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

Supply/long term cover.

Period 4
2AB5 solving two step equations.
Worked well and they benefitted from the second hour of doing these. Those who were able finished the exercise and those who were struggling a little at the beginning of the lesson seemed to get the hang of it by the end.

Period 5
Primary 7 - 1e.
Nice lesson on codebreaking. Would have benefitted from a formal starter on times tables and pairs of factors.

Period 6
4AB5 - coordinate picture drawing.
End of the day so as little enthusiasm as always. Also struck by their lack of understanding with coordinates in four quadrants.

Tuesday 22nd June

2010-06-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

Period 1
1R1 tutor group. Ran getting to know you game - fill in sheet and then get each pupil to introduce someone else and one fact about them. Group split into two - one half doing tour, the other half talking about worries and things they are looking forward to. Many looking foward to making new friends and science seems to be popular. Many not looking forward to Maths or French. Must look into details about any learning support needs or other needs - particularly for B.

Period 2
Expanding double brackets with 2Y1.
Surprisingly good lesson with class - a few absentees meaning that almost all the class were engaged and learnt how to use FOIL. Happy with how the lesson went though not sure whether to give them one more lesson on this or attempt something else. They seem to focus only when it is new material and although practice is always needed, I will need to think carefully about how to present it as new/different material.

Period 3
Science cover, 2nd half.

Period 4
Private Study S6 group. Most away being guides for P7s so the 6 I had sat and played Big Brain Academy board game.

Period 5
Famous Mathematicians with 2X4.
Another surprisingly good lesson. RL worked extremely well proving again that he can do it when he wants and more importantly, when he's isolated. It seems in the library environment, where seniors are working too, he is able to blend in and almost feels working is acceptable.
The structural worksheets were particularly effective and the wordsearches were a good way of breaking up the research task.

Period 6
Calendar project with 1Y2.
Research in library. Some good work taking place by most groups. I am looking forward to seeing the presentations on Thursday.

Also found out that I am staying on next year. Yey!

P7 visit

2010-06-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

The primary 7s are in for the next three days so I will be meeting my new tutor group tomorrow morning. We have them for the first period.
The following are some ideas for activities I may do with them:

1) Grow! http://www.eyezmaze.com/grow/RPG/ Pick different kids to come up to the board and have a go, rest to offer suggestions / remember the order

2) Scattegories (called 'Stop the Bus' by kids at my previous school) in teams of 4/5 - put a big list (15)of categories up on board e.g. 1) girls name 2) band 3) kitchen tool 4) multinational organisation 5) politician etc. Pick a letter at random. Teams have to come up with a word beginning with that letter for each category. Can either run it timed (2/3 mins per round) or first team who thinks they've got something for every category shouts "Stop the Bus" and everyone has to stop. Then go round and check answers from each team - 1 point per original answer, if any two or more teams have the same answer, neither gets any points for it, bonus points for multiple word answers beginning with the letter e.g. David Davies, Wet Wet Wet

3) The 'web' game. You need: String (lots of it) Bells Furniture or trees if outside Set up: Weave a web of string from one solid place to another - much like a spider... Make sure you tie the string in between each strand so it can be moved to make smaller or bigger holes later. Aim of team building excercise: For the whole team to get through the web without waking the spider (the bells can chime up to three times before they are 'caught') The team can use any means to get themselves through the web. Adjustments: I have found that moving the web after a bell ring not only changes the shape of it (sometimes forcing them physically lift each other over!) but also keeps them from just following each other through.

4) Questions to the whole class always work as conversation starters. My best one to date..."tell the rest of the class about something you've done that you think no-one else in this class has done".

Ideas taken from
http://community.tes.co.uk/forums/t/236470.aspx?PageIndex=1

5) How big is your brain? MyMaths.co.uk

6) An idea from
http://www.teachingexpertise.com/e-bulletins/developing-effective-participators-using-world-cafe-8689
The idea of talking about issues important to them and on their mind as they come into high school could maybe be adapted from this model.

I also encountered some good assembly ideas at this website
http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/category-cruncher-656
in case we choose/are asked to prepare anything next year.

I am hoping that these activities will bring the group a little close together, as a tutor group in high school. I am particularly aware that there will already be small groups of friends based around what primary school they are coming from and would like to break those barriers down and create one uniform, open and friendly tutor group.
I feel it is particularly important to have a successful couple of days with them in order to develop an open and trusting relationship with each pupil, which will be important to them at the beginning of this new stage of their life.

Self reflection blogging

2010-06-21T06:37:00.000-07:00

This is where I will attempt to reflect on each day at work. I think this is an important process to go through in order to improve my teaching practice.