Review For Semester 1

I thought it would be apprporiate to conduct a reflection on the overall outcomes for semester one.

Firstly, I feel I have come a long way since we started in September. I remember being nervous about speaking in front of the class and specifically getting anxious about the 5 minute talk and also the micro teach. It is positive for me now to chuckle about this, especially the five minute talk! The University has helped a lot with this, I feel, effectively pointing guns to our heads to make sure we are used to presenting to each other in the class room. I made a point early on to become used to presenting and keep putting myself in an uncomfortable situation in this aspect. This has been achieved and I think some of the class members are getting annoyed with seeing me stand up and waffle on lesson after lesson! A further assistance to the learning process has been of the supportive framework that has been created by the group itself. It is very nice to be part of a group where opinions can be shared and help be sought whenever it is needed. This will be cruicial during observations and the next two assignments.

The teaching practice is getting more and more enjoyable by the day. I remember Jan saying that the teaching tiself was the fun part and everything else can become a pain in the backside. I can really relate to this now and find that when I am in the classroom and the lesson starts I "buzz" from the whole event. My personality is coming out more and more to the students and they are responding to me in a positive way. The planning is difficult, still, but I have put in place mechanisms to catch up with this; I get to my placement an hour early each day and leave an hour later than my last lecture. This gives me 6 hours extra planning during the week and doesn't affect my personal life. I am able to switch off (well nearly) when I get home and relax easier. A by-product of this is that the other full time members of staff get to see me in work extra early and can only be beneficial if a full time post was to arise in May.

I am looking forward to the next semester, especially the e-learning assignment, as I am looking to use my prospective project regularly in my lesson planning. I feel I am progressing strongly within my teaching practice.

Thanks

Lloyd