What an awesome time with this class!
Things that worked:
My calmness and kindness, was appreciated and noticed by the students and the classroom aid. The style of interaction we achieved as a group had much appeal to the quieter students, and more difficult students became more settled as they came to realise I cared for them, and probably that they were safe. I am aware that while my calm and respectful classroom management style is usually effective, I need to couple this with strictness when needed. Fantasitc to have won over the kids so quickly (I knew all of them by name), and it was great to have a principal so impressed with my approach and work. His talk to the kids on effort leading to a sense of pride was pretty inspiring.
I am very strong in teaching material that is of personal interest to me (science and environmental topics) and am much stronger with teaching writing than I give myself credit for, I just need to keep things confident and natural when teaching texts.
Overall amazing to achieve such success in just three days, relief is a wonderful testing ground. My behavour management is still improving (I need to remember to keep students seated during structured lessons) but a good balance was achieved. Critical to provide breaks and short games as I did to make being at school more appealing.
Things that worked:
My calmness and kindness, was appreciated and noticed by the students and the classroom aid. The style of interaction we achieved as a group had much appeal to the quieter students, and more difficult students became more settled as they came to realise I cared for them, and probably that they were safe. I am aware that while my calm and respectful classroom management style is usually effective, I need to couple this with strictness when needed. Fantasitc to have won over the kids so quickly (I knew all of them by name), and it was great to have a principal so impressed with my approach and work. His talk to the kids on effort leading to a sense of pride was pretty inspiring.
I am very strong in teaching material that is of personal interest to me (science and environmental topics) and am much stronger with teaching writing than I give myself credit for, I just need to keep things confident and natural when teaching texts.
Overall amazing to achieve such success in just three days, relief is a wonderful testing ground. My behavour management is still improving (I need to remember to keep students seated during structured lessons) but a good balance was achieved. Critical to provide breaks and short games as I did to make being at school more appealing.