Therese Nicolyne L.

Salido March 23, 2022

BECED - 4 Ma’am Mia Ajo

CERAE Reflection Paper (Week 3)

It is now my third week of observation and the primary objective I have of this week was
to observe how my cooperating teacher handles the subject mathematics to his kinder
students. And that’s because in my incoming demo teaching schedule, I would also be
handling this subject and this would be the very first time that the kids would be
witnessing how I teach. I was quite nervous thinking about how my performance would
go once I’d take the actual role of a kindergarten teacher. However, my cooperating
teacher assured me that everything is going to be alright because he’s always there to
give me tips on what are functional and effective things to do in order to have a smooth
facilitation of this subject considering that there are also quite a number of students in
the virtual room.

He’s also aware that my previous experience as a teacher intern in Xavier University
Grade School - Ateneo de Cagayan has permitted me to handle nine kids in total which
creates a gap on the number of kinder students I am going to handle in ADMU.
Personally, I consider this as one of the reasons why I get anxious, sometimes, thinking
if I could manage to handle such things since the set-up from both schools are very
different and I am still adjusting to it. But I guess these are what makes the role of a
teacher challenging and fulfilling; we always get to experience something new which
allows us to step out of our comfort zone. That’s why I take all my constant worries into
action so that I won’t have to dwell on it longer in my head. Apart from completing the
tasks assigned by my cooperating teacher, I make sure to allot time to practice
facilitating my actual demo teaching soon.

Every now and then, during their synchronous sessions, I make sure to write down tips
on how to better my presentation. One of which is the structuring of my slides. I really
love how my cooperating teacher delivers his presentation. He didn’t need to be extra
when it comes to his presentation, the content is there, and it also accomplished its
objective to guide students in the learning process. Each slide was really functional that
it led every student to share their own insights in class. The students’ participation was
really consistent for the following days that I got to observe them during their
synchronous sessions. From that, I vowed to myself that I would also be using the same
technique in creating my slides.

Another observation I had during the third week was that my cooperating teacher was
very good in handling his classroom management techniques. Actually, this does not
only apply to the third week since I have always observed how consistent he is in
disciplining the class from the very first day I entered into their virtual classroom.
Instances where a student would unmute his mic to shout, and blabber unnecessary
stuff was really inevitable especially when you are in a pre-k classroom. However, with
my cooperating teacher’s way of disciplining his class. He was clear with his classroom
expectations and rules. When situations like this arise, he makes sure to address the
challenging behavior in a way that the student would know how it’s not helping him nor
his fellow classmates who are also immersed with their teacher’s discussion. He is very
direct with what he wants his students to do before, during and after his classroom
sessions. In this way, the child knows what are his limitations and appropriate behaviors
which would make the people around him happy, most especially to his teachers and
his fellow classmates. I really admire how my cooperating teacher instills this kind of
mindset to his learners. Based on that technique, the students have slowly developed
the initiative to identify which of their actions contributes to the organization of their
classroom.

The most important thing a teacher can do for his or her students is to manage the
classroom. The goal of classroom management is to keep things running well in the
classroom. When a classroom is well-managed, it produces an environment in which
kids are focused and a pleasant atmosphere exists, allowing for classroom
improvement. The first day your pupils walk into your classroom, you should begin
managing them. When the classroom is managed it ensures that the students and you
are on the same page. It is difficult for a teacher to restore control of their classroom
once they have lost it. There should be structure, student interaction, and the instructor
should remain cool and attempt different teaching techniques in order to have a
successful and well-managed classroom.

Structure should be present in every classroom. Structure is the bedrock of every

classroom, and children respond well to it. It not only provides a safe environment for
pupils, but it also aids their capacity to excel in the classroom. In a classroom, the
purpose of structure is to boost productivity and learning. Setting expectations in the
classroom is a good place to start. This can be accomplished by having a clear
understanding of the class regulations on the first day of class. Students should be
aware of what is and is not permitted. Establishing a class habit can help you achieve
this. A classroom routine, according to Dr. Fred Jones, author of Tools For Teaching
(2007), is just a well-rehearsed reaction to a teacher's direction. Off-task behavior is
reduced as a result of this. When you have holes in your schedule, stress enters the
classroom, and you end up spending the majority of your time redirecting pupils. "A wise
teacher understands that devoting time to processes early in the semester saves time
and effort later on." "Prevention is always less expensive than cure" (Jones). By
redirecting all pupils who are off task, you will be able to keep them on track. When
redirecting, you must first decide on the course of action you wish to pursue and then
carry it through. When students know what is expected of them, they have a clear
knowledge of the classroom structure, the classroom is well-managed, and everyone
has an opportunity to learn.

In order to manage a classroom, students must be involved. Students are more

attentive and ready to learn when they are involved in the classroom. They are capable
of dealing with difficulties in the classroom. Students will be more engaged if they work
together on group projects. Students grading each other's papers is an excellent
method to get them involved. Student participation is an excellent approach for the
teacher to receive feedback. It allows for a better knowledge of who contributes and
who does not in the classroom. Creating a student government in the classroom can be
really beneficial when it comes to receiving input.