Day 2

d2

The first thing I noticed today was the assembly because it was different than what I experienced in other public schools. In each semester, I can’t see the point of asking children to stand for 30 minutes in usually bad weather and listen to something with lack of interest. However, in Al-Qimma school the assembly was in small groups in different places instead of the whole school in one place. To exemplify, four sections of grade three are attending the assembly in the small hall between their classes, and it only took 15 minutes. In my opinion, this is an excellent way because it is more practical for teachers, interesting for children and it avoids what other schools faces such as wasting time and misbehavior.

In the first class, students had a science test about the rhino where they required to write a short description, and details about home and food. My MST explained that she conducted many assessments as evidence for the term report. I attended all the classes, and I engaged myself with students by walking between groups and aided students. Through classes, my monitor school teacher arranged students in heterogeneous groups in all subjects. Also, my MST used students’ books in each period where she explained the context, asked questions and wrote on the board. On the other hand, students are required to listen, offered answers and fill their books by copying answers from the interactive board.

When I thought about this style of teaching, I felt it is not interesting enough for learners, and personally, I prefer experiential education instead of traditional teaching. However, I understand that the teacher constrained by the new basic guidelines from ADEC where she should use books and cover many concepts in a short duration. In my opinion, the initial priority should be for students’ engagement because at the end what matter is the learner progress regardless of rigid rules. Today, I felt sad when a high-level student told me: “I’m bored because all what I do is writing and writing” and I replied in my mind: “I’m bored too”.

At the end of the day, a girl gave me sweets, and I felt happy even I don’t eat sweets, but a nice action completely changed my bored mood. After we took students to the bus area, I had a chance to asked questions and get feedback from my MST about the first lesson plan that I sent to her last night. I’m looking forward to preparing myself for the first teaching session on Wednesday.