DAILY (FIRST WEEK)

January 20: I observed lessons for my other interns' music class today and

heard them question their students. The lesson started with a discussion about the best

song, which did indeed get the students excited to participate. I noticed that using

multimedia materials did keep students interested, but some of the students were

distracted at times.

January 21: Today, in my observation, I witnessed my co-interns initiate group

exercises that promoted students' collaboration. They began the session with a musical

genre-themed icebreaker that stimulated the class. I noted, however, that some of the

students had difficulty maintaining attention during group exercise, which necessitated

improved behavior management techniques.

January 22: Today in class, I observed a focus on music theory where the

concepts were explained with visual aids by my co-interns. They began with a quick

review of the previous lessons, which allowed the students to connect new information

to already established knowledge. The majority of the students were cooperative, but

some were resistant to participation, and therefore there is a need for greater

encouragement and facilitation.

January 23: I observed today as my fellow interns led a class discussion about

the cultural importance of various music genres. Their co-interns utilized a lot of

enthusiasm in relating students to music by relating to their own lives with music.

Unfortunately, there were a couple of off-task students, and my fellow interns intervened

by bringing their attention back and rewarding good behavior.

using a review game to help reinforce key concepts. They began the class by reviewing

what had been covered throughout the week, which made the students feel as though

they were accomplishing something. I noticed that while the game was captivating,

some of the students required additional support to fully comprehend the lesson.

January 27: To prepare for my first discussion in Grade 7 on the topic of Arts, I

organized my lesson plan and gathered relevant materials to engage the students. I

started the lesson with an interactive introduction, showcasing various art forms to spark

their interest and motivate them to participate. I employed a mix of visual aids and group

discussions, which proved effective in keeping the students engaged and excited about

the subject.

January 28: There was no class today, which provided me with an opportunity to

reflect on my teaching strategies and consider how I can enhance my approach for

future lessons. I took this time to review my lesson plans and think about incorporating

more hands-on activities to foster creativity. I also noted the importance of maintaining a

consistent classroom environment to support student engagement.

January 29: Celebrating Chinese New Year, I encouraged students to share their

cultural experiences and traditions, which helped build a sense of community in the

classroom. I found that this approach motivated students to express themselves and

connect with the lesson on a personal level. Moving forward, I need to focus on creating

more culturally inclusive lessons to engage all students effectively.

assess the students' understanding of the material. I noticed some students struggled

with the quiz, indicating a need for more review and practice opportunities. To improve, I

plan to incorporate more formative assessments and feedback sessions to help

students grasp the concepts better.

January 31: I assigned a drawing/sketching task to encourage creativity and

application of the concepts learned in class. While most students were enthusiastic, a

few exhibited reluctance, which I addressed by providing additional support and

encouragement. For future assignments, I aim to offer more differentiated tasks to cater

to varying skill levels and interests.

February 3: On February 3, I also prepared for my class by watching my co-

interns, and this helped me learn much about their teaching strategies and classroom

management. I began my lesson by explaining the value of teamwork and collaboration,

which encouraged students to participate in the learning process. I realized that

although the observation was helpful, I should concentrate on formulating my own

teaching strategies to have a more interactive classroom in the future.

February 4: On February 4, I kept working on preparations by watching my co-

interns and supporting my facilitator in her activities, which taught me the dynamics of

classroom procedures. I encouraged students by giving them stories they could relate

to, which was relevant to the lesson, so that they could get interested and participate.

Nonetheless, I also faced some difficulty with student attention, which meant that I must

incorporate more vibrant teaching methods in order to sustain their interest.

conduct their discussions and assist my facilitator in checking papers, which gave me a

better insight into methods of assessment. I began the lesson by having students

answer open-ended questions that encouraged critical thinking, which made students

want to participate and give their ideas. I did encounter some behavioral challenges,

and I came to the conclusion that I need to have more explicit expectations and

guidelines so that I can better control classroom behavior.

February 6: I facilitated a fun Frisbee activity on February 6, for which I needed

to prepare ahead by coordinating materials and deciding how to incorporate learning

targets into the activity. I engaged students through a focus on having fun and teamwork

during the activity, and I encouraged participation from them. Though the activity worked

in terms of getting students to participate, there was some off-tasking behavior that

necessitated my reflecting on how to handle transitions more effectively and ensure

sustained attention during activities.

February 7: On February 7, I sat back and pondered the experiences of the

week and reviewed to prepare for my class. I began the lesson by summarizing

important points of the previous days, which motivated students by bridging their

learning journey. I noted that though I employed a number of teaching strategies, I need

to enhance my classroom management skills in order to handle student behavior more

appropriately and have a better learning environment.

February 10: On February 10, I prepared for class by watching my co-interns

and their teaching styles, as well as how they managed participation from the students. I

began my lesson by talking about the theme of friendship, which prompted students to
give their personal experiences and relate to the subject matter. I realized that although

the conversations were active, I have to improve on my way of handling student

participation in order to give everyone an opportunity to contribute.

February 11: February 11th, I further prepared myself by watching my co-interns

and carefully noting their classroom management and interaction. I started my lesson

with a stimulating question on friendship, which generated interest and provoked critical

thinking. Still, I had some difficulties with some off-task students, which confirms that I

need to create more distinct standards for participation in future discussions.

February 12: I observed again my co-interns' use of interactive strategies in

motivating students on February 12 during preparation for my class. I began the lesson

by narrating a personal anecdote on the topic of friendship, and I found this kept the

students engaged and encouraged them to respond freely. Although this approach was

found to work very well, there is room for me to hone my skill for redirecting students'

off-task behavior so as to create and sustain an uninterrupted learning atmosphere.

February 13: On February 13, I supported my cooperating teacher during the

Grade 12 examination, which needed me to prepare beforehand by studying the

examination content and comprehending the examination process. I encouraged

students by reminding them of the essence of friendship in their lives, which assisted in

producing a caring environment for the examination. I observed some students having

difficulty maintaining attention, which revealed the necessity for me to come up with

ways to engage and maintain students' attention during examinations.

reflect on the week's observations and experiences. I thought about the different

teaching approaches I observed and how they might be used in my future lessons. I

noted the need to enhance my classroom management skills and establish my own

teaching style to make my classroom more engaging and effective for my students.

WEEKLY (FIRST WEEK)

This week, I witnessed quality teaching practices in music lessons. Group

activities and group discussions dominated by students created classroom community.

My co-interns, for instance, initiated a musical genre-based icebreaker that energized

the class, while multimedia materials created interest during lessons. Additionally, I

noticed some students had difficulty staying on task during group activities, which

suggested that there is room for better behavior management strategies.

From a content-delivery perspective, my colleagues successfully used visual

media to present music theory concepts, making connections to previous knowledge.

Although most students were willing to participate, others showed resistance to

engagement, suggesting a need for increased encouragement and facilitation. Further,

while my co-interns successfully connected material to students' lives during

discussions regarding the cultural relevance of music, there were students who were

off-task, making timely interventions necessary to bring their attention back on track. To

wrap up the week, a review game was utilized to reinforce major concepts, which was

interactive for the students. Yet, it was realized that some needed extra help to fully

understand the material. If I were to sum up the week in a few words, they would be

"Engagement through Interaction." Generally speaking, although I saw a lot of good

techniques and offer additional assistance for students who can benefit from it.

WEEKLY (SECOND WEEK)

My aim for this week was to familiarize Grade 7 students with the Arts world and

encourage their creativity through lively discussions and activities. The initial discussion

on January 27 was especially successful, with the participation of the students being

very active and sharing their ideas, resulting in a lively classroom environment. I began

the lesson with an interactive introduction that highlighted different forms of art, which

efficiently encouraged the students and created an encouraging atmosphere for class. I

came to understand that although the interactive session was effective, I could have

included more disciplined review sessions to reinforce learning, particularly prior to the

January 30 quiz.

The quiz showed that some students were having trouble with the material, so

they were in need of additional formative assessments as well as feedback activities. I

also gave a drawing/sketching assignment on January 31 to spur creativity and

application of class concepts. Most students were receptive, but some showed

resistance, which I remedied by offering additional support and encouragement. If I had

to choose a phrase for this week, it would be "Cultivating Creativity," because I was

working on getting students to express themselves creatively. In the future, I must make

sure to assign varied work that suits a variety of learning styles and skills and include

more cultural aspects in order to relate and include lessons. Overall, this week was a

worthwhile experience, and I hope to take these lessons further in the future to increase

student interest and understanding of the Arts.

During Week 4, my goal was to enhance teaching skills by observing and playing

an active role in life within the classroom. I found that observing the co-interns and

assisting my facilitator were highly effective, as they provided me with first-hand

experience of good teaching and classroom management practice. The February 6

Frisbee activity was enjoyed especially by the students, as it promoted teamwork and

engagement. However, I struggled with student behavior and attention, and hence, I

must work to produce more active instruction and clearer expectations to sustain

engagement. In addition, although I gained experience in the area of evaluation by

assisting in grading papers, I understood that I need to work on developing well-planned

lessons that include active components. If I were to choose a motto for this week, it

would be "Learning through observation and collaboration" because I learned a lot of

valuable lessons from my peers and facilitators. In the future, I will apply the strategies

that I witnessed as well as enhance my classroom management skills to ensure that the

learning process becomes more efficient. Overall, this week has been a milestone

towards my growth as a teacher, and I hope to use these lessons in the days ahead.

WEEKLY (WEEK 4)

During Week 5, my goal was to enhance my observation skills and learn effective

teaching methods from my fellow co-interns while participating actively in class

activities. My observation of my fellow co-interns during the week was particularly

helpful, as I learned valuable information regarding their teaching strategies and how

they engaged students in discussions about friendship and other pertinent issues. The

personal stories and interactive conversations that they employed were highly effective
in maintaining students' interest and promoting good classroom rapport. However, I

noticed that I need to improve my classroom management, especially when

administering group activities and exams, because there were instances when students

struggled to remain focused.

In addition, while assisting my cooperating teacher during the Grade 12

examination, I came to appreciate the importance of creating an organized environment

that minimizes distractions. Were I to pick a quote for this week, it would be "Learning

through observation and reflection," as I sat down to analyze what I observed and how I

can apply those lessons to my own teaching in the future. In the future, I will continue to

include more interactive elements within my lessons and have more clear expectations

for behavior in order to build a more respectful and engaging classroom. This week was

a turning point in my professional development in that it provided me with the insightful

understanding that I am excited to take with me in the future and implement with my

own teaching. I look forward to continuing this journey of learning and development in

the weeks ahead.