![Dimensions of reflective learning
Thinking Back
The original aim of this project was to go through have the experience of teaching very young
children and learning directly about them: how they behave, how they learn and what they
enjoy. Personally, I really relished that, since I think I learnt a lot inside the classroom with the
kids. I believe this; because I could make sense of all the theory I studied in Ddidactics and put it
into practice.
When I started teaching the lessons, I tried to bear in mind that the children had not been in
contact with the language before. So, I wanted their first experience to be memorable. It was a
challenge for me because I wanted to design activities they could enjoy. I didn´t want them to
feel overwhelmed or boreding. I felt relieved when the feedbacks on my lesson plans were
positive, because I felt I was on the right path. I would have liked to implement more
multimodality and play moments in my lessons, but I found this difficult because of time
limitations.
During this year, especially during the practicum period, I gained theoretical knowledge that I
didn´t know before. For example, I learnt about different approaches to teaching, the
importance of selecting the correct strategies and resources according to the group we lead in
and the importance of teaching in a meaningful context to obtain meaningful learning. All that
knowledge had a significant impact on my intellectual and personal development, helping me
to grow as a teacher- to- be.
Through this experience I learnt that it takes a lot of time and dedication to plan lessons for
very young learners. I also learnt that it is a good idea to plan extra activities in case there is
extra time and that children have a very short attention spam, so to design short but different
activities is a good option.
Thinking forward
This experience will affect my future pedagogical decisions since I have gained knowledge
about how to teach young children. However, I have weak areas and a lot to improve. For
example, if I had the chance to develop this practice again I would improve the way of
Comentario [CZ1]: Planning
meaningful and motivating classes
takes time at any level or age. It is
interesting to read that you made
sense of the theory throughout all the
lessons you taught.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/finalreflection-181126224937/85/Finalreflection-1-320.jpg)
![connecting the moments of the lesson. I would also would look for resources that helped me
avoid using Spanish in the classroom, since I sometimes resorted to the first language.
I think that another weak point is that I was afraid that children would get overexcited and they
misbehaved. Therefore, I tried to plan mechanical lessons, to make sure they behaved well. I
believe that I should definitely should change this and develop my creativity.
This project might influence my future goals in an effective way because I will be able to
change my weak points and to improve my teaching methods.
Thinking Inward
Although I felt stressed most of the times, I believe this was a valuable experience and I
relished it.
I know I have a lot to learn and to improve. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with my performance
and with the way I developed the practice, mainly because the children benefited from the
lessons. I felt that my main weakness was that I found it difficult to connect the different
moments of the lesson and that I had to resort to Spanish to explain the activities. I did that to
make sure they understood.
During the practicum period, I had mixed feelings. I felt tired, overwhelmed and anxious. I also
felt happy when the lesson was good and sad when it was not so good. On the whole, I felt
satisfied because I was able to do it, which seemed impossible at the beginning. I will take into
account all the feedbacks that I received if I have to teach English at kindergarten again.
Thinking outward
One of my viewpoints about the world around me is that there is a tendency to teach English in
an old-fashioned way. It is difficult for the teachers to adapt the methods and strategies to the
current world in which the children are growing.
Nowadays, education has changed a lot and the children we teach are not the same as those
some years ago. They are living in a technological world, so they sometimes find traditional
lessons boring.
In Ddidactics I learnt that creativity is a key aspect to teaching young children, and to
motivating them. But it is also true that creativity requires time. I believe that teachers, who
usually work double shift at schools, do not have enough time to plan their classes in this way.
Comentario [CZ2]: Striking a
balance is necessary, especially in the
case of students who are true
beginners.
Comentario [CZ3]: You did very
well, Vane! Taking into account that
you taught a multi-aged group, and
that it was their first encounter with
the language, planning more
controlled activities helped you and
them gain confidence. I am sure that if
this was your own group, you would
allow for more creative and freer
activities.
Comentario [CZ4]: 😊
Comentario [CZ5]: Good! That is
one of the main purposes of this
course of studies: helping you make
sense of the theory and apply it to
your own teaching contexts.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/finalreflection-181126224937/85/Finalreflection-2-320.jpg)
![Thus, this problem has social and economic implications. Unfortunately teachers in Argentina
have very low salaries, that is why they need to work many hours a day. This, in turn, has a
social impact, since teachers find it really difficult to prepare creative activities for every single
class. It is a domino situation: teachers cannot fulfill their roles effectively because they have to
work long hours to make a living.
Conclusion
To conclude, despite the negative moments , this was a gratifying and fulfilling experience. I am
a learner along the willing path of my learning process. I have learnt a lot during this year, but I
still have more to learn, since we never stop doing so.
Comentario [CZ6]: I do agree with
your viewpoint. Although, if seen from
another perspective, this
multidimensional situation is also
influenced by the fact that many
teachers believe in the ‘traditional
ways’ because they learnt that way.
Still, if you create your materials, then,
as time goes by, you become
resourceful and have plenty of ready-
made activities and plans that may be
implemented or adapted to suit the
needs of different groups.
Comentario [CZ7]: Indeed, Vane! It
has been rewarding to accompany you
during this stage of your teacher
education.
Keep it up!
Ceci](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/finalreflection-181126224937/85/Finalreflection-3-320.jpg)
Finalreflection
- 1. Dimensions of reflective learning Thinking Back The original aim of this project was to go through have the experience of teaching very young children and learning directly about them: how they behave, how they learn and what they enjoy. Personally, I really relished that, since I think I learnt a lot inside the classroom with the kids. I believe this; because I could make sense of all the theory I studied in Ddidactics and put it into practice. When I started teaching the lessons, I tried to bear in mind that the children had not been in contact with the language before. So, I wanted their first experience to be memorable. It was a challenge for me because I wanted to design activities they could enjoy. I didn´t want them to feel overwhelmed or boreding. I felt relieved when the feedbacks on my lesson plans were positive, because I felt I was on the right path. I would have liked to implement more multimodality and play moments in my lessons, but I found this difficult because of time limitations. During this year, especially during the practicum period, I gained theoretical knowledge that I didn´t know before. For example, I learnt about different approaches to teaching, the importance of selecting the correct strategies and resources according to the group we lead in and the importance of teaching in a meaningful context to obtain meaningful learning. All that knowledge had a significant impact on my intellectual and personal development, helping me to grow as a teacher- to- be. Through this experience I learnt that it takes a lot of time and dedication to plan lessons for very young learners. I also learnt that it is a good idea to plan extra activities in case there is extra time and that children have a very short attention spam, so to design short but different activities is a good option. Thinking forward This experience will affect my future pedagogical decisions since I have gained knowledge about how to teach young children. However, I have weak areas and a lot to improve. For example, if I had the chance to develop this practice again I would improve the way of Comentario [CZ1]: Planning meaningful and motivating classes takes time at any level or age. It is interesting to read that you made sense of the theory throughout all the lessons you taught.
- 2. connecting the moments of the lesson. I would also would look for resources that helped me avoid using Spanish in the classroom, since I sometimes resorted to the first language. I think that another weak point is that I was afraid that children would get overexcited and they misbehaved. Therefore, I tried to plan mechanical lessons, to make sure they behaved well. I believe that I should definitely should change this and develop my creativity. This project might influence my future goals in an effective way because I will be able to change my weak points and to improve my teaching methods. Thinking Inward Although I felt stressed most of the times, I believe this was a valuable experience and I relished it. I know I have a lot to learn and to improve. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with my performance and with the way I developed the practice, mainly because the children benefited from the lessons. I felt that my main weakness was that I found it difficult to connect the different moments of the lesson and that I had to resort to Spanish to explain the activities. I did that to make sure they understood. During the practicum period, I had mixed feelings. I felt tired, overwhelmed and anxious. I also felt happy when the lesson was good and sad when it was not so good. On the whole, I felt satisfied because I was able to do it, which seemed impossible at the beginning. I will take into account all the feedbacks that I received if I have to teach English at kindergarten again. Thinking outward One of my viewpoints about the world around me is that there is a tendency to teach English in an old-fashioned way. It is difficult for the teachers to adapt the methods and strategies to the current world in which the children are growing. Nowadays, education has changed a lot and the children we teach are not the same as those some years ago. They are living in a technological world, so they sometimes find traditional lessons boring. In Ddidactics I learnt that creativity is a key aspect to teaching young children, and to motivating them. But it is also true that creativity requires time. I believe that teachers, who usually work double shift at schools, do not have enough time to plan their classes in this way. Comentario [CZ2]: Striking a balance is necessary, especially in the case of students who are true beginners. Comentario [CZ3]: You did very well, Vane! Taking into account that you taught a multi-aged group, and that it was their first encounter with the language, planning more controlled activities helped you and them gain confidence. I am sure that if this was your own group, you would allow for more creative and freer activities. Comentario [CZ4]: 😊 Comentario [CZ5]: Good! That is one of the main purposes of this course of studies: helping you make sense of the theory and apply it to your own teaching contexts.
- 3. Thus, this problem has social and economic implications. Unfortunately teachers in Argentina have very low salaries, that is why they need to work many hours a day. This, in turn, has a social impact, since teachers find it really difficult to prepare creative activities for every single class. It is a domino situation: teachers cannot fulfill their roles effectively because they have to work long hours to make a living. Conclusion To conclude, despite the negative moments , this was a gratifying and fulfilling experience. I am a learner along the willing path of my learning process. I have learnt a lot during this year, but I still have more to learn, since we never stop doing so. Comentario [CZ6]: I do agree with your viewpoint. Although, if seen from another perspective, this multidimensional situation is also influenced by the fact that many teachers believe in the ‘traditional ways’ because they learnt that way. Still, if you create your materials, then, as time goes by, you become resourceful and have plenty of ready- made activities and plans that may be implemented or adapted to suit the needs of different groups. Comentario [CZ7]: Indeed, Vane! It has been rewarding to accompany you during this stage of your teacher education. Keep it up! Ceci