Relay Graduate School of Education - Admission/Application Essay Example

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Teacher Observed: Frank Corcoran Subject Observed: __________________________________________________ Teaching What types of questions are teachers asking to hold students accountable for participation? Teacher Frank asks questions that are direct to the topic that he is teaching. Compared to Teacher. In contrast, Teacher Yasmin Vargas engages the students in a song to make them memorize what she is teaching.

The students take part during the whole class by singing; this ensures that no student is left behind or sleeps. What types of questions are teachers asking to push students to think critically? He asks questions which are related to the topic. The questions help the students think outside the box and is critical in solving the problem What strategies are teachers using to promote vocabulary development? Teacher Frank introduces the trigonometric terms in such a way that the students get to know them before they even understand what they mean.

For example, during the “math-kwaendo”, he makes use of the terms SOH-CAH-TOA in a playful manner. In the end, the students are able to memorize the word with lots of ease. What can you take away from your observations of Teaching for implementation in your own classroom? The introduction of a topic from a completely “irrelevant” angle is important and I will adopt the technique in my classroom. The way Teacher Frank introduces trigonometry is helps the students mind settle well when he uses the math-kwaendo.

He then slowly navigates back to the main topic when the he has the students’s maximum attention J-Factor (The “Joy Factor”) How did these teachers effectively blend joy and academic rigor? By introducing different methods that are participatory to the students, the teachers make the students feel part of the class and seem to enjoy it. The students ask and answer the questions and take part in some dances and songs, with most of them taking a major role in them; Teacher Julie Jackson gives the students major roles during the introduction and closing of her meeting.

What songs, chants, rituals, and routines did these teachers use? Teacher Frank rarely uses songs or chants in his lecture. He preferred engaging the students in skits that are related to the topic. However, Teacher Julie has adopted a method to appreciate the kids when they get a question right; the student is applauded by his/her classmates. Moreover, she uses a song to help the kids memorize the name of the continents. What techniques did these teachers use to keep students engaged during lessons?

Teacher Frank has the whole class engaged throughout. He starts by the “Math-kwaendo” and he encourages questions from the students. At the ends, he gives the students a real example on the application of trigonometry. In contrast, Teacher John Negron uses a more practical approach in his teaching of multiplication; he compares multiplication to wrestling (something which the children can visualize easily). What can you take away from your observations of J-Factor for implementation in your own classroom?

The way the different teachers engage the students during the lessons is amazing. I will incorporate songs because they are easy for the students to memorize them and the students seem to enjoy them. Moreover, the way the teachers use routines; including Frank and Yasmine is fun for the students and I will definitely use such methods in my classroom.