Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum
Date : 23 February 2017
Observations/ Account
(What Happened?)
1. In the morning, a student asked me why I
came, and then he continued, saying, Teach
us again, Pak! In the afternoon, some girls
asked the exact same question and said,
Teach us again, Pak! I smiled responding to
them.
2. In a language class, a few students were
talking among themselves and did not pay
attention to the teacher. I was not sure if the
teacher did not notice, or the teacher noticed
but allowed that to happen. This is the same
teacher whom I considered less effective since
the first day I observed her.
3. While students were working on their
exhibition plan, the teacher (my cooperating
teacher) reminded the students that they
should remember to take a picture of
themselves working. A few moments later, a
student asked the teacher if he could take a
picture for them. Responding to this, the
teacher cleverly answered, I cannot because it
means that you are making me do your work.
Besides, it will cost thirty dollars per hour.
4. After giving appreciation letters to my
cooperating teacher and to all the students, one
of my students said to me You gave me NYE
in one of the criteria in the rubric, Pak! She
complained because I wrote a compliment for
her well-written essay. Then I asked her, Why
do you think I gave you NYE? She said, It is
because I did not write what I think and what I
feel about my nanny. I replied, You should
have I gave everyone the rubric right? She
gave no answer.
Name : Jeremia Alexander
Reflections & Critical Response
(What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does
this connect to the theory I have read from class?)
1. I was discouraged and thought that everyone did
not care about my presence. It was only some boys
who talked to me. Yet, I gained my enthusiasm back
in the afternoon because some girls asked me to
teach them again. I hope this is a sign that I have
become a blessing for them, not a burden.
2. I am not sure if I should think that she is a less
effective teacher. Probably I should change my
criteria for an effective teacher. What if she is
actually creating a safe environment for student
learning to promote student achievement? From the
article What Makes Effective Teachers Effective I
just read in Instructional Alignment 2, the authors
imply that student achievement is an indicator that
the practices of the teacher are effective. To say if a
teacher is effective, I think I should look at not only
student behavior in the class but also student
achievement.
3. I would be confused how to respond if a student
were to ask me. Today I learn from my cooperating
teacher that sometimes I need to reason with our
students. I should not ignore the question of my
students. Yet, I also should not say, How do you
think can I help you? because it will add extra
work to mine. The way my cooperating teacher
responded to students silly question is exemplary,
especially when he adds a joke to his respond.
4. Today I had a chance to practice how to respond
to students question or complaint. After reasoning
with the student, I realized that I am not just a
person, but I am a teacher in this class. It means that
I have an authority that the students respect. I was
not sure I really had this authority until my teaching
practicum is done.