Reflection- Week of March 8

Emily Ann Toews

1. What was my biggest challenge this week?

There were a couple of challenges that I have encountered over this week.
The first, funny enough, was in regard to reflection after each lesson. Because I am
teaching back to back classes with only a few times for prep or break, it has been quite difficult
to find time to reflect after each lesson on the things that happened. I could take time during my
observational classes to reflect, but I truly believe that the moments that I am observing I need
to be engaged and ready to help when needed- that it is not a passive observation but an active
observation. So finding time that I can reflect has been proving to be very difficult. I try to reflect
at the end of the day, but I have found that at the end, I have already taught 7 or more periods
and I can’t remember what happened in each class I taught.
The second was remembering which lesson was taught to which class. The schedule is
a little weird where I teach lesson one to a different grade 4/5 class every day. So for example,
with one class on Wednesday I am teaching my third and final lesson for that week, and right
after it, I am teaching the very first lesson to a different class of 4/5s. It is confusing
remembering where each class is and then assessing based on it.
The third and final was remembering that as much as ukulele is a difficult and technical
instrument to learn, that this is still music class and you want the kids to be playing as much as
possible. Often I want to talk a lot and explain each part- but I don’t have them play until they
are getting the concept. I need to remember that part of music class is also the exploration of
instruments as well.
2. Why was this a challenge to me?
The first:
I talked about this in the challenges section, but I found that I didn’t have a whole lot of
time between classes and observations to actually reflect. I always took a mental note of how I
could make the lesson better the next time that I taught it, but I never had time to sit down and
actually reflect during school- and then when I got home I could not remember what had
happened in each class.
The second:
I think the challenge was mainly in my preparation. I took note that this was what the
schedule was like, but I did not actively plan for it. So when it got to teaching different lessons
for each class, it got a little complicated. I think this week it will be better because I actually
know that this is the case- and I think that actually taking time to reflect after each lesson will
really help because that way I know exactly what I taught last class.
The third:
I learned the ukulele and guitar in a very technical way! I learned by myself and I learned
through lots of technical things. So now teaching the ukulele, it is very hard not to get technical
with the kids and to let them just explore! Also each child is at a different level and needs a
different explanation for understanding and so it makes it very difficult to add in extra “musical
exploration” things.
3. What goal can I set to improve my performance when meeting this particular sort of
challenge during the rest of the practicum?
The first:
I could potentially try to end classes 5 minutes early so that I have a little bit of time to
just jot down a few notes before the next class comes in. I will also talk to my TA about taking
the first part of my observation classes to reflect. I don’t know if this would work, but maybe
voice recording my lessons and going back over them every evening might work as well? I will
try the first two and if they don’t work, I might take a look into doing this.
The second:
My goal is to set up a system for knowing where I am in the teaching process. I am going
to try to write on a sticky note where each class is and put it on my binder so that I can quickly
look- and that way I know that even if they are, for example, on lesson two, that they didn’t learn
something in lesson one and will need to have a review.
The third:
My goal is to allow for more meaningful musical activities to teach my students. I want
them playing more and me talking less. I will ask to observe my TA more to see what she does,
and I will ask my UC and consult my colleagues for information. I will also look at sources online
and from the Curriculum Library to see if there is something I can add to make my teaching
more fun and engaging.

4. How will I know that this goal has been effective?

The first:
I will actually be able to reflect after each class and I will have some solid reflective
evidence for when I am planning my lessons later that week.
The second:
I will know exactly where each class is at in their learning and be able to show exactly
what each class as learned through a fairly in-depth paper trail.
The third​:
I will be talking less and the students will be engaging in their music more. Each
movement will be meaningful and musical.