ASSISTING & TEACHING WEEKS : SHOW TIME!

At the weeks of assisting, I accompanied my friend, Gelo, in English for primary. In teaching Math, I was so lucky that I can choose the topics as I want.  I chose Pythagorean Theorem as my choice.

It’s different when I have to prepare my lesson plan of English and Math. In preparing English one, I need to focus on what the Grade 6 students interest in. They are in their teenage so there will be a possibility they will get bored if I teach in primary style or confused if I use secondary style. According to my observation, they also not really understand English well that it’s a challenge for me. I prepared my lesson plan in primary style, but in action I asked them to be independent so they saw me that I believe them as an adult, not a child—typical of teenager.

In preparing Math one, I had different challenge because I’m in condition when I taught Math and English a the same time. Thai people are not used to listen or speak English. I was afraid there would be so many terms of math in English they feel strange to. So I divided my 60 minutes of teaching into 5-25-25-5 : 5 minutes introduction, 25 minutes explaining, 25 minutes exercise, and last 5 minutes to submit the exercise and closing. Nothing wrong happened in introduction, but in explaination I have to point one by one what is what; c² should be pointed, c as c and 2 as squared. It was little bit tired of teaching this way because it took so much time, but gave me a satisfied result. The students might not speak much because it’s English class, but they sure could answer my spontan questions and exercise. 

Teaching demonstration by using Geogebra

Teaching demonstration by using concrete media

Spontaneous question for student

 

Assoc. Prof. Gobkul (sitting) and Mrs. Nongnak Komon (standing)

As I taught 3 sections of Grade 8, I knew then the reason of Thai not adding learning method in the lesson plan. I might be used the same way of teaching, but unconsciously using different approaches.

Measurement and evaluation I used in Thai is based on Thai’s education book used by all teacher training there. It’s consist of several criterias based on expected outcomes the teacher wants to evaluate. What is unique in Thai’s lesson plan is that they have reflection which contains achievements of students, problems found at teaching, and suggestions for the next meeting. Assessment and evaluation was done by following the content of materials and advices from the teachers and the other teacher trainings.