Observations

So last week I started my observations and interviews. My first observation was a year 13 Chemistry class. I found when I first started watching that I was more engrossed with the subject as I haven't done a Chemistry class in 17 years. I was quite engaged learning about 'Global Warming'!! My main observation was how certain students were extremely vocal in question and answers and for others it was like the teacher was 'pulling teeth'! This surprised me due to the Academic setting I work in and the fact these students are only weeks away from their final exams. I was also expecting the less vocal students to become more active in the practical element of the class but again this didn't happen. Possibly just a bad day for one students in particular?? My pre conceived ideas about how the students would behave were not matched with reality. These are subjects the students have chosen to take and are old enough to realise how important these last few weeks are for embedding knowledge but that didn't seem to phase some students.

On a completely different note I observed a year 6 drama class. This was focussed, energized and all the students seemed to benefit from the lesson. Within the first 10 minutes as students were split from their friendship groups and into working groups you immediately recognised the leaders and followers. Some of the naturally quieter students seemed comfortable taking that back seat role and you could instantly see who preferred to instigate their own ideas. After a conversation with Tom yesterday about hierarchy it makes you wonder is this a natural evolution of a group of peers forced into working together - will we always have leaders and followers or could we work together with equal imput and ideas??? Food for thought!! This class was a very creative lesson with audio stimulus for a theme they were working on. I thought the class structure worked well and the time allowed for sections a good length for a natural creative process to happen.

I have one more observation to do with a year 1 teacher. In 3 weeks time which again will give me a different angle on how to approach lessons.

Module 3 - A rocky start

So Module 3 started well with me having half term from work - a great first week to gather my thoughts and think about the 12 weeks ahead. I started planning a timeline of activities and tried to think about fitting in the work around our massive production which takes place this coming weekend! A newly choreographed 2 hour production of 'The lion, the witch & the wardrobe'.
I was feeling VERY positive and ready to start my inquiry - THEN BOOM i started becoming ill!! I ended up in hospital with suspected viral meningitis and then spent most of my days just sleeping to try to get better. I am feeling a lot more 'with it' now however I am certainly not back to my usual self yet. So here I am starting Module 3 AGAIN 3 weeks late - I never make it easy for myself hahaha!!

Whilst being ill I have managed to set up 2 of my observations and interviews with my colleagues at school for next week. I am quite excited to see how non arts subjects can be taught creatively and had such a warm response to asking to observe their lessons. I am still waiting to arrange my third observation so I may have to change subject/teacher depending on her availability. I have also got my consent form ready to send out to the parents of my focus group - I am hoping they will want to take part and I feel some of the students will benefit from discussing the Arts Award project they have been working on.

Time to start looking through the SIG's to get me back on track!!!