Weekly Journal

(Week 1)
19/02/17 22/02/17
On my first week in Victoria English School, I went to grade 1 with Ms. Elsabe Blignaut which I will
be with for the whole 5 weeks in this TP.
I was so shocked because this private school is extremely different from the movement schools
that I went to. In VES, they concentrate on using English language while in government schools
focus on improving the Arabic language.
Its interesting to notice that in VES they do not apply differentiation for children. As Ms. Elsabe
said that they believe that all children are equal in the class. They gave them the same words.
However, if one student has a huge problem in any aspects, they give that student different
support. For example, they let that children to go to other teacher that can give them support in
their free time.
During the first week, I attend with children all different classes like English, math, Arabic, France,
music and summing lessons to see how children behave in different subjects. While children
apply the book tasks or the activities, I sat with my MST to plan what I will teach next week.
(Week 2)
26/02/17 01/03/17
On my second week in TP, I start teaching the lesson for children based on the curriculum that
my MST showed me last week. Thus, I taught for 3 days in this week which helped me so much
to make children comfortable with my teaching style. Also, it helped me to know each childrens
personality and their learning style.
Through my observation during the lessons when my MST was teaching, I learnt from her so
many things. I learnt how to motivate children in a positive way. For example, one of the children
named Yaseen is a naughty boy. He always says bad words for other children. My MST heard him
saying excuse me, can you make a space for me? he was trying to take his launch box and all
students were in that place. Thus, Ms. Elsabe said in a loud voice Good behavior Yaseen and
she explain for the other what good behavior that he did. That motivate him to be polite every
time he talk with other which made me impressed.
On Tuesday, I sat with my MST in the break time. we had a little chat. She told me about her
experience with the parents during their career journey. She told me that it is not easy to deal
with some of the parents. She told that one of the parents came to her in school shouting that
why her daughter is getting bad grate in the assessment that my MST did with them. The reason
why is their daughter is very quiet and never participate during the lesson yet they didnt care
about what the teacher said. So my MST decided to take a record for their daughter during the
lesson so they will be aware of their daughters performance. I knew then not all the parents will
understand the efforet that the teacher do in the classroom. Them, I ask her how she contatct
with the parents. She said all of teacher have a different way but she like to contact with them
using a group in WhatsApp.
What I like about my MST that she used to observe me in every time I teach and give me her
feedbacks. but On Wednesday when Ms. Pauline came to observe me, she let me control the
whole class by myself while Im teaching. In my other schools, all the MSTs didnt let me control
the students when I teach. From that experience, it gives me the confidence to deal with the
children and feeling more responsibility toward childrens behavior and learning.
(Week 3)
05/03/17 08/03/17
On my third week in TP, I continue teaching for 1 lesson in every day except Sunday because my
MST wanted to sit with me and tell me when and what should I teach.
During my observation in this week, I noticed that my MST chose interesting activities for the
children. She always gives them coloring activities because all of the students in her class like to
color. I think these activities are extremely beneficial for the children because it target their
interest. I believe that if we gave children activities according to their interest, they will do it
perfectly nice and they will learn quickly since they are doing what they like.
On Monday, in the math lesson, I noticed that my MST applied a significant strategy to manage
childrens behavior. The children were very active because before math lesson they had a break
time so they release their energy. They were very naughty. Then, my MST stop talking and looked
on childrens faces. The children realized that they did something wrong. So, they behave well
and the MST explain for them that they have to listen to her instruction for math activities.
On Wednesday, in art lesson, my MST gave children the time to make a card with a massage to
give it from their mothers in the Mother Day Event. She give them many materials which they
can use to design their cards and make it beautiful. The thing that I liked about my MST is that
she always motivate them to be creative and not copy others works. She said to them use their
imagination and make it so creative by your own thinking. So all the children tried to make their
cards is the most creative and they were excited.
(Week 4)
12/03/17 15/03/17
On my forth week in TP, it was extremely busy week for the school because they ask the teachers
and the children to be prepare for the events which is mother day that will be on next Monday.
So, in this week children didnt have an actual lesson since they were practicing for half of the
day. In that time, I went with them and help my MST in preparing the students in singing for the
event. I make the children stand on the queue when they moved from the classroom to the stage
where the events will happen. From this experience I learnt that being a teacher is not only about
teaching children and observe their learning. I learnt that being teach is a bigger job that need
serious responsibilities of taking care of the childrens behavior and prepare for any events in the
school that target childrens. in general, this week was all about preparing for the Mother Day
Event but when the children finished the practicing. I continue teaching them the curriculum so
that didnt stop me from teaching the children.
(Week 5)
19/03/17 22/03/17
On my last week in TP, it we very interesting week since we had a mother day on Monday. I had
the chance to meet the parents with my MST after the events. Mostly I saw all parents and they
had a little chat with my MST and I. This experience help me to deal with parents and now them
more while making communication with them.
It was an amazing experience in applying my TP in VES. I have learnt many things with my MST in
very short time especially the classroom management because I always had difficulties in
managing children behavior but now Im more confident and I gain many strategies from my MST.
From this TP, I learnt that there are huge differences between government schools and private
schools. Obviously, in private school they use English language as the main language which is
extremely helpful for children to gain the language quickly in very early year. While in
government school they only teach English for 40 minutes in a day. Moreover, in private school
they motivate children to be independent and creative more than government schools through
the activities and even the duties that the teacher as children to do.