Weekly Reflections (T2W3) on AFL

I agree that constant feedback is very important and will help the students learn and strengthen their understanding of the lesson.

For every new sub-topic that is taught, we should try to allocate the last 10 to 15 minutes for a quick check of the students' understanding. This can be done via a short quiz and immediate sharing of answers to check the misconceptions of the topic.

Another method is using mass testing of a few questions via 1) flashing of answers on white board or 2) hand signals.

In this way,we will be in a better position to assess our students' understanding and from there, provide useful feedback on their mistakes immediately.

I find that the earlier the feedback for misconceptions are given, the better the students retain and remember the correct concepts. If we delay our feedback given after a few days, the chances are that they will subconsciously remember the wrong concepts for a long period of time and find it hard to remember the correct concepts.

For my lessons, i will try whenever possible, to provide feedback after each learning of a new concept.

T1W7 - 2N1

I am into expansion and factorisation for 2N1 now. As usual, i find them really very slow in learning. Double confirm this with my the other 2 Sec 2N colleagues and find that it is true for their classes too.

Right now, i am going very slow and trying my best to make it as simple and as easy to them as possible. I set a 3 questions short test after each topic to check their understanding. I also got to keep asking them about the 3 formulaes as they forget it very easily. I am trying to make the worksheet very direct for them so that they can understand better.

A few of the students are still very disruptive in class and i still have to waste some time getting them ready every lesson. Haiz...so much efforts spent on them. I wonder if they really will understand and appreciate the teacher's efforts. Some of them really do not seem interested in their studies at all.

T1W7 - !E3 & 1E4

I have just finished the Chapter 10 on Percentage with my 1E3 and 1E4. Feel good that i am able to teach on time for these 2 Sec one classes. Chapter 10 seems easy for them as they already have prior knowledge on these topic. Hence, when i teach, i can hear some of them saying that they have already learn these before.

Since i have abit of time, i decided to let them try out the game Numero before i start the next topic. As i can't remember much about the game, i started reading the instructions and also i gather the 5 or 6 students in my class who know how to play to double confirm on the instructions of the game before i get started.

Both the classes seem to enjoy by the noise that they are creating - very excited. Good to see them enjoying themselves. However, i do notice that they seems to have their own weird rules coming in as they move on with their game. Did not really interrupt as i can see that they are enjoying themselves.

Hopefully, this game will get them more interested in arithmetic.

T1W5 - 1E3 & 4

I hvae just completed Chapter 2, Real Numbers with 1E3 and 1E4. Find that 1E3 is better in their understanding of concepts whereas for 1E4, there are a few students who are slower and i need to illustrate more examples when teaching a concept.Hence, i have to bear in mind in the selection of examples between these 2 classes.

I notice that quite a number of students have the habit of using their calculators when doing the real numbers despite reminders for them to show their workings without the use of calculators. Hence, have to check their homework more thoroughly to ensure that they are really sure about how to work on the add/subtract/multiply/divide of the real numbers.

To my surprise, many are weak in their fractions.Hence, i have spent more time on portion that involves fraction. Need to correct some misconception like cancelling of terms before converting a mixed number to an improper fraction.

that's abt it. will complete chp 3 by next thursday and will start the standardised test 2 for the 2 classes on next thursday or friday.

Reflection T1W3 - 2N1

Just managed to finished the Chapter 16 with the class. I am the slowest among the 3 teachers teaching 2N to start the standardised test 1. For this class, i am always delayed by the students who are not interested and are very weak in their Math. always have to stop and get their attention.

Most of my better students have been banded into another class and most of those left behind are very weak and inattentive. Quite a challenge to capture their attention and encourage them to learn. I find myself doing more scoldings this year as the group of weak and very talkative boys are all gathered together.

Very tiring whenever i go into this class as they are not very interested in Math and are very distracted. Hope they can quickly start to put in more efforts in their studies.

Reflection T1W2 - 1E4 (HCF)

Today, i am quite amazed to learn a new way of finding HCF from my Sec 1E4 students. Wow, i didn't know that primary school they are taught this method. To find HCF of 385 and 396, they simply reduce it to the lowest, which is 35/36. Hence HCF = 385 divide by 35 = 11.

I taught them the textbook method which is using prime factorisation. It is so much more tedious. I think for a 1 or 2 marks question, this method will saves them alot of time.

Of course, i still make them learnt using the textbook method and asked them to use their pri school method as a check. Hmnn...the rest of the Sec 1E teachers, are you'll aware of this method? Please share anytime if you do learnt of any shortcuts for checking or doing any particular topics okay? Need to make sure we are more advanced than our students.. hee hee.

By the way, i just started HCF with the 1E4 students today. Will be still doing a few questions the next lesson before i start on LCM.

Students from 1E3 and 1E4 are generally quite attentive. They are able to understand the prime factorisation without much problems.Actually, nothing much to write for this week as we started off with the basics only. Just create this to try out blogging...hee hee