Week 1 @St Johns

BEd journey

St. Johns week 1 (05.08.24- 09.08.24)

August 09, 2024

Teaching Practice at St. Mary's HSS (August 5 - August 9, 2024)

The first week of my teaching practice at st John's has been an enriching experience, both in terms of subject knowledge and teaching methods. Under the guidance of my mentor, Ms. Jacquiline, I had the opportunity to teach the chapter 'Our Government' to my 8A1 class. The topics covered this week were diverse and provided me with a platform to experiment with various teaching strategies to engage the students.

August 5th: Organs of Government (Advanced Organiser Model)  

I began the week by introducing the Organs of Government using the Advanced Organiser Model. The objective was to provide students with a clear framework of the three main branches of the government: the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. I used a graphic organiser to map out how each organ functions and interacts with the others, which helped students visually connect the concepts.

The class was interactive, and I encouraged the students to ask questions and express their understanding of how these organs contribute to the functioning of a democracy. The Advanced Organiser Model was effective in helping students link prior knowledge to the new information presented. My mentor, Ms. Jacquiline, suggested that I incorporate more student-led discussions to further enhance engagement.

August 6th: The Legislature in India  

On the second day, we focused on the Legislature in India. I explained the roles of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and how laws are made in India. I used a combination of visuals, real-life examples, and videos to make the concept clearer. The students were quite active in discussing the different functions of the Parliament.The students seemed interested in the practical application of how the legislature operates and how its decisions affect their lives. Ms. Jacquiline Ma'am gave me feedback to simplify the language further and provide more relatable examples for the students, which I took into account for my next lesson.

August 7th: Various Stages of Passing a Bill in Parliament

On the third day, I covered the various stages of passing a bill in Parliament. I made sure to break down the complex process into simple steps, from the introduction of the bill to the final approval. My mentor suggested using more hands-on activities like this in future lessons to keep the students actively engaged.

August 8th: Procedure of Passing a Money Bill  

On the fourth day, we moved to a more specialized topic—the procedure for passing a Money Bill. I explained the key features of Money Bills and how they are treated differently from other types of bills in Parliament. I used a simple flowchart to visually depict the stages a Money Bill goes through, making it easier for the students to follow.

The students seemed to appreciate the visual representation, and many actively participated in the discussion. They were curious about how the government handles financial matters, and we had a lively discussion on the implications of passing such bills. Ms. Jacquiline Ma'am provided excellent suggestions on incorporating current examples of Money Bills to make the topic more relevant.

August 9th: No Class - Social Science Fair  

On Friday, August 9th, there was no regular class due to the Social Science Fair. The event allowed students from various classes to showcase projects related to social science topics, and it was an excellent opportunity for me to observe how students creatively engage with social science concepts. I found it inspiring to see how students applied their learning in practical and artistic forms, such as charts, models, and presentations.

Although I did not teach on this day, it was a valuable learning experience for me to observe the creativity and enthusiasm with which the students presented their work. It also gave me an opportunity to reflect on how I could integrate similar interactive and creative approaches into my own teaching.

Reflections and Moving Forward

This first week of teaching has been both challenging and fulfilling. I had the chance to experiment with different teaching strategies such as visual aids, and interactive discussions, all of which helped in making the lessons more engaging for students. The Advanced Organiser Model was particularly effective in structuring the lesson, and I look forward to using it in future lessons.

I also realized the importance of simplifying complex topics and using more relatable examples. My mentor’s feedback has been incredibly valuable in helping me refine my teaching methods, and I plan to incorporate more active learning strategies and student-centered activities in the upcoming lessons.

As I move forward, I aim to create a more inclusive and dynamic learning environment, where students feel comfortable expressing their ideas and engaging with the content. I look forward to building on the experiences and lessons learned during this first week and continuing to develop my teaching skills.