LESSON 21 - 21 / 12 /2016

LAST LESSON OF THE YEAR

Brief description about the class

First of all, we have checked the concepts that our professor told us last week to look for in a glossary. We have shared and explained the definitions of these words. Also, the professor has explained us the difference between assessment and evaluation. 

Through a new app called "Mentimeter", we have played a game in which appear a definition (related to the previous) and we have had to select the correct word that corresponds with the definition. 

The professor has shown us the last points of the subject, and she has explained us how she is going to evaluate our syllabus and our didactic unit. 

Finally, we have done the activity 5.4 in groups. We have to create a rubric to evaluate a certain content. We have used the application Rubistar.

What I have learnt

In this class I have learnt a lot. First, new applications similar to kahoot, that we can use with our children in class, the app "Mentimeter". 

Also, I have learnt how we have to elaborate a rubric, which parts that it has to have, how is the structure of this rubric, what we have to include in it, among others. As teachers, this knowledge is very useful in order to evaluate children and have an organization about what we are going to check.

My personal opinion

This class has been very useful because the professor has given us the steps that we have to follow in order to create a great syllabus and the didactic unit. 

Also, it has been a sad class. It was the last class of this subject, and we have to say goodbye to the professor. The course is finishing, and there are a lot of emotions in us. 

LESSON 20 - 14 / 12 / 2016

PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE USE OF ENGLISH IN THE CLASSROOM

Brief description about the class

First of all, we have been talking about the course of the subject. We have talked about the activities that we have done, how these activities can help us in the future, and how through them we can improve and learn more English. 

Then, the professor has started the Unit 6: Assessment and evaluation: PEL and EPOSTL. We have been seeing the different types of evaluation that we can use with our pupils, why we have to asssess children and what do we assess, how we do assess pupils and how we have to take into account the diversity of our students (if there are some children in our class with special necesities, for instance). Also, the professor has told us how we have to planificate the evaluation. 

By last, it has been our own exposition: 10. Planning for effective use of English in the classroom. My group has made different funny games to explain this topic. We have done some activities to correct mistakes, as a kahoot, a relay race (in what our classmates have to correct some sentences that were wrong) and a performance about recasting and rephrasing; to adapt activities and topics of a course book in a creative way, we have proposed some typical topics and exercises that we can find in a course book and our classmates have adapted them.

What I have learnt

In this class, I have learnt about how we have to assess children. It is an important part of our job, but evaluation is not all. We have been talking about different ways of evaluation that I did not know, and it is very useful to us. Also, the assessment task organization that our professor has taught us is very useful to me, because it is like a guide that we can use when we evaluate. 

Also, in this class, with our exposition I have learnt that, if you works very hard in something, it is going to go well. We found some difficulties with our topic, but in the end, I find our exposition clearly and funny. 

My personal opinion

In my opinion, what our professor shared with us is quite important. We have to assess children in a way that they do not noticed them. If we assess children like a game, without saying: "You are going to be assessed, do your best", children can feel more comfortable and do best than if we say that. Children and not children (me, for instance) feel ansioux when they know that they are going to be assessed. We can assess children in different ways, not only with oral or written exams.

Also, speaking personally, I think we have done a great exposition. Some classmates have congratulated us because they have learnt a lot and they have enjoyed. It is pretty gratifying when you work hard, and all goes well and people enjoy what you are doing.

We found lots of difficulties with our topic, but in the end, I believe that we have done great. 

LESSON 19 - 07 / 12 / 2016

ONLINE LESSON

Brief description about the class

This class has been on - line. We have met at 18:00 h and we have talked through a chat. In this lesson, we have seen some videos talking about different methodologies, for instance: suggestopedia, total physical response, the communicative approach, among others.

Then, we have had to read a document which talked about these methodologies and we have completed a chart, indicating what approach is talking about the document in each page.

What I have learnt

In this class I have learnt how we can develop a lesson through internet with our pupils. Also, I have remembered the different methodologies that we could apply in our English lessons.

My personal opinion

This class has been a view about how we live in a tecnological society. Many years ago, teachers could not believe that some day they were going to give a class through internet, but nowadays, we can do it. 

It is a different experience, that we as teachers could apply with our pupils, giving the lessons in a motivational and funny way.

LESSON 18 - 01 / 12 / 2016

STORY ACTIVITIES

Brief description about the class

The exposition of our classmates has been related to: Story activities. They have started with a nice warm - up, which has been a chapter of "The baby triplets".  This chapter has been about Christmas' presents.

Then, in groups, we have created a story in the application "Story jumper", using as main character of this story an object that they have given us before, like a christmas' tree, a star, a present, among others.

Also, they have told us an story whose protagonist has been Rudolph. We had to draw the story and create an end for this story.

In the end, through a picture that they have shown us, we had to create a little story.

What I have learnt

With the help of this exposition, I have improved my experience creating stories. They have offered me the opportunity to show my creativity and practice how to write an story. 

Also, they have remembered me that we have to reward children when they do something, as they has made with us putting our draws in the wall. 

My personal opinion

It is has been a nice presentation, I find quite funny that they have dressed up like "The baby triplets". I believe that they have done some different activities and they have given us some tips about how we could develop stories in our classes.

I also find quite interesting how they have put our draws in the wall. It is comforting seeing that you have made something following a certain reason and you have been rewarded showing your draw to all the class. We have to explain our children why they are doing something, and show them that everything that they do is important and we value it. 

LESSON 17 - 30 / 11 / 2016

UNIT 2: THE SYLLABUS AND THE LESSON PLANNING. KEY COMPETENCES. 

Brief description about the class

At the beginning of the lesson, the professor has explained us the next activity that we have to do. This is the elaboration of a Syllabus (Didactic Unit). She has told us how we have to develop it, its principal parts (objectives, contents, key competences...).

To know exactly what we have to do in this Syllabus, the professor has shown us some videos. These videos has been about the LOMCE, and how this law affects to our didactic unit, and how we have to create according to this law. 

We also has played in the fantastic application called Kahoot. We have answered the questions that we had created.

Finally, the professor has shared with us how we can use PDC generator, in order to upload our syllabus. 

What I have learnt

Along my degree, I have done many Didactic Units, so I think that all that the professor has told us I have already know it. Although, it is good to remember it. 

What I did not know anything has been about PDC generator. I find it quite useful to upload documents and files with our professor. 

My personal opinion

The most exciting part of this class has been when we have played Kahoot. I guess that all of us love this game, and we all try to win it. If we like so much this game, I can not imagine how children can love it.

I believe that Í am going to use it in my future classes, in order to review some concepts or contents. 

LESSON 16 - 24 / 11 / 2016

READING AND TELLING STORIES

Brief description about the class

In this class, a classmates' group has exposed this topic: Reading and telling stories. They have given us some tips to improve this skill (reading) in class, and how we should do it. They have made some games to practice it. 

The first activity has been "Story circle". In this activity, the teacher starts a story and students have to continue it. Another activity has been:  "Bears like honey but not bees". The teacher tell a story, and children have to interpretate what s/he says.

Then,  another activity: "Elmers' story". First, we have read the story and then, they have given us some piece of colour paper, and we have put in it what we have learnt, and put  then on Elmers' body. 

The final game has been: Fan of stories. 

What I have learnt

I have learnt more about how we can use reading and telling stories in our classes, in order to improve English. They have given us several tips, for instance: when we tell a story in class, we have to speak spontaneously, with natural intonation, using eye contact and gestures to attract children's attention. 

Also, when we use reading in class, as teachers, we have to read the story several times, practice telling story aloud at home (checking our own mistakes when we do it), record yourself  (know your mistakes and improve them), prepare questions and activities, among others. 

My personal opinion

It has been a nice exposition. I have to highlight the activity of Elmer, because I think they have worked so hard to make Elmer and to prepare it. I find quite interesting how through this activity we can improve in our children their reading, and also the writing. It is very nice to put in Elmers' body what children have learnt, and then, when they have finished, we can read aloud with them what people has written. 

LESSON 15 - 23 / 11 / 2016

ICT FOR THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH

Brief description about the class

In this class, we have finished the unit 5. ICT for the teaching of English. The professor has explained us what we should do in the activity "Collaborative story", that we have to do at home. 

Also, the professor has shown us how we can create and design a website. We should go to Google sites to create it. We have been trying to do it in class, starting the design of our own website.

In addition, the professor has shown us how we can use PowerPoint Templates and Symbaloo. Symbaloo is a good application to organize our resources and most important pages.

In the end, the professor has explain us how E - twinning and Erasmus + can work in a school and their importance.

What I have learnt

In this class I have learnt many things. Most of the apps that the professor has shown us, I did not know them, as symbaloo or Power Point Template. 

Also, I have never created a website, and she has explain how to do it. 

I have learnt more about e - twinning and erasmus +, how we can use in our own school, how it works, what types of activities we can create using this exchange programme.

My personal opinion

I have found this lesson quite interesting. Most of the things we have talked in this class,  I have never heard about it before.

I think the application of symbaloo is pretty useful to organice our resources and share them with other teachers. It is very nice to share what we consider interesting and important with other people.

Also, I have never heard before about E - twinning, and I think that is very important to English teachers. We can organize exchanges with other countries and schools and follow the same project. It is very nice that our students can go to other countries, meet new people, improve their language, live new experiences... I think these type of exchange programmes are a very good opportunity to our children.