Running Head: DIALECTICAL JOURNAL ON TWO WEEKS TEACHING PRACTICOM 1

Dialectical Journal on Two Weeks Teaching Practicum

Sushma Tamang Syangtan

Teaching Practicum

International Teacher College

17/03/2017
Dialectical Journal 2

Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 5 January, 2017

Observations/ Account Reflections & Critical Response

(What Happened?) (What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does
this connect to the theory I have read from class?)
The classroom was colorful because there Decorating class with colorful postures is

were postures all over the wall, along with effective for students because the colorful

the students artwork and also the classroom creates an exciting learning

responsibilities that the students have to environment. I think teacher should put

follow but I did not see the specific rules for classroom rules postures as well so that teacher

the students. does not have to tell them the classroom rules.
There was a carpet, pillows in front of the Teacher control the students well but I think

class. Teacher used this when she teaches most things that students do in the carpet can be

her lesson and reading aloud but for done on the desk too. Teacher should train the

worksheet and activity she used desk. students to use carpet time otherwise class will
This is a first grade class and the main focus
be noisy.
is reading so in the class they have two Bookshelf is very important to have in a

bookshelves with lots of English picture classroom because it gives students a chance to

books including children Bible as well. read lots of books on different topics and also

Teacher used the bookshelf in every class. improve their English. I will provide national

language too so that student can learn to give a

priority to their national language as well.

Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Dialectical Journal 3

Date: 12 January, 2017

Observations/ Account Reflections & Critical Response

(What Happened?) (What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
There was a rack near to the door where students This is a good way to keep students works safely.

keep their all assessment. They have named it But I think instead of sending students work

Boomerang. Later, I knew from my co- teacher only in weekend I will send it daily so that,

that students keep all their worksheet and every parents can see and know their childrens

Friday, they take all those with them to home and progression every day and guide them through

show their parents seeing it at home.

There seventeen desks and each desk had named I think this is also a good way to keep students

on it. There was a basket under the each desk small stuffs safely. It is helpful because kids

where students keep all their stuffs like, pencil, might forget their stuff at home but if they kept it

eraser, sharper, colors, etc. but they kept their in the class then teacher does not have to face

bags outside of the class in the shelf. such problems.

Teacher used three strategies to control the class: I think the students were well trained by the

first, she clapped five times, second, 1, 2, 3 eyes teacher because when she used these strategies

on me, and the last Do not call out. students quickly respond to her. They stopped

talking and playing around and gave a respect to

her by listening.

Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum Name: Sushma Tamnag Syangtan
Date: 30 Jan, 2017
Dialectical Journal
Observations/ Account
(What Happened?)
Teacher began the day with devotion. After
the devotion teacher let students sing a
calendar song. She asked some calendar
question.
Teacher had separated the class into two
groups one was smarter group and the
other was weaker so that she can guide the
smart and weak students differently with
various methods to develop their
knowledge and skill.
I taught Bible studies in this day. I gathered
all the students on the carpet and quite
them and started my lesion with showing
the map and reading bible verse. It was
only twenty-five minutes lesson and
actually I had prepared the pictures in the
power point but the power point broke on
that day so I just used black and white
pictures.
Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum
4
Reflections & Critical Response
(What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Students were learning about God every day and
as well as other subjects. I think this is a good
way to connect biblical integration in the lesson.
In one of my psychology class, I have learned
that each child has different thinking abilities and
skills and they learn from different ways but they
need guidance. I think splitting students
according to their ability and guide them is a
good way but sometimes, teacher should mix the
weak students with the smart students because
they can learn from each other and help each
other.
Class was little noisy but I finished my lesson
five minutes early. I could have slow down my
speaking. I could have used rest five minutes in
teaching some new vocabulary word from the
lesson.
Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 31 Jan, 2017
Dialectical Journal
Observations/ Account
(What Happened?)
Teacher read the book with expression to
the students. She paused for a while and
asked some questions and made class
interactive. Students raised their hands to
answer the questions. She also used the
white board to draw the cookies and teach
how to share cookies equally.
Teacher showed Christian song video:
One Way Jesus. Teacher told students to
sing and dance. Students were dancing
and singing.
Teacher asked questions from previous
lesson but she was reminding them to
raise their hands and do not call out. She
did not only let one person to answer the
question but gave everyone time to speak.
Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum
Observations/ Account
(What Happened?)
5
Reflections & Critical Response
(What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Class was interactive and students seemed
interested in the subjects being taught because
they enjoyed the reading. She could have used
other material to teach math for example: real
cookies or bocks.
Students were enjoying the video because they
were all dancing and singing. Teacher could have
joined with the students so that students can get
motivation. If I use action songs I will model to
students by doing some movement.
There were some students who were so excited to
answer and keep raising hands in every question
but some of the students were not even raising
their hand. Some students called out without
raising hand. Instead of asking questions directly,
teacher could have picked students name and let
him/her answer or share to the class.
Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 01 Feb, 2017
Reflections & Critical Response
(What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
Dialectical Journal 6

improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this

connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Students were reading their poem to the teacher Some students were excellent in reading but

because they had to perform their poem with some students were shy and reading in a small

other class in next day. So, teacher was giving voice. I think teacher could have let students read

feedback on their reading. the poem to their friend first and later to the

Teacher showed one of the students worksheet teacher. She also could suggest students to

on the slide and asked that students to read his practice it with their parents at home as well.
I think this is a good way to teach students to
own writing and find out the mistakes. Teacher
learn from mistakes and students learned how to
showed what he did wrong and explained why is
write a correct sentence but I think I will call
that wrong.
them individually instead of doing correction

together, so that students can spend time in

When the co-teacher began a new assignment she
learning with the teacher.
quiets all the children, and introduced what they Teachers should give clear in formation about

have to do. She did all of this while standing at everything before they do in the class so that

the board giving an example to the children on students would know what they should do

the carpet. otherwise students will not be able to concentrate

on the work.

Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 02 Feb, 2017

Observations/ Account Reflections & Critical Response

(What Happened?) (What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
Dialectical Journal
Teacher made pair and told them to do pair
reading. She told them to sit wherever they want.
Some students sat on the carpet, some sat under
the table, and some sat on the floor. Teacher took
one of the pair out of class with her to do the
listening activity.
Teacher did a warm up before the lesson. She
called all the students on the carpet and told them
to do some movement and, stretch. She was also
doing stretch with them.
Teacher was teaching about Arctic Ocean so she
showed a video. While watching the video some
students were calling aloud Wow, what is that?,
So scary, etc. So teacher pause the video and
told them to be quite and explain the video later.
Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum
Observations/ Account
(What Happened?)
7
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Some students were reading but some were
playing around and talking. I think a teacher
needs to have a presence in their classroom even
though she is doing individual talk or activity. I
will let rest of the students do individual silent
reading if I have individual meeting with the
student
All the students were following the teacher and
enjoying the warm up. I think I will show a short
action song and tell students to do the action by
watching the video so that they can enjoy the
warm up more.
Students were enjoying watching the video but I
think the video was too long because it did not
finish in one period. Watching a video in a whole
period can be bored so teacher could have
explained the video to students while they were
watching.
Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 03 February, 2017
Reflections & Critical Response
(What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Dialectical Journal
Teacher divided students into two groups for
math. Half students went with other teacher and
half stayed with my co- teacher and they learned
math separately. They did this because they are
teaching students in two ways one with using
material, manipulative and other is only with
worksheet and lecture. After twenty minutes they
switched students.
Teacher explained that students are going to write
about polar bear (Arctic Ocean). She wrote some
key words on the board and told them to use
those key words for their writing.
During the assignment some students were
talking with their friends and not concentrating
on their work. Teacher walked around, looked at
each table and made sure that the students stayed
concentrated.
Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum
Observations/ Account
(What Happened?)
8
I like this way of teaching because every children
learn from different ways but when it was a time
to switch students class became little noisy. I
think teacher should have quite students while
going to the next class.
Students knew what they are going to do for the
assignment because teacher explained the work
clearly but she could have done quick review
from the previous class so that they can recall
everything that they learned.
The students could get distracted very easily, so
walking around is good strategy to control the
class but teacher did not take any action, she just
walked. In this case, I will take some action for
example: exchange the students seat and give
them warning so that student will not repeat the
same behavior.
Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 06 Feb, 2017
Reflections & Critical Response
(What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Dialectical Journal 9

Teacher explained that they are going to do the Students understood the activity well and they

craft on Arctic Ocean. She used cotton, thick drew cute fish, polar bear on the paper and

square paper, white and blue colors, cotton, glue, colored it but some of the students were

etc. and explained what to do and the materials struggling with drawing but the teacher provide

well with the sample that she made. Teacher the picture book of Arctic Ocean and she let

walked around and looked each students work. students to use the book to see the picture of fish

She also asked them to raise their hand if the and polar bear and draw. I like how she helped

students have any question or need a help about the students but she could have done quick

the activity. review from the previous class because it was a

first day of week and students could have

forgotten the lesson.

I like that the teacher let some students do other
Some students finished the craft early so the
work rather than the readings but she could have
teacher told those students to read book from the
provide other activities for the students who did
shelf. She also let some students to finish their
not have incomplete assignment so that they can
incomplete worksheet of other subjects.
enjoy the learning more.

Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 07 Feb, 2017

Observations/ Account Reflections & Critical Response

(What Happened?) (What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Dialectical Journal
One of the students was playing with ruler while
teacher was teaching suddenly he broke the ruler
and all the pieces of it scattered around in the
class and all the students got distracted from that.
Teacher asked him to go back and turn to the wall
and stand and teacher continue the lesson.
When there was sharing from the lesson and
activity or assignment (worksheet) teacher
always gave students positive feedback. For
example: wow, I like this but you need to do it
this way, I know you are smart you can do it,
great job, thank you for trying or sharing etc.
In most of her lesson she used books, whiteboard,
and worksheet to explain her lesson.
Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum
Observations/ Account
(What Happened?)
10
When teacher took that action every students
seemed scared of her because everyone became
so silent. I think teacher should have talked with
him personally and gave him warning.
All the students were so happy because they got
good compliment and the words teacher used for
encouragement worked students were replying
oh, yeah I know that but I missed that. The
positive feedback made students finish their work
quick as well.
Some students were struggling to answer and
working on the worksheet. I think students have
different ways of learning so teacher should use
different ways. She could have used other ways
to explain the lesson like videos, games,
activities, etc.
Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 08 Feb, 2017
Reflections & Critical Response
(What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Dialectical Journal 11

Teacher let students share the Bible verse that Students were so happy of getting the sticker

they have memorized one by one and she from the teacher and that encourage others as

reinforced the students who shared bible verse by well. teacher could have

giving them stickers of smiley face. That was a good idea to use free time of teacher
Teacher checked the worksheet during students
so that teacher can have a time to work on
went to other class and if the students have not
preparing lesson for the next day but it does not
completed the worksheet she let them finished
mean that teacher should finished checking all
when they are free and if the students did not get
students and let them correct soon but we can
god mark on the worksheet then she separated a
separate a time to let students finish their works.
time for them to work on their mistakes in the I enjoyed helping my teacher with posting the art

class by letting them know their mistakes by crafts and I also a chance to know other teacher

showing from the slides. at that time. the crafts on the wall was looking so
Teacher post all the crafts and art out of the class
beautiful and whenever the students show that
on the wall. She also asked me to help her to stick
that will encourage them to work more in
those works on the wall.
learning.

Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 09 Feb, 2017

Observations/ Account Reflections & Critical Response

(What Happened?) (What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Dialectical Journal 12

The teacher started class with a reading lesson. I like the way she make students make prediction

The students read the new story and made and involving students in story in the imagination

predictions along the way. After they read the but she could have used the video so that student

story, the teacher went over it and made sure that can understand the story visually not only orally.

everyone understood it.

After the students were finished with their
When students heard that it is a break time then
worksheets, the teacher made sure to give time
they started making noise but the teacher control
for bathroom breaks and snack. The teacher
the noise by using the strategy of calling students
called students depending on which student was
name depending on which student was ready and
ready and sitting quietly.
Teacher used cards of different pictures for sitting quietly.
Students enjoyed learning with the card and most
teaching the vowel sounds. She told students to
of the students were able to tell the words in the
see the picture, guess the name of the picture and
picture but some of the students were not able to
tell sounds of the word. She picked students name
answer and teacher told others to help their
and let them shared the answer one by one.
friends but I think instead of telling others to help

teacher could have given a hint so that student

can try to think the answer.

Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum Name: Sushma Tamang Syangtan
Date: 10 Feb, 2017

Observations/ Account Reflections & Critical Response

(What Happened?) (What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Dialectical Journal 13

Teacher told all the students to get the small I like the way how teacher check students

white board and the marker from the shelf for understanding about the lesson but some students

oral drills. She told all students to work were not able to solve the problem so I think she

individual and do not show their answer to their could have done this activity with pair so that

friend accept teacher. they can learn from each other.

I like the strategy that she used like making group

Teacher had separated the students into three according to the colors. All the students were

group by colors; blue, green, and orange. She working in a group but teacher should have

provided the worksheet according to those colors walked around the class so that they can give full

and told students to work in their groups. concentration on their work because some of the

Students had to cut the words from the paper and students were just playing around with the words

arrange it according to the sounds. She also and scissor. But I think this was the best activity

provided them the small plastic bag to put all the that I found in her class so I will also use this

cutting words. After the cutting and arranging the strategy in my future.

words teacher let students their work and teacher

explained the purpose of the activity and let

students write the words on their note book.

Dialectical Journal for ED 335 Teaching Practicum Name: Syangtan Tamang Syangtan
Date: Feb, 2017

Observations/ Account Reflections & Critical Response

(What Happened?) (What do I think of it? What went well? What could be
improved? How? What will I do differently? How does this
connect to the theory I have read from class?)
Dialectical Journal 14

All the students from grade one gathered in the Most of the students were able to spell more than

hall and teacher explained the rules of the five words and the winner was reinforced by

spelling competition and student one by one went applaud and thanks words and those. I think this

to the stage and spells the words that they got is a good way to show the parents their childs

from the teacher in front of their parent, friends, works so that they know what they are learning.
She told me that she loves to work there because
and the teacher.
This was my last day so I interviewed my co- she found that school different than other like

teacher. I asked her about the school and the bible and Christ centered school. she told me that

vision and mission of school. She also shared whatever we do if we love that work and have

about her experience of teaching there since long passion then a person can be success in the future

time. She gave me some advice and suggestion and this sentence touch my heart.
Some of my words and instructions were not
about teaching.
I taught three different subjects (math, Bible, and clear and I need to improve on reinforcing the

grammar) within two weeks and some lesson students. I could have communicate more with

went very well but some went very worst. my teacher and asked helped about the subject

that I taught.