PD Experience

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The Continuous Professional Development Programme in Winchester is designed to foster the personal and professional development of teachers, to enhance their teaching effectiveness and

the effectiveness of students’ learning. Before moving to testify my golden experiences in Winchester, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Head of Professional Development, Mr. Rohan Roberts for his baffling training sessions.

Luck was beside me as I got a chance to enroll myself for the CICT training sessions, we the cohort 2 waited for Thursday afternoons to happen. It would have been a great loss, if one could have missed out this opportunity. We were enriched and chiseled with the practical, theory and blog experiences. We had to successfully wind up our training in three months’ time. I wish I could have stopped the time machine as it grabbed away the great time with a great team and a great teacher, Mr. Rohan.

But thankful to the Wednesdays-CPD’s as it an ongoing process in Winchester. It’s a bliss being a part of the Winchester PD sessions. Teachers draw an insight of their skills and potentials through attending and conducting the PD sessions. Teachers have immense opportunities in Winchester; it’s the choice of the teacher to be a trainer or a trainee. Teachers are so confident in themselves, creating a stimulating learning environment, designing or planning lesson plans and resources to cater the multiple intelligence.

I have remarked that Winchester school is a platform for all the teachers who have keen desire in enhancing their teaching profession. I just revealed my desire to conduct a PD on, Creativity. This gave me an opportunity to share my experience and to work with a wider team as there were teachers from both the secondary and primary. I have never missed out these golden chances; I have also led a PD for the Transport Department on, the etiquettes and responsibilities of the drivers and conductors. This gained a new experience and working with another department was real excitement. My next PD is on -Purposeful play to inspire learning for the 21st century global society.

It’s not only the teachers but our students too benefit these opportunities. Next week we have student led ICT training for teachers, I am so excited to work with them as a co-facilitator. Winchester has groomed my career. I’m confident and I will still learn, explore to create a new spirit for education. And moreover these in-service trainings will help to raise student progress and create fun-filled and active learning classrooms.

 PD for teachers on Creative       Displays

Presentation for Winchester School Drivers and Conductors on -Etiquettes and Responsibilities.

Engaging The Shy Learners

Great experience

For a successful interactive lesson most of the teachers, including me very often focus to pick and involve smart students. It often happens during a lesson observation, we tend to incline towards smart students. So it gives a good impact on how we deliver the lesson and we come up with a failure comment or feedback that some students were ignored or not noticed. So I wanted to change my attitude towards this belief and start believing that a success of a lesson is achieved when every member of the class has an equal and balanced contribution towards the topic. Moreover to give a platform for all my shy learners so that they will develop confidence, boost up their energy and become life long, independent learners.

Team Spirit

United we stand,divided we fall

Team spirit or team effort is attained with mutual understanding and support.Great minds work together.The success of a team is based  on the trust of the group members.

Every member should have a clear idea on the aims and targets of the group.Before setting anthing new,we need to consult with the team members for approval.Praise the team members for their hard work and contributions.Teams should revisit the aims and targets to reinforce them.Have a clear planning on who does what,when why and how?Never blame each other while flaws happen,consider it as the fault of the team.And work together to recover them.Have open discussions and clear objectives.Find the right ways to achieve the outcomes.Celebrate the success together.Sweet are the seeds of hard work .Ensure we earn these seeds together and taste it together.

VAK

Catering Multiple Intelligence
Learners prefer using different learning styles.It's the duty of the teacher to analyse the learner and cater according to the ability.

Visual -Most of the learners prefer learning through images,flash cards,films,displays,handouts,etc.

Auditory-The learner prefers or learns better through listening to sounds,noises,speeches,spoken words of self or others.

Kinesthetic -Learning through physical experience.Activities inculde-hands on activities,model

Scaffolding

Miracles of scaffolding

I truly believe that scaffolding is an highly effective tool that will help a student to construct the final piece of his or hers' imaginative/creative work.I have always mersmerised seeing the final output of scaffolding.

I have come across this particular quote which is given below-
When one puts up a building one makes an elaborate scaffold to get everything into its proper place. But when one takes the scaffold down, the building must stand by itself with no trace of the means by which it was erected. We could relate it with the life of a successful student and it is a true accomplishment of a teacher's effort.

Advantages

• Student centered learning
• Student learn and understand in a better way
• Students become confident and explore the world of learning
• students become efficient learners
• Encourages creativity and critical thinking
• Minimise frustration as student is guided well with instructions
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Disadvantages

• Students become dependent
• Time consuming
• If not given right guidelines and instructions,students get confused
• If teachers are not trained in a right manner students can tend to make mistakes.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Joy of the final output....... 

Every step of progress the world has made has been from scaffold to scaffold, and from stake to stake.  

Effective Learning

Make right choice for learning.......
I still remember my teachers,Ms.Silvia,Ms.Dhalia,Ms.Jessy,Ms.Naomi,Ms.Treasa,Ms.Felcy,

Ms.Mary Mol,etc, for their styles of teaching.These inspirational teachers just opened the door for the learners to be actively involved in learning.I still admire them as they have inspired and motivated me as a learner.I also firmly believe that if provided with right resources and materials our learners will explore the enchanted world of learning.

Differentiation a greatest teaching technique

Differentiation

Rap on water cycle

Role play on watercycle

Poster making on water cycle

I always strive my best to include a main activity catering to the multiple intelligence.It's a great challenge for a teacher to plan a lesson,activities and resources for differentiation.I call it as a challenge coz each planned activity and resources should cater the needs of the students,achieve the learning objective and outcome and more over the student progress should be clearly evident.Some of the differntiation that I often use in my class .

• Mind map
• Key terms
• Bulletein points
• Unsramble
• Puzzles
• Crosswords
• Fill in the blanks
• Role play
• Poster making
• Collage
• Movie making
• Essay writing
• Note making
• summary writing,etc 

I have got immense ideas through the CICT training and the Winchester School CPDS.I would use these ideas to polish my skills of differentiation.I would use more of ICT skills,VAK,peer assistance,open book test (which will act as a resource),access to internet to google information,designing their own(students) resources and worksheets,making critical thinking questions by students.designing their own plenary,etc.

Hope in the run ,I will grab more ideas on differentiation and help my students to be a well equipped citizens of tomorrow.

Best Training Ever....

A big thanks to CICTT

I owe a lot to CICTT,  have gained immensely as a teacher and as a person.This whole round development course has changed my belief , I believed that I was using all the available strategies for effective teaching.But,it wasn't true.With the support of Mr.Rohan,I explored all the new effective teaching strategies,this gave a new spirit to my teaching.I could sense the enthusiasm,enjoyment and progress of my students.I'm delighted as it has enhanced my teaching skills.

I would look forward to do courses that would give guidelines and support to experiment or discover new teaching methods that will revive the educational field and moreover will help to cater our modern learners.o

I would also suggest that these courses should  be long term courses so that we will have more time to explore, adopt the new styles and make reflections.

But,I have decided that my CICTT course will not end,I will update myself by exploring the new teaching strategies and also will continue adopting all that I have learnt and benefitted from this training.

I also look forward to learn from the CPDS(which is an on going process in our school).

I also want to enhance my ICT skills as it will help me for a fun filled, interactive lessons and will help me cater to multiple intelligence.

 Explore for your learners...............

A True Experience

Amazing experience using ICT

Hurray ! watch out to know my learners...................................

I was very nervous to try out my new approach, as I was not very good in ICT and also feared whether there would be any technical hitch while delivering the lesson.My students really proved that they really enjoyed the interactive lesson and all have achieved the outcome.

 I have evaluated the whole process to understand, what worked well through different feedbacks. What didn’t and what could have done to make it better. I have used several effective questioning strategies such as hot seat; phone a friend, think time and no hands up. Students were asked to solve the answers in active inspire for mid plenary these techniques helped me to analyse the learner and guide them wherever necessary. The mentor feedbacks and students’ feedbacks are mighty reflections. The main area of concern raised by my mentor and students are to allot more time for the main activities. I also feel that such sessions should be conducted in the ICT labs, should have divided the unit into two lessons so they could have had an ample time in looking into their main task and moreover to improve my ICT skills further by exploring and researching on interactive ICT resources. I can also do a team teaching with my students’ ICT teacher.

Sound stimulated learning

Starter and Plenary

I didn't have to spent too much time in thinking what could be the best starter for my topic settlements.I just had a glance of the list of starters that was given to us by Mr.Rohan.The word NOISE striked me,well I knew my year 7 boys who are equally noisy would love to have a good start with some stimulating sounds.I just downloaded  few sounds on to an active inspire flip chart and made a big GO with my starter.My students were able to identify the sounds and answer the question, where could we hear these sounds very often?.These critical thinking questions revealed the meaning of the new geographical terms URBAN and RURAL.

Plenary
Considering the age of my learners I chose to use MUSICAL STEM as my plenary.The whole class stepped out of their seat and formed a big circle.A hat was filled with  question stems,students passed the hat as the music played,when the music stops,the person who gets the hat picks a question stem and answers.Students were enthusiastic and everyone participated with excitement and joy.The plenary was successful as it served the purpose of achieving the learning outcome.Students response and feedbacks were the greatest evidence of the successful plenary.The energy level of the students were highly remarkabe,they left the room with great joy and a sense of achievement.

Strengthen the Socratic spirit.

My Reflection on effective questioning????????
I could really sense a new fragrance of knowledge and learning in my classroom.I didn't have to wait for my students feedback after the lesson,I could read their gestures,enthusiasm,excitement and curiosity while the lesson was going on.The rotating chair for the hot seat questioning and the cloak gave them a new outlook to learning.I could read their gestures very well,they were so thrilled to try and call out for chances but unfortunately there was no hands on questioning encouraged.This was the greatest challenge of the day.Phone a friend ,this strategy made my young learners so proud and come out as an expertie.Students were bubbling with confidence and energy. 


Hot Seat questionig............?????





Phone a friend,seeking expert advice




Mantle of the expert


I'm so glad that my choices on different questioning techniques wasn't a bad idea or a failure.I chose to focus on Phone a friend,Mantle of the expert and Hot seat questioning.Luckly, I  managed to use props such as a cloak and a revolving chair which made my students more enthusiatic.As I have mentioned earlier that my learners always look forward to have variety in learning and moreover prefer to think out of box.Learning was easily measurable,the new questioning styles gave students an opportunity to show case their skills and talents. 

I will keep exploring these new learning strategies as it gives a new meaning to learning and prepare my students to challenge the future world. 

Effective Questioning

Effective questioning strategies in classrooms

Effective questioning is an inevitable tool in the teaching and learning process. It is the best strategy, which helps a teacher-

v To measure the effectiveness of teaching

v To develop interest and motivate students in learning.

v To actively involve students in teaching and learning

v To develop confidence and leadership qualities in the young learners.

v To assess the achievement of learning objective and outcome

v To develop the critical thinking skills.

v To check and evaluate the previous knowledge

v To develop a rapport with teacher and students

Last week the main focus for our CICT training was on Effective Questioning. It was really interesting to understand the importance of different types of questioning and the appropriate terms used for each questioning styles. Even though we’re aware of these strategies we have not taken much risk in introducing different styles of questioning in our day to day teaching.

The most common questioning techniques that I use for my lessons are - thinking time, no hands questioning, basketball questioning, conscripts and volunteers,etc. (hurray! I learnt new terms).

Well, to inspire and motivate my learners I have decided to use - Phone a friend, Mantle of the expert and Hot seat questioning techniques. This will create a new aura towards learning in my classroom. I need to look for a hot seat (rotating chair) and a cloak to capture more attention and curiosity as my learners get bored up very quickly with any sort of repetitive strategies. I always try my best to find something new and interesting for them.

Outdoor Lessons

Weather so fine for outdoor lessons

 

Changes from the usual classroom atmosphere  always create enthusiasm in the young learners. It is same as using the traditional methods which make the learners dull and slothful.So we teachers of this century need to pace up with the requirements of the new world learners.

As the weather is so fine and pleasant, I have decided at least once a week I will make use of the large green canopy area of our school. So I have started with my Year 9 G1 class. I could evaluate and really measure the learning that was taking place. Several hands on activities and role play on Russian revolution were praise worthy.

I pray that this pleasant weather remain forever in UAE, coz the heat can kill all the essences of the outdoor lessons. My students look forward to come out of the classrooms , they enjoy every part of the outdoor lesson. I request all my friends to make use of this great time.

Winchester Opra

WinchesterOprah

 

Thanks Rohan, great was that moment when we had our Oprah Winfrey Show. Cindrella, the Winchester Oprah was gorgeous. Well, I believe that we were able to entertain you guys. My guest appearance and the name I chose for myself was real fun, Mrs. Bec Kinsey ( do you think this name suits me???,ha ,ha, ha………….)

I could see some of you were confused and pronounced the name differently and moreover there was a grin before anyone called out my name. Thanks to all my colleagues for your amazing roles and questions. Really had a good laugh. I still cannot control myself when I think about it.

Evaluation

Evaluation

In this life long process, EVALUATION is the greatest key that helped me to open many strategies to improve my teaching career. A successful teacher often evaluate herself, this reflection makes you think and ask yourself, “How could have I done better?

My belief is that evaluation is an essenetial and inevitable part of teaching and learning process. There are many ways in evaluating the teaching and learning process:

vSelf-monitoring

vRecord your class (video or audio) and then contemplate ……….

vStudent evaluation- interviews, questionnaires, verbal and written comments of students and peers.

vPeer Observation

vStudents’ Test

vPeer marking

vInclude risk taking and critical thinking in your lessons (Observe and record the challenges taken by the students)

Evaluation helps us to prosper; moreover it helps our students to be confident lifelong learners. When you start evaluating you adopt variety of teaching techniques, every touch of yours will bring sparkles in the life of the young learners.

Feedbacks

Feedbacks are vital and inevitable in teaching and learning, it is an effective instrument that enhances our career. It gives us a reflection on what we have been doing, whether it may be good or bad. A successful teacher looks forward for feedbacks from her students and colleagues, accepts it positively and applies to set her new targets.

Different ways to attain feedbacks

 ü Verbal and written feedbacks from students

ü Self-evaluation (ask yourself at the end of every lesson)

ü Plenary and mid-plenary (gives you a feedback on how effective was your lesson)

ü Being friendly and approachable (students feel so free to share their thoughts)

ü Facial expression, exchange of gestures

ü Students’ active participation in group discussions and activities

ü Peer observations

ü Assessments

ü Questionnaires

Do not hesitate in getting feedbacks,it will take you  to the heights of success.

A walk through

It takes be back to my childhood memories. I lived my life with a desire to be a teacher. I still remember, whenever I had to play with my friends, I always wanted to be a teacher. I was very keen in dressing up like a teacher, wearing a sari, a high heel shoes and spectacles. I use to teach the walls and pillars, smacking them, asking questions and answering myself. As time passed the concept of a teacher has changed due to the influence of few of my role model teachers. Immediately after my graduation I got into a corporate world and just worked there for three days. I somehow felt that this is not the place where I should be. I was lucky enough to have a husband who equally thought that teaching is the only job that would suit my career coz I love kids. My passion for kids took me to a universal theatre where I could play multiple role as a successful teacher, mother, mentor, entertainer, guide and moreover a good friend.

 I’m glad to say that I did not become a teacher by chance or by an accident. Turning back 15 years in this 'Noble profession’, I can say that I'm happy and feel proud coz I have seen my timid, little boys and girls who use to clutch fearfully the hands of their parents when they were brought into the school for the first time, have grown to young men and women with radiating confidence and self-worth in their different careers. (Thanks to Face book).I enjoy reading comments about me by my old students, they are amazing feedbacks.

Moreover in the quest of finding the different types of learners and catering to their needs and skills, I'm blessed and glad to say that I have grown with great experiences and am still exploring the wide ocean of teaching and learning. It’s really interesting being inside the classrooms, trying out new techniques, entertaining and catering to the requirements of our students, I look forward working many more years and watching my students grow as successful teachers, engineers, lawyers and doctors, etc. Moreover creating a smile on every face,EVERY SMILE MATTERS. I will keep travelling in this world of education,learning,exploring and full filling my mission and vision, to mold my students as a successful and enthusiastic lifelong learners.

Friends, feel proud of yourself coz you're a TEACHER.

Several roles to bring out success in our students

A Good Start

Cohort 2 in ACTION


It's always bliss to get a chance to enhance your skills and incorporate them in your daily classroom teaching. CICT training will take us to a new horizon of teaching and learning experience. An experience full of colours, patterns and sequences. Hence I have named my blog as the “Kaleidoscope of Teaching and Learning".


On 19th Jan, 2012 the new batch of CICT trainees entered room no G-38 with a mixed feelings of hope, fear, curiosity and enthusiasm. But honestly everyone left the room with a new perspective, mission, vision, aims and we feeling.
Under the guidance of Mr. Roberts and our mentors, we have stepped out into a valley of learning. Let's all as a team create a new synonym for learning. Best wishes……



Look through, the world is colourful and fascinating..........