My teaching experience in 4th class
Procedures of teaching
In the beginning of 4th class, I checked students’ attendance and collected homework I had given them in 3rd class. Additionally, I gave back to them their homework with points, lines and angles which I had all marked and reviewed homework‘s mistake. The content of 4th class was based on the concept of angles so this review was very important for students. I was aware that some students had made 3 same mistakes. 1st mistake is using small letters to name points. Correctly, they should use capital letters for the name of points. 2nd mistake is way to name angles. Some of them used 2 letters to name one angle, however, an angle is named with 3 letters. 3rd mistake is that they didn’t use a correct expression when they answered size of angles. They should write “m∠ABC = 30°”, however, some of them didn’t write like that.
After that, I also reviewed each kind of triangles like equilateral triangle, right triangle, isosceles triangle and isosceles triangle. I also taught to them each word in Indonesia for making them understand correctly.
In 4th class, I didn’t use slides and I used only white board. I had made board plan before I started class and followed it.
After the review, I made them make groups and gave each group one big triangle. I had prepared these triangles before the class.
I wanted them to prove that the sum of angles in a triangle is 180°but from conclusion, it was difficult for them. I had expected that they cut triangles to make a straight angle with 3 angles. However, some of students didn’t want to cut the triangle I gave them because they considered destroying things from teacher as rude thing. Proving 180° took much time than I had expected and some of students didn’t get the reason proving was important. In conclusion, I failed in this part.
After they finished to prove, I gave them some exercises with 20 minutes. They solved it quickly and after 20 minutes some of them answered in front.
After the explanation of the exercises, I called some students who got perfect score on their homework and gave them a candy. Throughout this, I want to motivate students to study Math and try to get perfect score on their homework or exam. In the rest of class, I gave all students additional problems as homework. Overall, I accomplished my teaching plan, however, making students prove that angles in a triangle make 180°didn’t work well. I should have thought another way of proving or explained more clearly to students.
Time management and organizing activities
As I said, I failed in the proving part. Students spent longer time to prove that the sum of angles in a triangle is 180 than I had expected. However, I had made the teaching plan for 4th class with plenty of time so conclusively, I succeeded to do time management.
Additionally, the level of exercises was fit to them. Only the proving part was difficult for them and there was no other problem in 4th class.
Classroom management
I did the same competition game as what I had done in 3rd class when I called on some students to answer on board. Students enjoyed this game and participated actively to the class.
I hope that giving candies to students who got perfect score with their homework motivated them to study Math.
Problem which I found in class and how to solve it
The biggest problem in 4th class was definitely the proving part. I should have been aware that proving is difficult for 7th grade students. Proving was totally different from just solving exercises and they have few experiences of proving. I should have understood what 7th grade students’ level is and explained more specifically how they should think with proving. If I have another opportunity of teaching in the future, I will try to understand correctly students’ level.
Contents
- My teaching experience in 1st class (page 2)
- My teaching experience in 2nd class (page 3)
- My teaching experience in 3rd class (page 4)
- My teaching experience in 4th class (page 5)
“Mirei’s SEA Teacher Journey in Indonesia” 