STS First Semester Observation Report
During my first semester in College, I was posted to a District Authority Basic School and assigned to Basic 9 Class to observe as part of my training as a teacher.
On the February 8, 2021 at 09:30am we arrived at the assigned school. I was in a group with other colleagues. We were supposed to be at the school premises before 0800am. But on that faithful day, we had a transportation issue with the school bus.
When we arrived at the school premises, we went straight to the head teacher’s office and we introduced ourselves to the only teacher in the room at that moment, he then introduced himself as the headmaster. He further went on and took us to where the teachers are seated. He introduced us to the teachers as the trainees who will be observing classroom teaching in their various classes. The teachers introduced themselves and we were assigned to each teachers based on the classes they teach. The teachers are now our mentors and that made us mentees. The head mentor then is the head teacher.
The headmaster again continued his tour with us and took us round the school premises. He pointed out the various properties of the school. After touring the campus, He told us the history of the school, the rules governing the school and the school management committee. The school indeed had won various award in sport activities.
On the second visit which was on the 15th of February, 2021 we were taken through the school’s teaching and learning materials. It was at the school premises that most of us saw the new curriculum. The teaching and learning materials that were displayed to us were, Teacher’s Profile, Teacher’s Movement Book, Teacher’s Guide, Teacher’s Resources Pack, and various pupils’ course books. We took note of all these artefacts.
On the third visit, 22nd of February, 2021 we joined our mentors in their respective classrooms to observe classroom presentation, how they introduce lesson, how they employed classroom management techniques etc. we actually had in our hands a check list to take note of all the activities that goes on in classroom. So it was interesting and intriguing to have a checklist of all these activities that goes on in classrooms teaching happening right in your presence.
On our fourth visit, 1st of March, 2021, we were mandated to observe the Professional Traits of Teachers. I had realized that my mentor and his colleagues were punctual throughout or visits, my mentor was very cordial with the pupils in delivering his lesson, He is well dressed and he even ensured that the pupils dress well and wear noise mask while he was teaching. These Supported Teaching in School program has helped me to have first hand experience of how teaching and learning is done in schools. The program has really exposed me to the field of teaching and enhanced upon my confidence in pursuit to be a professional teacher
