2^nd Journal

September 29^th, 2015

The lessons during the week for seven graders were focused on the numbers from 1 to 100. To introduce the topic, I made a poster so that students could take notes of the names of numbers easily and quickly. For me, it was really important to make students repeat the different sounds of the numbers. Numbers like 13-30 were adopted as examples of minimal pairs to correct pronunciation. I planned activities that involved students into the topic; for example, a clock was an effective tool to teach the numbers by telling the time. We also talked about our phone numbers. However, there was one activity that I did not like at all, it was the last one. It had to do with some pieces of paper that were given to groups of two, on it there was a question. Then, students had to answer those questions by using their dictionaries and asking their peer. The questions aimed at making students count objects around them, or provide information about their age or any relative’s age. Unfortunately, students did not fulfill this activity, I had to translate most of the question due to the fact that they did not know how to look up some key words.

I could notice that, because students were not focused and they did not like the activity that much. They talked a lot; they did not understand the instructions and the aim of the activity got lost. They had to answer a question by counting classroom objects, or taking into account dates and measures. Some of them had the answer ready at the end, but it was because I gave them a hand with the translation.

From this lesson I might be able to claim that in the future I must take to the classroom easier questions. And, I also have to teach them how to use a dictionary properly.