Teaching Practice

PROCEDURES OF TEACHING

Before starting my solo teaching at Integrated Laboratory School (ILS) of West Visayas State University (WVSU), Philippines, I observed Grade 7 classes to understand the teaching methods, student engagement, and classroom dynamics. Since English is not the students' first language, I had to adapt my teaching style by:

• Using simple and clear English to explain mathematical concepts.
• Engaging students with interactive activities to keep them motivated.
• Providing real-world applications to help students understand the relevance of Venn diagrams.

1. Lesson Plan Overview

Here is my lesson plan👈

Topic: Application of Venn Diagrams in Set Theory

Learning Objectives:

• Understand and explain the concept of Venn diagrams.
• Accurately draw and analyze Venn diagrams.
• Understanding the importance of Venn diagrams in problem-solving.

2. Teaching Flow

Here's my general teaching structure:

1. Opening Activity (12 min):

• Greeting, prayer, and attendance checking.
• Quick review of the previous lesson.
• Motivation: I introduced five simple Indonesian words to the students to spark their curiosity and cultural awareness.

2. Developmental Activities (15 min):

• Introduced the Venn Diagram Tug of War Game, where students analyzed Venn diagrams and identified correct regions.
• Explained three overlapping sets and their eight regions using a real-life scenario.
• Encouraged students to explore the problem on their own rather than simply listening to my explanation.

3. Analysis (5 min):

• Presented a real-world problem: Organizing a school event using Venn diagrams.
• Students worked in groups to analyze and visualize data using Venn diagrams.

4. Application (20 min):

• Assessment: Students answered problem-solving questions based on a Venn diagram of people at a party who drink juice, shake, or yogurt.
• Encouraged students to apply their learning in daily situations.

5. Closing (1 min):

• Announced the next topic: Introduction to Data Handling.
• Assigned homework from their textbook.

ONLINE & OFFLINE TEACHING EXPERIENCE

WVSU offers a flexible teaching system, allowing both online and offline teaching. During my practicum, I had experience with both modes:

• 1 team teaching session online
• 1 solo teaching session online
• 1 team teaching session offline
• 1 solo teaching session offline

1. Challenges & Advantages of Each Mode:

👉 Online Teaching

🚀 Pros: No need for projectors, less physical movement, more verbal engagement.

⚠ Challenges: Internet issues, ensuring student attention, difficulty assessing real-time understanding.

👉 Offline Teaching

🚀 Pros: Direct interaction, real-time student responses, better engagement through activities.

⚠ Challenges: Keeping students focused, balancing explanations with hands-on learning.

One of the key takeaways was that interactive activities, games, and real-world applications were essential for keeping students engaged in both online and offline settings.

TIME MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES

To ensure effective use of time, I divided the lesson as follows:

• Opening Activities: 12 minutes
• Main Activities: 40 minutes
• Closing Activities: 8 minutes

This structured time division helped create a balanced and interactive learning experience.

TEACHING STRATEGY IMPROVEMENTS

One of the most important pieces of advice from my mentor was not to rely too much on PowerPoint slides. While PowerPoint helped structure the lesson, it was crucial to:

✔ Explain the Venn diagram step by step on the whiteboard, rather than just displaying it on a slide.

✔ Give students a problem and let them explore it on their own, instead of over-explaining.

✔ Ask more questions and encourage student participation to make the lesson more engaging.

This approach allowed students to think critically and develop problem-solving skills rather than just memorizing concepts.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

To create an interactive and collaborative environment, I:

✔ Divided the class into six groups for teamwork-based activities.

✔ Used games and real-life scenarios to make learning more engaging.

✔ Encouraged peer discussions to build problem-solving skills.

This approach helped students stay focused and actively participate in the lesson.

REFLECTION

Teaching Grade 7 Mathematics at ILS WVSU was an eye-opening and rewarding experience. The biggest challenge was teaching in English while ensuring clarity in mathematical explanations. Additionally, balancing explanations with student exploration required careful lesson structuring.

Through trial and error, feedback from my mentor, and student engagement, I grew as a teacher. I learned how to:

✔ Adapt my teaching style to different learning needs.

✔ Use games and real-world applications to explain abstract mathematical concepts.

✔ Encourage student exploration and problem-solving rather than just explaining everything.

Despite the challenges, this experience strengthened my confidence and passion for teaching. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach at ILS WVSU, and I look forward to applying these lessons in my future teaching journey.