Student Practice Reflection - Day 1 (Classroom Environment)

     On the 17th of January was the first day of my student practice at the Trilingual School of Warsaw. I was there between 8am and 1pm to observe 4 different 4th grade lessons. Not only was it my first day there, it was my first time ever observing lessons live in person. While it was just the first day and I focused on getting accustomed to the new environment, there were already plenty of moments that made me reflect or learn something new.

    The I wanted to first reflect on building relationships with students. This has always been my favorite topic and was definitely something I was looking forward to observing on my first day. The very first class that happened after I arrived was called Circle Time. During this class the class mentor teacher welcomed the students back from the weekend, asked them about their weekends, and discussed any relevant topics related to the students. It was a great time to catch up with the students after a short break and build a better relationship with them. You could tell they felt comfortable with the teacher, wanted to talk to him, and share their personal anecdotes. Considering this same teacher is responsible for 4 other subjects, it's important they're close with the students. I also enjoyed getting to know the students. I definitely did not want to push any boundaries, but luckily, and to my surprise, the kids were very comfortable coming up to me and starting conversations. They were asking me about where I'm from, how long I will be with them, or even telling me about themselves. I especially enjoyed interacting with them during the time outside - many of them wanted to chat with me and I even played football, which I don't usually enjoy, with some. Since I'll be observing their classes for the next couple of months, I'm glad I got to know the students and they already feel comfortable with me around. It was a great lesson, which can translate to when I am a teacher with my own pupils in the future.

Classroom Environment

    One of my favorite things about my first day was observing the things the school implements to build a stronger community and a better classroom environment to learn. First thing that caught my eye was the desk set-up. Instead of the usual layout that I am used to from Polish school (2-person desks all facing the board), the desks were organized in 'U' shapes. What I liked is that it felt more like a community and more collaborative than regular set-ups. Larger groups of students were sitting together (each U allowed up to 6 students) and when it was time to discuss or collaborate, it felt very natural. It is also easy to rearrange the seats, move them around based on the needs, but it never felt necessary. The students also had special spaces within their classroom, in the back, to store their materials in individual cubbies, as well as a small reading corner, and boxes with community objects. Everything about the classroom environment was clearly thought out and you could feel it from the second you walk in. What I also like about the classroom set-up is that there are a lot of places for students to interact. Some students like to gather around the U-shaped desks - they sit or talk around them. Others like to stand in the back of the class, by the cubbies or in the reading corner. There are even pillows in the classroom, which students can take and they allow them to sit anywhere they want on the floor. It's a spacious room with a lot of places to interact. Every corner was utilized, every wall was covered in materials - it immediately felt like a friendly, creative, and productive space. What I also noticed is that the students do not really use coursebooks. They write a lot in their notebooks and observe presentations or things written on the board. All the materials are stored online for revision or those who are not in school that day. I think it's a very easy, eco-friendly, and organized system, which also does not require a lot of extra money to spend. As far as rules go, there is not a singular classroom contract, but rather many different ideas placed on the walls. The students also discuss behavioral issues or rules regularly and create new contracts as they are needed. While I do think one contract would help with clarity, I also think that discussing these issues regularly keeps them fresh in students' mind and allows nuanced situation to be explained, which a singular contract could omit.  

    In conclusion, my first day at the Trilingual School of Warsaw was definitely a success. I was expecting that since this is such a new experience for me, I would need to take time to adjust first, but I actually learned and noticed so many inspiring things already. Utilizing the theoretical knowledge from GPTE and the observation sheets helped me get accustomed very quickly and make the most out of my first day. I can't wait to go back and learn even more now that I am accustomed and familiar with the environment.