19th February

This is my very first day in practice, Ive attended very early; at 7 oclock in the
morning. I waited until the headmistress arrived, and when she saw me she gave me
a very warm welcome, but I was shocked when she informed me that theres only
one teacher in this school who I can train with, and that she the teacher- is not
attending school today, and that she wasnt told the fact that Ill be training with her,
therefore; we still dont know if shes going to accept or refuse. She told me to leave
now and that theyll tell me whether or not shell train me when she arrives tomorrow.
I was rather disappointed so I told her that I want to start with work today, she then
told me that Ill spend the day with an English teacher and attend her classes with
her. I phoned Miss Moza and told her what has happened, Miss Moza told me not to
worry. Ive attended two classes with the teacher and then spent the rest of the day in
the room until 2 in the afternoon, I then asked her permission to leave and so I did.
Today was a little bit boring, I felt quite lonely since no other student was here. And
so, this was my very first experience with government schools.

20th February
Ive arrived early today at 7 oclock in the morning, and I was pretty nervous whether
or not the teacher will accept me to train with her. I waited for the headmistress to
arrive and when she did I approached her and she told me to wait until Miss Mayson
arrives and tells me. I waited until the morning assembly was over and the first period
started, and only then did Miss Mayson finally approach and inform me that Ill be
able to train with her, I felt relieved. We went to a boys second grade -where Ill be
taking my first ever practice lesson-. After the class had finished we sat and talked
about the things Im required to do, which were; giving 10 lessons and that shell
evaluate them for me 3 times. She was responsive and very welcoming, and she
gave me a general idea about Second Grade and Fourth Grades curriculum. She
also handed me both grades books and I checked them out and then we agreed that
tomorrow will be my first lesson to give. Today, Ive attended three of her classes
which were with a girls Second & fourth Grade and a boys second grade. Today
was very pleasant unlike the first day, it ended at 2:15 in the afternoon and I left after
asking for Miss Maysons permission.

21st February
Ive arrived around 7:30 today and I went straight to the teachers room to say hi to
them, and when the bill rang I went to attend the morning assembly which today had
an international celebration pattern going on, the whole national anthem and program
for the morning assembly vibes kind of reminded me of the days when I was a school
student myself. Today marked my first lesson to give and it was for a girls second
grade, I was pretty tense as this is my first time giving a whole lesson in a whole
class period all by myself. When I attended classes for fourth and second grade, I
made sure to write some beneficial notes which contained some of the kids names,
and what qualities they have, and pretty much how the teacher deals with it all. Right
before I started my first lesson, I gave the teacher my plan for todays lesson and
then I carried on. When I finished, she gave me some crucial advice, such as
motivating the students to participate in class more like she does, as she gives
chocolate to students as a way of motivating, but I dont really think Ill be using
chocolate as a motivation, I think Ill do it in different ways. Then my day was over
and I left the school after we agreed that tomorrow Ill be giving another lesson.

22nd February
Ive arrived at 7 oclock in the morning and I went to the teachers room and when the
bell rang I attended the morning assembly and then went for the first boys second
grade lesson. Miss Mayson asked me to stay with them because she had something
urgent to do. Boys are so annoying and loud, specially four of them, I warned them
that Ill write their names down for punishment since Miss Mayson told me to do so,
but they didnt care at all, So I ordered all of them to get up and I made it clear that I
will only allow polite students to sit and talk with their friends quietly. Some of the
students were actually very responsive but Ibrahim, Yusuf, Mohammed Hasan
and Ali were acting crazy, I snapped at them saying: are these the manners you
learnt from your parents and you want to pass out to people, then I ordered them to
face the wall keeping a good space between them and not move, but if any of them
showed some respect only then that Ill allow them to sit. And so, they showed
respect and I allowed them back on their seats, and I also let them talk with their
class mates quietly. The class ended, so I went to the teachers room and when I
saw Miss Mayson I told her that next week Ill be giving a lesson and that my teacher
from the Higher Colleges of Technology University will be attending the class to
evaluate my teaching. Miss Mayson told me that next weeks lesson for second
grade wouldnt be an appropriate chance since they had a listening test on Monday,
and so we agreed that Ill be giving the lesson that I already prepared and gave to
fourth grade next week instead. When the time finally arrived, I was already well
prepared. I bought some very nice stickers and pencils as a way of motivating the
children. I was also praising the children very much in order to make them feel good
about their efforts in class. To be honest, I was more confident and less nervous
during todays class than when I gave my first lesson. I left when the day was over. I
feel like Im getting more used to the school and my work each passing day.

23rd February
Ive arrived at 7:30 in the morning as usual and I went to the teachers room until the
morning assemblys time has arrived which is at 8 oclock in the morning. Todays
morning assembly had some pretty nice activities performed by students. And at the
end of the morning assembly, the headmistress gave a speech informing the
students that next week will be The Week of Happiness, meaning that there will be
so many fun activities which every class leader will explain to her students. I went to
the principals office to fill in the schools form, when I finished I asked the
headmistresss permission to take pictures of some of the activities & project in
school and walls but she refused, so I reached for Miss Latonia and she promised to
talk with the headmistress. I was then told that a teacher didnt come to school today
therefore I had to cover up her absence by attending her class instead of her which
was a girls fifth grade-, and so I did, and I told them that they can do their homework
or talk with each other quietly. After the class had finished, I went to the teachers
room and there I found Miss Mayson and she asked me to help her prepare the
English listening test exercise papers for second graders for the test. When the class
started; I handed out the papers for the boys in class, I started running the data show
and computer. The entire lesson was a listening exam practice and so for girls'
second grade class too. Miss Mayson was really tired, I've attended the girls' fourth
grade class with her and asked the girls to keep quiet because Miss Mayson was
tired and we don't want to annoy her even more. The teacher started the class with a
spelling lesson, there was a lot of noise so she shouted a lot at the students and
ordered a naughty student to stand up and banned her from answering questions for
like 10 minutes and then let her set with a warning to not make any noise once again.
At the end of the day I talked with Miss Mayson and we agreed about next weeks'
lessons that I'll be giving. Today was so hectic yet really fun.

26th February
I've arrived at 7:30 in the morning and attended the morning assembly at 8:00
oclock. Today they celebrated the national day in Kuwait, so the students had some
performances to celebrate. Myself and the students had to arrange the activities
which Miss Mayson wanted them to be done on the occasion of happiness day.
She brought some cupcakes, sweets and cappuccino to sell at the schools theatre. I
went to the theatre with her, where there were the teachers and the headmistress
too. I started to prepare with them, some of the students and their mothers were
already here and they brought up different kinds of national sweets and food. The
fourth class was cancelled in order to extend the celebration period. I had so much
fun but I had to give two lessons for the second and fourth grades so I was
completely tired and had a headache at the end of the day. I also had the first
observation session with Miss Mayson.

27th February
I've arrived very early at school, at 6:50 in the morning because I had a lesson to
give at the first period and Miss Latonia will attend to evaluate me. I've arranged the
class and prepared my tools, the data show and the computer, then waited for Miss
Latonia to come. I was a bit nervous but what made me even more nervous is the
morning assembly that has extended to take a part of the first lesson of the period,
but I gave the lesson and it was really good. Today we had a listening exam for the
second grade (boys and girls). Miss Mayson gave the two exams papers for boys
and girls and asked me to print and prepare them. I've attended the girls' second
grade. The teacher played the recorder while I was handing the papers to them. The
teacher explained the questions in Arabic so they can understand what's needed and
played the recorder then stopped it every once in a while to give them an opportunity
to answer the question. Then she played the record again. After every portion of
questions she toured amongst them so she could see their answers and if she
noticed that a lot of them haven't answered the questions or have answered them
wrongly she replayed the record again with extra explanation. The boys too had a
listening exam as I mentioned. The teacher suffered a lot with them because they
didn't answer the questions correctly. Today I felt relaxed because I've passed the
first evaluation session with Miss Latonia.

28th of February
I've arrived at 7 oclock in the morning and attended the morning assembly. The
headmistress told me to monitor the boys at the break because the teacher in charge
was absent. I have a lesson to give for the second grade today. And there was a
speaking exam for the fourth grade too. The teacher takes the student outside the
classroom and I stay in with the rest of them. I prepared a spelling test for them about
the previous lessons; I pronounce the word and the student should raise her hand so
I can pick her to come and write it over on the board, the girl who does it right and
write the correct spelling, the rest of the girls must applaud for her. The students
loved the idea and they were competing to answer. I agreed to monitor the students
at the two breaks. I feel satisfied and happy when I have something to do so I won't
feel bored. I finished the day and left.

1st February
I've arrived at school early at 7:30 in the morning as usual. Miss Mayson has told me
to prepare a PowerPoint presentation for the second graders about the new words. I
prepared it using one of the teachers computers. Miss Mayson rarely does activities
or uses new tools to give lessons; she uses the traditional methods to give the
lessons and to answer the curriculum's exercises. Sometimes she does use the
PowerPoint. As usual I've attended the three classes today. At the second grade the
girls were so annoying and caused a big mess, three girls fought at the class and
Miss Mayson had to call the School counselor, She came in and snapped at them,
and asked Miss Mayson to write down the name of any other girl who would dare to
act similar so that shell punish her at the morning assembly. Miss Mayson told the
school counselor that there are also some polite and well behaved girls in this class,
the school counselor asked Miss Mayson to write down their names too in order to
reward them at the morning assembly and she praised them and thanked them for
their behavior. At the second grade class I ran the PowerPoint presentation that
showed the pictures with the new words while Miss Mayson was explaining them on
the board.

2nd February
I've arrived to school at 7:30 in the morning and attended the morning assembly.
Today, the headmistress left for a special work outside of school, so I took the
opportunity and told Miss Mayson about my wish to take pictures of the schools
facilities and walls, and told her that the only thing holding me back is the
headmistresss refusal, Miss Mayson told me that there's no problem to do so as long
as Im using it for beneficial deeds and that it wont do no harm in return. I walked
around the school and took photos of some facilities. I attended three classes; one of
them was at a girls fourth grade. At the beginning of the class we revised the
previous unit weve finished (Dinosaurs unit). Each girl prepared something to
present to class that is related to dinosaurs, for example; one of the girls brought a
small dinosaur toy and talked about its body parts, another girl brought some pictures
she had already printed and talked about general information related to dinosaurs,
such as; what do they eat, how much they weigh, their sizes and whether or not they
can run and so on.

5th March
I've arrived at 7:30 in the morning and attended the morning assembly. The first class
was at a boys' second grade. The teacher was asking them (in Arabic) but there was
no interacting with her at all so she told them: you're absolutely sleepy today! Hey
come on, stand up and run between these two walls for five times. Then she allowed
them to set down after they've finished, they were completely better and active after
that. I also had a lesson to give at the fourth grade today. I'm really happy that I've
improved more in the way I give & prepare the lessons. There's a huge
improvements since day one. I talked with Miss Mayson today about the reason
behind her choice to become an English teacher and about her teaching experience
in general. She told me she loved her work so much but shes feeling bored and tired
of all of this after 17 years.

6th March
Ive arrived at 7:30 in the morning as usual. Today I was required to give two lessons;
one for a girls fourth grade & the other for a boys second grade. In the boys class,
and during the spelling lesson, Yusuf was talking and moving too much that the
teacher snapped at him for doing so, and when he didnt behave well she threw him
out of class and ordered him to stand outside the class and not to move away from
the door. To be fair, Yusuf is a smart boy but hes so annoying and he always
behaves badly. In the middle of the lesson the teacher allowed him back in again
provided that hell apologize and behave well. I noticed that sometimes the teacher is
forgiving and ignores a lot of the kids bad behavior, and sometimes shes very strict
with the rules and punish them when theyre wrong, But I dont find that entirely right;
I think the teacher must have her own rules since day one and apply them every day
and not occasionally or whenever she feels like it, because this is the only way the
children will follow the rules since theyll become used to rules.

7th March
I've arrived at 7:30 in the morning. Today, there was a speaking exam for boys
second grade. The teacher took out a table and two chairs, the rest of the students
stayed in the classroom with me. One of the students named Ali asked the
teacher's permission to watch cartoons, the teacher asked me to start playing Tom &
Jerry for them. The students were watching cartoons quietly while each one of them
was going out to Miss Mayson separately to take the exam then came back to the
class until the class has finished. The girls second grade also had a speaking exam
so I stayed in the classroom with them while each girl revised the test bank paper for
the exam that has been given to them by Miss Mayson, I took the paper and started
asking them questions so if any of them wanted to answer she could by raising her
hand. Miss Mayson was so exhausted, we chatted together; she told me she was
worried about the boys marks since they were pretty awful and the students didnt
care at all about learning. But on a more positive note, the girls marks were very
good.

8th March
I've arrived at 7:30 in the morning and as usual I've attended the morning assembly.
Miss Mayson asked me to write and print new words worksheets for both girls' and
boys' second grades for the past two lessons, because the curriculum is so long she
had to give them the entire units' words as it's really important for the middle exam
thats going to be take place very soon. She gave me the template and I copied it, I
used one of the teachers computers to do so and then I printed it and prepared it.
During the next lesson I ran the PowerPoint and showed them some pictures so the
teacher could ask them about what they were seeing, then tell them the word and its
meaning then repeat it 3 times to make sure they memorized it. After she had
finished the entire words list she gave them the worksheets and it contained different
kinds of questions about the new words they've learnt ( Re organize the word letters,
Write the appropriate word below the matching picture, Match the words and the
pictures), And then she announced to them that the ones who finish their tasks and
they made it right-, shell award them a chocolate bar. Everybody got encouraged
and started answering the worksheets. Motivation and rewards really work with this
class rather than punishments! I've done the same with the girls' second grade and it
worked.

9th March
This was my last day in practice. Ive arrived at school at 7:10 in the morning. I
waited for the headmistress to arrive as I wanted to farewell her as today is my last
day here. She was very nice indeed, and she granted me an appreciation certificate
duo to my efforts during the past 3 weeks here. I thanked her and then I left. I was a
little bit nervous since Miss Latonia was about to come and evaluate my work during
my class today. In the morning, Miss Mayson told me to prepare a PowerPoint
presentation for the kids in class using new words that she already gave me, and
then she ordered me to prepare two forms of exams for the second graders. Today
was the last lesson Ill ever give as a trainee, and I prepared everything. It started off
pretty good but I didnt have enough time to finish the whole lesson. When the bell
rang, I felt very tense since I thought that I have to give the entire lesson during the
class period. I spoke with Miss Latonia and she gave me some advice and pointed
some notes. My experience this semester was over, and it was a very decent one,
Ive enjoyed it thoroughly and it added a lot to me.