CASE STUDY

Nadia - 200816240

[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME] [Company address]

School environmental context

a. Mission and values of the school: Mission: We aim to develop in our students the skills and intercultural awareness needed to become responsible and productive forward thinking citizens of their own society and the world community. For this reason, the International Baccalaureate programs (PYP: Primary Years Program, MYP: Middle Years Program, DP: Diploma Program) were selected as a framework for developing and delivering the curriculum which is founded on the Common Core State Standards developed in the United States and National Standards developed by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education. Values: The school values instilled in the children from the moment they enter the school until they graduate. They believed that: Education promotes intercultural understanding and respect will create a more tolerant and peaceful world. A deep awareness on ones own culture and heritage forms the platform for understanding and appreciating the culture of others. The school is the place that provides an orderly and safe environment for students to feel stimulated to pursue their dreams. b. History about the school and type of school: Emirates National Schools are group of schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain which are private were the students have to pay for each study year. The Abu Dhabi campus where in Al Karama street was built on last year in 2012 as Mr. Mohamed Belhamer said who the head of primary school is is. On this campus they teach students from Kindergarten till primary grades. In addition, he also added that the school had about 110 IB (International Baccalaureate) teachers and 1130 students in PYP (Primary Years Program), 90% of the PYP students are Emirati. The school had two libraries, one is for Kindergarten and the other one if for primary grades. They also provides a swimming pool, gym hall and theater.

c. Curriculum: The ENS is running the IB program which is (International Baccalaureate), PYP Primary Years Program. It focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. The curriculum designed for students aged 3 to 12. (website) Subjects: 70% English. (includes Literacy and Numeracy) 20% Arabic. 10% Islamic.

d. Data about roll and staffing members; gender and ethnicity information; social and economic information about families: Regarding to the ENS website there were 110 IB teacher and the other information were not given. e. Daily schedule of the classroom: When KG students arrive to the class they will play with what they want to play with, then the teacher will take the attendance by having the students write their names on the big white board. After the attendance the teacher will start the class greeting the students by singing good morning song and do morning meeting by doing a revision about body parts. Then they will starts their classes. When the first class finish the students will have their snack inside the classroom. The snack usually takes about 20 minutes. Later they will have two classes and inquiry time inside the classroom. From 11:30 till 12:30 they will have play time in the playground then lunch. When the students finish their lunch they come back to the class and do a circle to watch a movie on the smart board which is the last thing that they do before going back to home.

f.

School rules:

Regarding to the Family Handbook of the ENS the rules of the schools are: School system will not tolerate any form of bullying. Staff and students are not allowed to use tobacco on school grounds on any time. Students who need medication during the school day must have their medication registered at the school Clinic. All students must wear the approved ENS uniform at all times unless otherwise notified.

g. Routines:

As Mr. Mohammad said that all ENS school have the same time for starting their day which is 7:30 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m. Always on Tuesdays the students leave earlier because at 3:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. the teachers with principle have Staff Professional Development. Moreover, the school day starts with an assembly with national anthem. Actually all the primary grades do the morning assembly on the playground and KG students do it in their classes. And some time they take longer time in the morning if there are an announcement or presentations. After that the school starts the classes. Morning break is about 20 minutes starts at 9:15 a.m. at this break students eat their snacks. From 11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. KG students have break for playing, then from 12:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. they have lunch break. They finish they school day at 1:00 p.m.

h. Technology tools available: Smartborads Activinspire program Computers Ipads for the teachers. Cameras around the school

Reflection:

Emirates National School were school which is running IB curriculum which is one of the best curriculum around the world. And it focus on the students and develop their skills for the school and outside school lives such as thinking critically and be a good problem solver. The school are trying their best to develop the staff skills. Before going to the school I thought that under the name of Emirates national school it would be a school which have only students who are Emirati. But then I noticed the classrooms were a multicultural, which will develop the students multicultural awareness and respecting other citizens. And the most important thing that the school is doing that they do a national anthem. Actually for the data about roll and staffing members, gender and ethnicity information, social and economic information about the family were not given. I thought it might be a private information on the school. Moreover, most of the information were posted on the computer system and the center of the information are on the Mohammad Bin Zayed campus which were under repair. The school routine and rules were clear and simple to follow. But on the point of bullying, I noticed that some students who were speaking on Arabic used some bad words for each other in which is not acceptable regarding to the rules that written on family book of the school but the teachers who are English speaker do not understand what they are saying. Moreover, the school stuff were friendly, welcoming and helpful in which they let me feel comfortable while talking and dealing with them. Also I notice a wonderful thing that they share information and help each other during the break or at the end of the school time. In addition, I liked the way of how the teacher deals calmly with students parents when they came and complained about what they have heard from their children. Regarding to my university peers about the technology used on the school, they said that they just starting this year to include iPads in their learning activities, and they welcoming us to co-operate

with them on the use of iPads apps. Also what I liked that they had cameras around all the school which provided safety school environment.

Classroom learning context

a. Layout of the classroom:

The class room is well organized colored with white but designed with colorful printed papers. At the corner there are the teacher desk which

contained computers, and some materials that she used while working. There are four groups tables on the middle of classroom and each group have about five students. Teacher named the groups by using shapes. There are a Cabinet for the material used and the students work. In front of the students tables there are a carpet faces the smart board. Carpet is used for the morning meeting and whole class lesson before doing group activities or for watching movies or songs.

b. resources/storage/booking procedures:

There are many resources used in the classroom such as: Small library had different kinds of story books suit the students level. Colors table contains white board markers, pencils, coloring pencils, markers, scissors and play dough. Files to keep students works and records on it. Art area: had all kinds of colors, glues. Boxes for portfolios, diaries and students journals. There is a storage for connecting bricks, puzzles, sea animals, rubber animals, small dominoes, and construction.

c. Technology resources used in the classroom: Smart board ( for explaining the writing for the hall class before starting group working, for example, she used it to teach the students letters or numbers) first day observation. 2 computers: as I observed they used computers for entertainment. And one computer for the teacher. As I observed the teacher used her smartphone and write on the note some information about the students I think and communicating with other teachers.

d. Use of the walls:

The teacher use the wall of the classroom for many purposes. She used it to post rules of the class, date of the day, names of the year months, day schedule and to post students work. In addition, she also post the new words that the students learn during the week with their letters. There are a safety paper and the school map stick next to the classroom door from inside.

e. List of class rules:

The class rules have written by the teacher and the students. As the teacher said that she make a discussion with the students and ask them about some rules and see if they accepted and understand it. They called it essential agreement, and they are: We dont put anything on the floor. We sit on the floor. We play. We dont run around.

 f.

We dont beat our friends. Dont through sand. We are friends and happy family. No cry.

Class routines: When the students arrive to the class at the morning they put their bags on their own lockers. Sit on the table and do some drawing or playing. Leave everything while doing the national anthem. Teacher ask the students about the date and the day. All the students are responsible on the cleaning time after finishing activities or playing time.

g. Weekly schedule:

h. Behavior management strategies observed: There are a naughty chair Keep saying the students name loudly Change the students place if they were fighting If the students finish his work the teacher praise him or her (skinner) The assistant call some students (baby) which let them feel serious and stop doing some misbehaviors. Using the word NO DONT DO IT There are two lists one is Today I am principled, the students who behaved well and was helpful on the classroom for the whole day the teacher write his name and at the end she will put a sticker on the students communication book and write appositive comments about the students for the parents to read. And the other one is No play in which the teacher writes names of the naughty students and the will not play during playing time on the playground.

Reflection:

The classroom was organized in way the teacher know where each material are. But I think that the size of the classroom are not enough because I noticed that I could not move easily while the students are playing or moving around. And the chairs were close to the carpet which is not good for the children if they decide to stand up and move the chair to the back. In addition, because they are still on the beginning of the semester, the walls seem to be empty and boring. I hope that on the middle of the semester it might be full of the students works and colorful p apers and words which will help the students on learning and keep the classroom environment interesting learning place. Additionally, the way that the teacher posted the essential agreements which are rules of the classroom seemed to be for the children hard to understand, because she used big white paper and the rules written with black markers. It will be better if she used pictures to make the rules more clearly for the students to understand. However, the rules that she wrote suites with grade level of the students. The carpet that used is too small which make the students feel uncomfortable while facing the smart board. Technology are used in the classroom to make the lesson more interesting, therefore, the teacher first of all used the smart board to explain the lesson for the students instead of using white board. But that does not mean that she did not used the white board at all. Also she used computers for the students who are done with their work. Furthermore, there are other resources that the teacher used for the students who finished their activity and there are more than two playing areas in the class. The materials and resources were stored on named places which will let the teacher find what she need easily and it also let the students find the places of the materials easily while cleaning up and turning back the materials. For the weekly lesson plan, it is related to the IB program in which it help to develop the individuals skills such as thinker and caring. In fact that teachers before starting the new week lesson plan, they have a meeting to discuss the lesson plans and share ideas between them. Which is kind of getting benefit from each other.

The learners

a. Profile of the class: roll numbers, ages, gender; ethnicity; socio-economic background, diverse learning needs, development:

Roll numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Names

ages

gender

Ethnicity

Khalid Ahmmed john Omar Mohammad Thiab Nasser Saeed James Josef Saleh Hamda Aisha Nadia Mona Hamad Dalal Laila M.ajed Emi Amal Sara Sultan

4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 5 4 4 4 3

M M M M M M M M M M M F F F F M F F M F F F M

Diverse learning needs UAE Not given JORDAN Not given USA Not given UAE Not given INDONESIA Not given UAE Not given UAE Not given UAE Not given BRITISH Not given CANADA Not given UAE Not given UAE Not given UAE Not given UAE Not given UAE Not given UAE Not given JORDAN Not given JORDAN Not given SYRIA Not given CANADA Not given UAE Not given PAKISTAN Not given UAE Not given

development

Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given Not given

b. description of ten students and diverse learning needs:

Number of students 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Name John Amal Mohammad Dalal Khalid Saeed Rashid

Gender MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE MALE MALE

country of origin USA UAE INDONESAI JORDAN UAE UAE UAE

home language ENGLISH ENGLISH ENGLISH ENGLISH ARABIC ARABIC ARABIC

academic achievement NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN

social achievement NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN

interest and hobbies

8 9 10

Hamad Ahmed Mansour

MALE MALE MALE

UAE UAE UAE

ARABIC ARABIC ARABIC

NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN

NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN NOT GIVEN

diverse learning needs: The students who are Arabic speakers need more explanation while having English classes, also there was a student who is Dalal, she just have an eyes visual deficit, and she kept focusing on one thing if they did not remind her about the task.

Reflection: From the information that I got from the teacher and through talking with students, I saw detected that most of students are Arabian and majority of them they understand some English vocabulary which it perfect. Also they are from educated and nuclear family. I had enjoy talking with them. Most of the students when I asked them about what do they like to do most of the time, they answered me playing and for the job they did not give me clear answer. And for couple of them, mostly the boys they told me that they want to be like their fathers. From the

conversation that I had with them, I knew the students more and we got used to each other. But for the social and academic achievement, diverse learning needs and development the teacher did not gave me the information about it And for the socio-economic background, I asked the principle about it, but he did not gave us any information related to it. Regarding to the UAE culture most of the family do not like to talk about their socio-economic backgrounds because they saw it as a private information.

The learning cycle

a. Observation of a lesson/workshop:

Observation Form
SSW Candidate: Mentor Name: University Supervisor: Grade/Subject: Date: Nadia Khalifa Al Falahi Nicola Dr. Angela KG 1 letter s revision of letter m, a Tuesday October 1, 2013

WORKSHOP PLAN
Appropriate and clear learning outcomes. Appropriate content. Appropriate resources. Appropriate instructional strategies. Appropriate workshop management strategies.
-

COMMENT
At the first teacher gathered the students on the carpet and did a revision about the previous letters that they learned m, a by using smart board. Then she introduce letter s and see how many of the students know it. After introducing the letter s, she taught them how to pronounce it and how to write it. She let the students try to write it on the smart board. Then she divided the students into four groups, each group will write the three letters in different ways. They will use play dough, white boards and markers, white papers and color pencils and newspapers and scissors to find out the litters. For the management strategies the teachers kept praising the students for good work and remind the students who are off the task to focus with serious tone. Also she used the assistant to keep observing the students. The teacher assess the students from his work and see how he is developing his writing. Everything that the children did is right.

Appropriate assessment strategies.

-

PRESENTATION
Presented introduction to the workshop. Presented topics in a logical, well paced sequence.
-

COMMENT
The teacher presented a clear and simple introduction for the students that is easy for them to understand. She related how to the write the letters to small sentences that words begins with the same letters.

 Related workshop to previous material. Used visuals/handouts effectively (when relevant). Varied explanations for complex or difficult material. Spoke at an effective volume and speed. Used gestures and moved in the classroom effectively. Summarized major points.

Most of the activities are visuals and kinesthetic, because the students used colors and play dough. But most of the students are engaged on the activities that needs playing with hands rather than writing. She shows the students some pictures related to the certain letters and asked them about it. The teacher focused on the students who are writing on their papers and let the assistant moved around, and when she finished with the group, she re-chick and move around the classroom to observe students work. At the End of the activities she again show the students the letters while they are sitting on the carpet and let them pronounce it together.

CONTENT Presented material relevant to the learning outcomes of the

workshop. Demonstrated mastery of the subject matter. Explained content with clarity, defining terms and concepts. Used good examples to clarify important points.

COMMENT
Teacher used some students name and other pictures to increase the students vocabulary, then she posts the pictures with their names on the wall.

INTERACTION Actively encouraged and responded well to participants.

Waited sufficient time for participants to answer questions. Showed enthusiasm and established rapport. Maintained control of the group. Treated all participants with respect. Encouraged group interaction.

COMMENT
When teacher explained the lesson on the smart board, she chooses students to participate even if they dont know how to right, she helped them and praise them for their trying. She encourage the students to share the materials while working in groups, especially with the group that had the play dough.

ASSESSMENT (describe the process in enough detail for the

reader to understand the process)

COMMENT
The teacher started the lesson by gathering the students on the carpet and asking them about the previous lesson, then showed them the new letters and asked them about it. She used the assistant to walk around the tables while the teacher is working with each group. She check the students work and kept asking them about the letters. For the KG the teacher gather the students works and save them in the portfolios. And also she used observation as an assessment.

Checked student prior knowledge of the lesson. Monitored student understanding throughout the lesson/workshop. Verified that learning took place and that the intended learning outcomes were achieved. Used a variety of assessment strategies appropriate for the learners and the context. e.g.

Verbal assessment through questions and answers Written activities Observation checklists Project based assessment Other

(individual, groups, )

There were a verbal assessment by asking the students about the letters.

Other Teacher Assessment Peer Assessment Individual Assessment

b. Assessment Strategies Assessment strategies observed this week: To assess the student, teacher give direct question and observe how the students write or do the activities. The kind of assessment strategies that she/he uses during the year. For the beginning of the year the teacher assess the children through a simple small test about body parts, numbers and letters. She compare the student works before and after and notice the achievements. Regarding to the the teacher there are a summative and formative assessment. Each student have his own file to keep his or her work and recording on it.

Reflection: I think that for KG 1 the teacher mostly assess the students through observation because they are still kids. However, also keeping the students work on the file is the best way to assess them during the school year and notice the achievement of the students. I noticed that the students during the day activity they are more likely to do the activity that includes movement, creating letters by using play dough or cutting the letters from the newspapers rather than just using papers and pencils. Therefore, teachers in my point of view they need to let the students experiencing different activities and materials because on this age specially got off the task quickly, and that what did my teacher do. She used different activities and each activity take short time, no longer than 10 minutes.

Reflection

Reflection

Emirates National school as I observed is one of schools that running the IB program which is one of the best program in my point of view. They focus on the whole child and see what do he wants to learn. This curriculum comes under the philosophy of Progressivism; focus on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside, and Existentialism; which is a powerful emphasis on inquiry-based learning and that related to the question (what I want to learn) and (what I want to do). The school also want to make the students internationally minded; being thinker, caring, reflective, inquirers, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled and communicators. (Class presentation). These skills are needed for 21st century world. The classroom that I have been on it was different than the classroom that I imagine before visiting the school. It was a busy place with different kinds of materials that needed for the learning activities. The minter teacher and the assistant were friendly and willing to give me information that I needed and extra explanations about teaching, school and classroom environment to let me have a clear picture about teaching on ENS. Actually the teacher as coordinator she shared the information with others such as teachers or classroom assistant. In addition, the school have a clear and simple rules which make it safe learning environment for students. There were a family handbook which includes all the information about the staff, curriculum, rules and other needed information about the school for the parents. And the parents should read it carefully and sigh paper that said that they have read the information and agreed with it. This strategy will let the parents know the school procedure of what will happened on certain situation. The classroom tables were divided into groups. Each group has about five students which were sitting randomly. Regarding to Vygotsky, students learn better through interaction with multicultural and different backgrounds students. It introduces the students to new cultures and knowledge that comes under the multicultural awareness. In addition, the teacher at the first while starting the lesson she have all students on the carpet and explain the lesson for them and model it. For example, at the literacy class she taught the students how to write litter S, she show them how to write the letter. According to Vygotsky (1978), much important learning by the child occurs through social interaction with a skillful tutor. The tutor may model behaviors and/or provide verbal instructions for the child. Vygotsky refers to this as cooperative or collaborative dialogue. The child seeks to understand the actions or instructions provided by the tutor (often the parent or teacher) then internalizes the information, using it to guide or regulate their own performance. (McLeod, 2013)

The behaviorism which were used by the teacher with her students were choosing the student who was sitting and listening to the teacher to answer the question or write the answer on the smart board. Also she used praising which is positive reinforcement. For example, she said: well done, good job or excellent. Even if the students did not write the answer correctly she kept using positive words because they were trying and learning. Regarding to Skinner Positive reinforcement strengthens a behavior by providing a consequence an individual finds rewarding. For example, if your teacher gives you 5 each time you complete your homework, you are more likely to repeat this behavior in the future, thus strengthening the behavior of completing your homework. (McLeod, Skinner - Operant Conditioning, 2013). Moreover, she used a sticker on the communication book for the students who were participating and well behaved at the classroom, and next to the sticker she writes a positive comments about the students to let his parents read it. This strategies will manage the students behavior and encourage them to repeat their behaviors and be proud in front of their parents and classmates. However, she also used a punishment or negative reinforcement as a strategy to manage or stop the students misbehavior. She actually used a naughty chair. They feel sad of sitting there, because some students do not want to be ignored and do not participates. Also there where a circle called think and reflect. I observed her using it one with one student who was keep hits his friends while playing. She let him sit on the circle and ask him to think why he is sitting there. I observed the student who was sitting on the circle crying and want to play with his friends, but the teacher told him that he is not going to move until he apologize. Additionally, rewarding and punishment is necessary on the learning environment, but the teacher have to use them in certain situation if needed not all the time. For the activities, the teacher involved the students senses to experience the materials and do the activities. Physical actions, hands-on experience may be necessary for learning, especially for children, but it is not sufficient; we need to provide activities which engage the mind as well as the hands.9 (Dewey called this reflective activity.). (Hein, 2013). Therefore, it is useful to get the students experience different activities and sometime give them activities that encourage them to think before start doing the activity. From the observation week on ENS I have gained lots of information that benefit me and might help me in my teaching experience. I learned that at the beginning of the year, the teacher should know the students prior knowledge, background information; such as age, family members, socio-economic and also information about hobbies and their interest. Moreover, I have to know if there are any student with special needs in th to let them participate in the class activities. Also the teacher should deal with students regarding to their age. For example, I was surprise that there were a students who was absent for two days and when he came back to the school he forget the classroom rules and do what he want to do. Then I

knew that he was still child and it is still the beginning of the year, so the students need time to get used to the school. In addition, planning the lesson is an important method to keep the teacher organize and prepared. Finally teacher have to use different behavior management strategies in her classroom and be balanced and limited in using rewarding and punishment with students.

Bibliography
Hein, G. E. (2013, October 9). Constructivist Learning Theory. Retrieved from Institute of inquiry: http://www.exploratorium.edu/ifi/resources/constructivistlearning.html McLeod, S. (2013, October 9). Lev Vygotsky. Retrieved from SimplyPsychology: http://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html McLeod, S. (2013, October 9). Skinner - Operant Conditioning. Retrieved from Simply psychology: http://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html