Course: Practicum 1a

Code: EPC 1403

Observation Task 4: Planning and

preparation for learning

Prepared by: Hend Saeed Alyammahi

ID: H00357629
Prepared to: Ms. Hamada Al-awadi
Date of submission: Sunday June 24, 2018
Observation Task 4: Planning and preparation for learning
Focus: The importance of planning and preparation
Objective: The objective of this task is for student teachers to begin to understand
the relevance of planning and preparation as well as gain insight into how teachers do
this.
Procedure:
1. Before the observation discuss the task with the teacher and arrange a good
time to observe her teaching. (this could be for 15 min)
2. During the observation, record and make notes on what the teacher and the
learners are doing.
Find out how the teacher planned and prepared for the section you observed.
3. After the observation – Arrange a time to discuss the following points with the
teacher:
1- How do you plan? Do you plan weekly, daily, as part of a team or
individually?
“It is very fluid, it depends on the time of year and the levels I am teaching. In
some levels I have a lot of materials and I only have to supplement these and
make a scheme of work to work from; sometimes I am in a new level teaching a
new skill and I do not have anything so in this case I prepare weekly and daily.
However, I always make a general plan for the cycle I am teaching before the
cycle starts and follow it.”
2- Do you do anything you haven’t planned to do? “Very often, sometimes
lessons go in a different direction and they are going very well so I stay on that
topic or even expand it with ad hoc activities that are suitable.”
3- What is “ad hoc” activities?
“Extra activates that I already have can help the students to understand the
concept that I am teaching them now.”
4- What is important to you when planning a lesson? “Timing, so they get the
most from the lesson, activity variety and level so the work is varied, fun, keeps
their attention while being accessible to their level of English.”
5- Do you plan to do the same thing with all the students in the classroom?
Why/Why not? “I try to differentiate where appropriate and always have
extension activities for stronger students. I always create an IEP for students
identified with any special learning needs.”
Example of notes during the observation
Teacher activity
Teacher arranges learners into groups
to work on an activity/task. She gives
the instructions and gives a quick
demonstration of how to do it.
Teacher starts the activity/task and
walks around the room and helps
those who need it.
Note: This is only an example, the aim of this is to observe what is happening in the learning environment
you are in.
My observation
Teacher activity
- After greeting the teacher tells
the students about the plan of
the day and what they are
going to do during this session.
- She takes the attendance.
- Explain the activity to the
students and model it to them
on the board.
- Puts them in groups in pairs
depends on the activity they
are doing.
- Set a time and ask them to
start working
 The teacher walks around to
help, check and assess the
students.
 She gives extra practice to the
students who finish early.
Time spent
Learner activity
Learners listen to the teacher, get into 4 mins
groups and watch the demonstration
Learners start the activity, and talk
10 mins
together to finish it. Some students are
raising their hand asking for help.
Time spent
Learner activity
- Learners listen to the
instructions, ask for clarification
if needed. Get in groups and
start working
5 mins
 The learners are working
together and helping each other
15 mins
to finish the work. Some of
them are struggling and asking
the teacher’s help. Others are
finishing very quickly and asking
for the extra worksheets.
Reflection

 Why is planning and preparation for learning important?

 What do you have to think about before you begin to plan for learning?
 What stages did the teacher go through in order to be prepared for teaching?

Planning and preparation

A main key when teaching a new lesson is to plan for it. planning is what makes
the difference between a great lesson where the students achieve the learning objective or
a poor lesson where the learning objective is not met by the students. In my opinion, there
are many advantages for lesson planning in the interest of both the teacher and the
learners. First, you have to think about learners’ needs, prior knowledge, and interest
before creating the suitable activities. Second, it helps the teacher to estimate the time
needed for each activity. Therefore, she will have a better idea of how many activities she
will need so she can use the time wisely. Third, planning tells you what to bring to the
class, what to consider in order of technology, props, student materials, and teacher
resources. Finally, the teacher can decide what type of assessment she will apply to know
if the pupils understand the lesson or not.
From my experience, I think that planning for teaching is much challenging than
the teaching itself. Also, its more time and effort consumer than during and after
teaching. This is all because of the multiple things to be considered before, while and
after planning. Additionally, as a teacher I know that I must be flexible with my plans.
The reason for this is that as teachers we deal with different minds and moods. Also, our
expectations can be interfered with error in technology, students’ interaction, or students’
misconceptions. Finally, I am totally aware of the importance of planning for me as a
trainee and for my MST as an expert teacher. Hence, I will always plan ahead and I will
do to the class full prepared.