Saturday 29 January 2011

GCSE Physics lesson 24/01/2011

This week I did two GCSE Physics lessons. It was the same lesson with different groups. The lesson was about roller coasters and how they work in terms of speed, acceleration, force and energy.
I prepared an exercise containing and diagram of a roller coaster and some questions. I wanted the students to try the questions without me explaining the answers in the first place. The questions were made step by step so at the beginning were easier and then they got more difficult.
In both lessons happened more or less the same. The students were able to do the easier questions but then they got stuck in the more difficult ones, so in the end, I explained the questions myself (something that I wanted to avoid doing). What could have I done differently?
They answered the questions individually or in pairs. I think if they had worked in groups they would have been able to answer more questions helping each other.
I think I should have given a bit more of guidance before starting answering the questions.
There is a simulation of a skater in the physics-online webpage that could have helped them understand the roller coaster in terms of energy and friction.
I  need to make the questions easier. Sometimes the problem is that they don't understand what the question in asking. I need to make the language more simple.

Tuesday 18 January 2011

GCSE Physics lesson 17/01/2011

Yesterday I did a GCSE Physics lesson. As usual, some of the students came late. 5 of them came 5 minutes late. 5 minutes later one of those students asked me if he could go to the toilet. I said no because they had had a break just before and he came late to the class. He complained and he kept asking during the whole lesson but he accepted that he couldn't go to the toilet.
About 40 minutes after starting the class, another student asked me if he could go to the toilet. As I had already said no to the other student, I found myself saying no to this one. He complained and said that if was his right to go to the toilet and that he was going anyway. I warned him that if he went to the toilet he won't be able to come back to the class. He went to the toilet and came to the class and sat down in his place. I told him that he couldn't stay in the classroom but he wouldn't go. So I said to him that I wanted to talk to him after the class.
After the class I talked to the student. I told him that I normally let the students go to the toilet, but as I didn't the other student go, I couldn't let him go either. He understood and agreed. I told him also that if I say that he is out of the class, he has to go out. He agreed reluctantly.
I think the fact that I didn't let the first student go to the toilet was good. He came late and he asked it just after the break. Maybe I should have let him go after 20 minutes. That way, if another student asks to go to the toilet, I can say yes. The rule I can use is that I won't let anybody go to the toilet if they come straight from the break. I can let them go after 20 minutes.
I think I was a good idea not to let one go to the toilet and not the other. I wonder how the first student would have behaved it that case.
As far as punctuality is concerned, I need to control it. I am going to ask the Physics teacher how he does it and agree the same actions for both of us.