Task 5 Teacher Talk

Focus: teacher talk instruction-giving & positive

reinforcement
Objective:
To realise how the teacher uses language in the classroom to give clear instructions
and to offer praise and motivation. Student teachers have looked at how the teacher
manages the classroom, the class and the learners. This week, they will develop their
understanding of how teachers use their talk to give clear instructions and to offer positive
reinforcement (praise) to their students.

At the beginning of the day:

- Meet your MST, and learn about his/her daily plan.
-

Tell your MST that your focus for today is to notice teacher talk that (s)he uses in the
classroom during the day.

Tell your MST that you also need to observe ONE or TWO activities. You need to pay
very special attention to the beginning of Tell him/her that during these moments, you
will not participate. You will sit out and just very quietly look, listen, complete your task
sheet.

Ask your MST which lesson, in particular, would be good for you to observe

About the lesson: Try to find out what materials will be used; what the teacher wants
the children to do

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Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

At the beginning of the day I didnt have time to ask my MST about her
daily plan, because she was busy with her students. I observed one
activity and I didnt participate with students, I was sitting quietly listen,
look, and complete my study sheet. In the middle of the day, I asked my
MST about which listen would be good for me to observe, and she told
me: this week is math and science week and it is good for me to observe
this lessons, when I observed math and science lessons I tried to find out
what materials were used for that lessons and I find out it, it were water,
cups of different sizes, papers, scissors, and glue. She wants the students
in science lesson to look at the containers, and find out how many scoops
do they think it will take to bring their superhero to the top, and they
should estimate, and find out the actual number of the scoops, which
container holds the most and least water, also she gave the students
worksheet about the lesson. In the math lesson, the MST wants the
students to cut the numbers from one to twenty and put it in order in the
paper. At the end of the day, I sat with my MST and asked her about her
daily plan, in addition she told me that she started with phonics activity,
then on the carpet which is daily routine, after that it depend on the time
table of the week or day.

During the day:

- Make notes in the 3 tables provided.
-

The first table focuses on giving instructions:

The second table focuses on praise

The third one is about negative statements that you might hear.

Get involved in all of the other activities that are happening

Assist your MST in every way requested. Notice things that you can do without being
told.

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Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

Table1. Giving instructions: Complete the table below about teacher

talk during one whole activity or lesson:
Teacher talk at the beginning of the activity
Starting the activity:
How does the teacher get the
childrens attention?

step by step: (write the exact words the teacher used)

Giving instructions for

the activity :

step by step: (write the exact words the teacher used)

This morning we will start with ordering number activity, you have to
ordering the numbers from one to twenty.

You should cut all the numbers, order it, and then stick it.

teacher talk during the activity

What does the teacher say?

step by step:

Please cut all the numbers then stick it.

How do the children respond?

step by step:

They said: ok, and start to cut all the numbers.

How does the teacher stop
the children during what they
are doing? What does the
teacher say?

step by step:

Please think before you order the numbers and stick it.

Misbehaviour
What was the learner doing?

Dont use his mind to think and order the numbers.

What did the teacher say?

step by step:

You dont use your mind to think and order, please use it.
How did the child respond?:

He looks at her and he doesnt talk.

teacher talk at the end of the activity

How does the teacher stop
the children during what they
are doing? What does the
teacher say?

step by step:

How do they respond?

step by step:

Ok, well done, it is tidy up time.

They start to tidy up.

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Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

Table 2 Teacher talk PRAISING the student(s):

Complete the table below with at least 5 examples of praise you hear
during the day (maybe from your teacher, the classroom assistant, a
specials teacher, etc.):
Example When the child(ren).

The teacher said.

Type of praise
(public/private
Non-specific/specific
Conditional/unconditional)

Look at the
example

put his things away tidily and

Well done, Ali, you put

quickly

your things away very

Private/Specific/Unconditional

quickly and nicely.

1.

Sitting nicely

Iman well done

Private/non-specific/unconditional

2.

Answering the question

Good boy, very good

Private/non-specific/unconditional

3.

Ordering the numbers

Well done/good boy

Private/non-specific/unconditional

4.

Complete the sentences

Excellent/good girl

Private/non-specific/unconditional

5.

Write a long sentence with

Wow Ansh! I am so proud of

Private/non-specific/unconditional

nice handwriting

you, you are a super star

Negative Praise: Write any negative instructions (words with NO, NOT and
DONT) you heard, and then write a more POSITIVE way to state it.

Example:

Postive way to say it:

Dont run!

Please walk!

Dont write before you think

Please think before you write

You dont use your mind

You should use your mind

Dont use this area to move

Please use another area to move

No, no, dont put it in your bag

Please keep it her in the class

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Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

Reflection
This week, you have been focusing on the ways teachers talk to the children in
the classroom. .
Write your reflection about teacher talk.
Write in paragraph form. Write a minimum of 150 words. Use good spelling and
grammar. Make sure your writing shows that you are thinking deeply about your
answers.

Discuss the importance of teacher talk (giving

clear instructions and using positive praise)
Discuss what will be easy for you and what will
be difficult for you about using positive praise nd
giving clear instructions.
Discuss what happens when a teacher does not
give clear, specific, step by step instructions.

Discuss a time when you received negative praise

from someone. How did it make you feel? Did
your behaviour improve?

Discuss a time you got praised for something you

did well. How did it make you feel?

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Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

Each teacher should give the students clear instructions and use a
positive praises in the class, because that will let the students to
confidents of themselves, and to continue in this way.
When I will use the positive praises and give the students clear
instructions, it will be easy for me because they will understand what I
want of them and they will do it in a good and nice method, also they
will like my lessons and classes. When I will give the students unclear
instruction and negative praises, it will be difficult for me because they
will do not understand what I want of them and maybe they will do not
do it, also they will dont like my classes and they will feel board during
my lessons.
When the teacher does not give clear, specific, and step by step
instructions that will be difficult for the students to understand the
required from them. One time, I received a negative praised from my
sister when I got a low average in the high school and it made me feel
frustration and sadness, but that improved my behavior for the better,
also one time I got praised for passed the IELTS exam from the first
time and that made me feel proud of myself.

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Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

This is the science worksheet, and the MST gave it to the

students to practice.

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Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

The students while they ordered the numbers

in math lessons, they cut it the numbers then
order it, after that they were stick it in the
paper.

Students while theyre sat on the carpet and

reading the stories after their snacks.

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Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15

Grade four students came to the class and explain how the
volcano consists; in addition the children were surprised and
excited.

EPC 1401

Teaching Practicum Task 5 Observation Task 5 Teacher Talk

AY 2014/15