This was the first class to have all of their lessons properly prepared beforehand on an IWB and I introduced many new ideas from the books on CLIL that I've read this year. Some ideas have worked better than others, but I've devoted more time to this class, by way of preparation and reflection than to any other I've taught, certainly for several years.
Ok, the good:
- CLIL has made me re-evaluate everything I do.
- I'm much better at supporting my students' language leaning now.
- Asking questions instead of presenting students with facts, has ensured that more of the class is engaged at any time.
- Students are not afraid of asking their own questions - I've noticed a huge increase in questions asked and many questions are far more involved and interesting than I've ever been asked before. I've realised just how good students are at interpreting Physics, taking information and owning it, using it to think at much higher levels than I'd previously been aware of.
- Confidence levels among some students has increased.
- Students seem to enjoy my lessons more than previously.
- I enjoy teaching much more than previously.
- My own confidence in my teaching has improved no end.
- I expect more from my students now.
The bad:
- My students were still not independent enough to revise on their own. If anything, they expected more from the revision lessons and were disappointed that they were expected to get their heads down and work on past exam papers.
- Therefore, I need to think more about revision and devise new ways to engage the students in revision, so that they do not realise they are working hard. At least, not all of the time. They do need to realise and accept that passing exams necessitates hard work. How can I convince them that just reading their textbook is not the best way to revise? Despite all my efforts, they kept on falling back on this as their preferred (often only) method of revision outside the classroom.
- I can't change the world by myself. I'd like to include some cross-curricular work in future but I'm not sure how well, if at all, that would go with other teachers. Do I have the energy and persistence to be able to convince others to try a few joint projects?
Did all of my efforts this year make a difference to the students' outcomes? Will it have helped them to pass their exams? I'm not sure I can answer those questions with one small class. I do know that I would not wish to return to a more traditional way of teaching. I hope and do believe I am a better teacher now and hope that I will continue to improve in the future.
I'll keep you posted!
