Kindergarten lesson on colours

27th April
Trainee´s name: Myriam Tielve
Practicum level: Kindergarten
Group: 5 years old
Date: 27th April 2015
Lesson number: 1st observation class
1. What pedagogical principles supported the planning and delivery of this
lesson?
The English teacher followed PPP method. After greeting the students “hello” and
encouraging them to greet her with a song, she showed the children some flashcards and
elicited from them the names of different colours - red, blue, yellow, pink, green, purple,
black and orange. Later she pointed at different things in the classroom and encouraged
them to repeat the names of the colours in chorus,
Two helpers were chosen at random to distribute the books from the box while the teacher
hang on a poster on the board identical to the one the students had in their books. They
were supposed to colour the “clouds” imitating the ones on the poster.
When time was up, the teacher picked up all the books and promised to finish painting their
books in the following lesson. She greeted the children “goodbye”.
2. What teaching strategies did the teacher use? Which ones were effective? Why
/ Why not?
The teacher spoke most of the time in Spanish, using English only to present new
vocabulary or asking incidental questions. The activities proposed to students were at the
beginning of the lesson an oral interaction, later chorus repetition and at the end painting in
their books using different colours. I consider that the interaction at the beginning of the
class was effective as the children took an active role in it.
3. How did the students react to her teaching, to the activities and the materials?
How did they react to the lesson?
In general the children reacted in a good way to the activities proposed by the teacher. They
were eager to take part in them and they behaved in a good way during the whole lesson.
However, students found confusing the last painting activity as it was difficult for them to
identify where each colour should be painted.
4. What aspects of the lesson do you consider successful?
Comentario [1]: Why do you think
teacher made that decision?
Comentario [2]: I talked to the
teacher about the reason why she
speaks to the students in Spanish mo
of the time and she told me that she f
that if she used English the students
would not understand her instructions
and would not know what she was
telling to them.
Comentario [3]: Was really only
painting the activity? What about
following comands?
Comentario [4]: The activity was o
painting looking at a similar poster
which was hanged on the board.
However, few kids imitated the mode
and most of them painted their books
as they wanted.
Comentario [5]: What was the mai
problem here? the strategy, the
instruction or the activity?
Comentario [6]: I consider that the
instructions were confusing as the
teacher told them that they had to
identify the first letter of each colour t
know how they should paint each clo
Another option was going to the boar
and imitate the poster which was
hanged on it. The students cannot se
the board from their seats.
I also consider that the activity was n
suitable for children who do not know
how to read. They can identify and
name colours but in an oral activity.

The children had a good rapport with the teacher and they seemed eager to share personal
experiences with her all the time. They worked in a tidy and organized way, paid attention to
the instructions and tried to follow them.
They also showed interest in my presence there and they asked the teacher when I was
going to start playing with them.
5. What aspects of the lesson require change / improvement?
I consider that L2 should be used during the lesson, L1 should be only used incidentally and
if the teacher has to make use of it, the “shadowing” technique could be applied in that case.
Students seemed to enjoy more the oral activities than the ones in the books, in that way the
lesson would be more appealing to them.
6. What do you find useful of this lesson that will help you plan the next one?
I had the possibility of meeting the students and seeing what kind of activities they enjoyed
the most. Therefore, my plans will be focused on listening and speaking.
7. Any comments or observations you would like to share may be added here.
I really enjoyed sharing the lesson with the teacher and the kids. There is clearly a quiet and
warm atmosphere. Time seems to fly in there. I will have to adapt to the new situation but I
think I will succeed.
29th April
Trainee´s name: Myriam Beatriz Tielve
Group: 5 years old
Date: 29th April
Lesson number: 2nd Observation class
lesson?
The lesson today was supported by Total Physical Response method as it was completely
based on a video. The aim was revising previous topics such as greetings, colours and
numbers from 1 to 10. After greeting the students who were arranged in groups at their
tables, the teacher presented the video activity. Then the teacher sat among the students
and made incidental commentaries when the students reacted to the different images and
dialogues.
I think that the teaching strategy of that lesson was using a visual aid to assess students
knowledge.
Comentario [7]: How many activitie
did Ss complete in the book? What
would be the purpose of using this
resourse?
Comentario [8]: The students are
used to completing one activity in eac
lesson. I do not consider that there is
real purpose of using this resource. It
a book made of photocopies that the
institution provides, parents buy and
students are expected to complete.
Comentario [9]: Why do you think
this happened?What features made t
class go so smoothly?
Comentario [10]: As I am used to
delivering lesson of 60 or even 120
minutes, 30 minutes seem so little for
me. The same happens to me when
deliver my own classes, I have to pay
attention not to exceed the time
available.
Comentario [11]: When you say
revise. What do you really mean?
Comentario [12]: I think that the
teaching strategy of that lesson was
using a visual aid to assess students
knowledge.

2. What teaching strategies did the teacher use? Which ones were effective?
Why/ why not?
The teacher played the video and let the children repeat isolated words while it was going
on. When any of the students repeated any word, the teacher gave him/her positive
feedback.
Some of the students identify names of colours and numbers and said them in a loud voice
while watching the video.
3. How did the students react to the teacher´s teaching, to the activities and the
materials? How did they react to the lesson?
The students enjoyed the video and made incidental comments on it. They paid attention all
the time and behaved well. When the video finished they asked the teacher to play it again
but that didn´t happen as it was time to finish the lesson.
I like the material (video) the teacher proposed to revise vocabulary. It was a video from
BBC and it was in accord with the students´ English level and previous knowledge.
I consider that it was a video which could give the possibility of more before watching
activities such as predicting or brainstorming ideas. After the video some kind of
dramatization could have taken place as it delivered really simple dialogues.
This group really enjoys and benefits from visual activities. This gives me food for thought
and choose interesting activities for them.
I really found these two observation classes useful to know the group and the way the
teacher works with them. They seem to be a nice group eager to learn and have fun at the
same time.
4th May
Group: 5 years old
Date : 4th May
Lesson number : First lesson
lesson?
Comentario [13]: This is not very
clear. Could the students repeat the
words?
Comentario [14]: Some of the
students identify names of colours an
numbers and said them in a loud voic
while watching the video.
Comentario [15]: Done! Thanks!
Comentario [16]: I totally agree wi
you. Pre and post activities create
meaningful context
Comentario [17]: They really do!
Comentario [18]: great!
Comentario [19]: Thank you!

Both the planning and the lesson were supported by the Natural approach and Total
Physical Response method. From the very beginning I encouraged the students to follow the
instructions in a natural way and use their own bodies while singing a song or playing a
game.
The students interacted with me and their partners freely. and they did not need their
teachers´ support during the lesson.
2. What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective? Why / Why
not?
I used a song to greet the students hello and goodbye and then another song with simple
commands so as to organize the students to start working. Both of them were effective and
some of the children started to repeat some chunks of them.
Then I used a poster as a visual aid to tell the students a story and introduce the topic of the
lesson. This activity caught the students´attention and they participated actively during the
activity but two boys and one girl seemed not to be interested in it. Therefore, I encouraged
them to take part in the activity by choosing some pictures from a box and then sticking them
on the poster. They really changed their attitude and integrated to the rest of the activities.
Although I tried to change the activity “the teachers says” according to Eugenia´s feedback,
my instructions did not prove to be clear enough and the activity was performed but not in
the expected way. I will try to be clearer or deliver simpler instructions next time.
.
3. How did the students react to your teaching, to the activities and the
The students reacted positively to all the activities and really enjoyed taking part in them.
They were not shy at all and two boys who usually misbehave during the lessons were eager
to participate.
Students felt confident at the time of answering questions and used English or gestures most
of the time.
In my point of view the interaction with the students while working with the poster and the
songs were the stages in the lesson that they enjoyed the most.
These children really like repeating new words and using their bodies while singing. Two of
the girls in the group were able to participate using chunks instead of isolated words.
I am planning to use these popular chunks in my following lesson plans.
I must pay attention to context and the way I deliver instructions to explain how activities will
be carried on. It was my first lesson with them and I am really used to teaching secondary
students so I think I have things to improve.
Comentario [20]: Great! Did they
change their attitude?
Comentario [21]: Yes, they did. No
only did they change their attitude bu
their face expressions as well!
Comentario [22]: Remember that
you can recycle this content in the
following lesson. Remember to scaffo
their learning . Even though the resul
was not the expected. What was the
attitudes? Were they motivated by th
activity?
Comentario [23]: Students were
motivated by the activity and perform
it. As Cecilia always highlights
"Children´s learning process and
interests are more important than the
lesson plan!"
Comentario [24]: That is somethin
to take advantage of for the following
lessons. They will probably rememb
and use the language more if it is
contextualised. You can collect the
most popular chuncks to make a
recycling/ revision exercise.
Comentario [25]: I´ll try to put your
suggestion in practice in the following
lessons!
Comentario [26]: It is great that yo
are aware of this difference specially
considering timing and instructions
delivering. Be simple, direct and
concrete. Besides if the instruction or
the activity seems to be rather comp
or long, make to exercises out of it.
Comentario [27]: I´ll try!

Eugenia´s feedback was very useful. For that reason, I have not uploaded my plans for the
next week yet as I have some strategies to revise taking into account the tutor´s comments.
The English teacher of this group came to the class 10 minutes late, that was the reason
why I had problem with the timing of the lesson. I finished it 5 minutes after the timetable.
Another problem is that there is not enough room into the classroom to perform some
activities, the teacher told me that I can take them to the playground but I do not know if I am
allowed to do it..
6th May
Group: 5 years old
Date : 6th May
Comentario [28]: So, you should
consider this in your lesson plan.
Comentario [29]: I will!
Comentario [30]: If you take them
consider the type of activities you
should design for that place since sts
should be more motivated by the task
than by the place where this takes
place.
Comentario [31]: It´s clear!
Comentario [32]: The place the
teacher offers me to go is a playgrou
where only the kindergarten students
go to have their breaks. However, I a
not going to take them there firstly
because this playground is next to th
place where older students are doing
gymnastics at the same time I am
delivering my lesson in the
kindergarten. Secondly, I have no
electricity and I have to record my
lessons next week. Therefore, I really
prefer to adapt the activities to place
provided by the institution.
Comentario [33]: Well done,
Myriam!!I can´t wait to read your new
plans!!

Lesson number : Second lesson
What pedagogical principles supported the planning and delivery of this lesson?
Both the planning and the lesson were supported by the Natural approach and Total
Physical Response method. From the very beginning I encouraged the students to follow the
instructions in a natural way and use their own bodies while singing a song or playing a
game.
The students interacted with me and their partners freely. It had been a difficult day for the
children as the headmistress had gone to talk to them about some boys who were
misbehaving. There was also a girl who was not feeling well and needed to go to the toilet
and some of the other children wanted to do the same.
2. What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective? Why / Why
not?
I started the lesson with the greeting song and the song related to commands, both of them
were effective to organize the students.
Then we shared the video activity which was really effective in its three stages: watching it
twice, interacting with the teacher and peers while commenting on the clothes the boy and
the girl were wearing and later performing the actions while singing the song in front of the
television.
In this lesson “the teacher says” activity was clearly understood and students could follow
the instructions in the right way. It was the second time we performed the activity and I tried
to deliver clear and direct instructions.
The students also participated actively in the interaction with the pictures (items of clothes
for boys and girls).
The students reacted positively to all the activities and really enjoyed taking part in them.
They were not shy at all but two boys misbehaved while performing the actions suggested.
So I stopped the game and kindly asked them to change their places in the semi-circle, both
of them sitting next to me. The activity went on smoothly after that interruption.
Students felt confident at the time of answering questions and used English or gestures
most of the time.
Children were really motivated with the video. They enjoyed it and took an active role in the
activities proposed.
ICT is a great tool to motivate them and put them in the right mood to work. Unluckily, I am
not allowed to use it with more frequency in my lessons.
Comentario [34]: What were they
actually doing?
Comentario [35]: Their teacher tol
me that three boys had been taken to
the head´s office because they had
been pushing their partners and takin
their chairs off when they were going
sit on them. While they were in the
office one of them took a stamp and
used it on some papers which were o
a desk. In consequence, they were n
allowed to participate in all the activit
of that day.
Comentario [36]: These were not
strategies but resources you used.
Comentario [37]: I see! It´s clear
now!
Comentario [38]: Do you mean tha
students mentioned the clothing item
What language items did the student
use?
Comentario [39]: They mentioned
the pyjamas saying that it was blue o
they mentioned the pants or the skirt
using L1 and then saying their colour
L2. I gave them positive feedback an
used L2 to refer to those clothing item
while pointing to them on the screen.
Comentario [40]: What strategies
you use to help students understand
the instructions: modelling, miming,
illustrating with visual aids?
Comentario [41]: I helped students
by modelling and miming the actions
Comentario [42]: Great! You used
considerable variety of resources,
Comentario [43]: Thanks!
Comentario [44]: sat
Comentario [45]: Great! This show
they were motivated.
Comentario [46]: It makes you fee
ease when you see them enjoying an
learning at the same time!
Comentario [47]: Actually, videos
not considered are digital tools but th
are not considered part of the emergi
technologies.
Comentario [48]: I see! Therefore
only using laptops, netbooks and
proyectors are considered to be ICT?
Comentario [49]: frequently
Comentario [50]: Yes! They are a
powerful tool but if you overuse them
they may lose their potential. Offering
wide variety of resources is likely to
motivate students.

In the activity in which the students had to choose one item of clothing from a box and
identify if it was for boys or for girls I should have taken more pictures as more students
wanted to participate and I had to use the same pictures twice. However, I should plan more
time for this kind of strategy, being careful not to turn it too long or boring for students. I have
to find the right balance.
As it was my second lesson I felt more relaxed and enjoyed it with the students. As a
consequence, I could deal with misbehaviour or interruptions in a better way. I used songs or
short chants. Clear and direct instructions and also helped students´ understanding in order
to perform the activities.
Although I started and finished my lesson on time, the teacher told me that I was not
consistent enough at the time of the transitions between activities. I will work on it in the
following lessons.
Comentario [51]: What strategy?
Comentario [52]: Sorry, I should
have said activity. More children
wanted to take part in the activity and
didn´t have different pictures to offer
them, probably if I would have more
material the activity would have last
longer and students would feel more
motivated.
Comentario [53]: devote too much
time to the activity in case it may
become
Comentario [54]: Well thought!
Comentario [55]: understand how
Comentario [56]: Good! how did y
help them?
Comentario [57]: Modelling and
miming while giving the instructions.

11th May
Group: 5 years old
Date : 11th May

Lesson number : Third lesson
lesson?
This lesson was supported by The Natural Approach and the Total Physical Response
method. By singing a song, repeating a chant and telling the students a homemade story I
interacted with the students from the very beginning and tried to make them actively
participate in conversation with the teacher and their peers.
2. What teaching teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective?
Why/Why?
At the beginning of the lesson I greeted the students and sang a song with them as part of
our routine. In the warm up period we performed as a chant the song we had listened to on a
video in the previous lesson.
After that I started to tell them the story I was going to use as presentation, but children were
not grabbed by it and some of them started misbehaving. The first reason was that although
I have rehearsed the background sounds with my laptop, something was wrong and I could
not make it work properly. I used my own voice but children didn´t like it. Secondly they are
not used to being told stories in English, so I felt that neither was I catching their attention
nor were they interested in what I was performing in front of them
Therefore, I changed my mind immediately, I organized them in groups at their tables and I
explained them the activity in the page of their books. When they were working in an
organized way, I started going round the classroom and asking them Yes/No questions in
order to start a conversation with each student in an individual way. The questions were
related to the items of clothes they were colouring in their books.
3. How did the students react to your teaching, to the activities and the materials?
How did they react to the lesson?
The only activity that students did not enjoy was the story, but I have to say that being
recording my lesson and having failed with the background sounds made me feel upset and
I was sure that I was not in a good mood to telling the story to the students.
While watching my own recording the following day at home, I felt that it had not been so
bad. However, I decided to change the presentation for the next lesson just in case it did not
work again.
I consider that working with students in groups is the best way to organize them so I will take
it into consideration in my future plans. Although I had taken that decision before
delivering my class yesterday, while singing the first song the students sat in a circle
on the floor and stayed there during all the presentation stage. They clearly showed
me that they were getting used to following the routine.
Comentario [58]: Good!
Comentario [59]: This kind of even
may happen, especially if they are no
used to this type of strategies or
activities...
Comentario [60]: Even if this had n
been panned, or resulted as expecte
you were able to make a sound
decision on the spur of the moment,
and were able to bring SS back to the
lesson. Well done, Myriam!
Comentario [61]: in a good mood?
This is also part of the learning proce
Myriam. I'm sure you learnt from this
experience.
Comentario [62]: Yes, I did.
Comentario [63]: :)
Comentario [64]: Excellent! It is a
matter of time, patience and
perseverance.

I should plan in a more effective way for this particular group. The activity that they enjoy the
most in the English class is colouring as they are used to doing.
Before the lesson yesterday, the Spanish teacher in charge of the group told me that
she was really surprised about the students´ reaction while interacting with me in
English. She told me that every time I delivered a question in English the students
seemed to understand me as they immediately answered “Yes!” or “Si”. Her
comment encouraged me a lot and made me realise that perhaps I was being too
critical of my own work.
I will try to work with shorter activities and make them work sitting at their tables.
I would like to know if the activity connected with the story would be more effective if I would
be able to tell it using the “sandwich” technique (English, Spanish; English).
13th May
Group: 5 years old
Date : 13th May
Lesson number : Fourth lesson
Comentario [65]: as long as there
a linguistic purpose behind.... Beside
a variety of activities and resources is
necessary, isn't it?
Comentario [66]: Right! and even
they seemed not to be paying attentio
or enjoying the lesson, they were
learning, indeed. :)

lesson?
This lesson was delivered supported by the Natural Approach and PPP method. As the
previous the activity related to telling a story in the previous class had not proved to be
effective, I had to change the warmer up period and I used presentation, practise and
production stages.
2. What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were more effective? Why /
why not?
I started the lesson with the songs of the routine stage, children surprised me as they can
sing and perform it at the same time. Then I used two puppets in my fingers (of a boy and a
girl) to present a poem. It was an adaptation of the poem “Two black birds”. I changed my
voice imitating a boy and a girl. I took two more identical puppets and then I encouraged
different students to perform the poem in front of the others. In the production stage,
students sticked pictures of items of clothes for boys and girls taken from different
magazines on wallpapers and I went round the classroom giving positive feedback and
asking yes/no questions.
Students loved the puppets and really enjoyed my different tones of voice. They took active
roles while performing the poem and changed their voice as well. They were happy and
really organized while making the posters, calling me all the time to see their productions.
There was one boy who had been offended by his partners before the English lesson and
did not want to perform the activities at first, but I encouraged him to be my helper and so he
changed his attitude. While performing the poem with the puppets, another boy pushed one
of his partners and the latter started crying. The English teacher took him to the toilet and
everything went right later. I talked with the one who had pushed his partner and he changed
his attitude. He offered me to wash all the pots used with glue at the end of the class in
compensation for his bad attitude.
5. What aspects of the lesson require change/ improvement?
I will ask the Spanish teacher before the lesson if there has been any problem among the
students on that day. Then I will be able to choose some classroom management technique
beforehand such as choosing some students as helpers, sitting them next to me or avoiding
those who annoy the others to be together during interactions.
The use of finger puppets during the presentation stage.
Comentario [67]: check verb tense
Comentario [68]: Excellent
strategies!
Comentario [69]: Well done,
Myriam!!
Comentario [70]: What does this
prove as regards values in class?
Comentario [71]: Talking is always
the best way to encourage children to
change theirI felt at that moment that
both of us were learning a new lesso
Comentario [72]: Very good
thinking!!!

As soon as I came into the class the students greeted me in a warm way. They smiled and
wanted to start working immediately. I was not sure if arranging them on the floor because I
did not want them to misbehave but they did it alone while singing the first song. Their
behavior made me feel more confident. No matter how old students are, they always give us
a lesson. I have learnt it and changed my mind about them!
18th May
Trainee´s name: Myriam Tielve
Practicum level: Primero - Kindergarden
Group: Sala de 5
Date: 18th May
Lesson Number: 5
lesson?
I used the Natural approach as the students reacted in a freely and natural way to the
materials (puppets) that I had prepared to perform with them. There was a warm-up period
and a presentation to activate previous knowledge and then I acted as a prompter and a
facilitator in order to let the children interact with their peers and the material provided.
2. What teaching strategies did you use? Which ones were effective? Why/Why
not?
In this lesson I used a song to organize students and put them into the right mood to work. A
poem which I had worked with the students in the previous lesson and later an interaction
with puppets first guided by me and then performed by the children themselves. To end the
lesson, we performed a chant and after handing the souvenirs I had prepared for them and
for the teachers we sang to say goodbye. As some children were not performing some of the
activities, I encouraged them and they took an active role during the performance.
The students reacted in a good way. They enjoyed the activity with the puppets and wanted
to interact with them and with their peers. Although some of them were shy to take part, I
encouraged them to do so. I have already got used to teaching them. It was a great effort for
Comentario [73]: Congratulations
Myriam!!! You have gained deep
insights into what teaching implies...
Comentario [74]: What pedagogic
principles supported this procedure?
Comentario [75]: The student-
centered pedgogical principle
supported this procedure. I wanted to
foster students´ autonomy by
performing different roles with the
puppets. But at the same time, being
ready to help them if they lost the
thread of the activity.
Comentario [76]: :)

me as I am not young enough for them. However, it was a good experience to go back to a
kindergarten classroom after twenty years.
I consider that the best aspects were the visual materials and the way I use them. I mean,
letting students experiment with them is a must if the teacher wants little students to be
engaged in an activity.
I consider that I have to learn not to rush from one activity to another and give me time to
breathe and make the transition in a more relaxed way.
As Cecilia advised me in her feedback, bigger pictures proved to work better with students. I
have also learned to print them in coloured paper instead of colouring them later and the
children found them more attractive. It was a good tip given by the kindergarten teacher.
When the lesson finished and I talked to the students that it was my last lesson with them,
they came to hug and told goodbye to me. It was then when I felt that all my effort had been
rewarded.
Dear Myriam
It has been rewarding to read how much you have learnt and developed during this
first practicum period. Teaching very young learners is a real challenge. They are
demanding, they need care and affection, and they also need clear rules to follow.
Throughout your practicum at kindergarten, you have gained great experience. You
were able to open yourself to this group and they also did so in return. :)
You may now upload this journal (with comments) to the campus.
Congratulations on your performance during this first stage. Way to go!
Cecilia
Thanks, Cecilia!
Myriam
Comentario [77]: Is this a
determining factor? Why?
Comentario [78]: I can´t say it is a
determining factor but I feel I am not
energetic enough to deal with so you
children. I really loved working with
them but at the same time the
kindergarten demanded me more
physical effort and I felt a little tired to
go on with my daily activities later.
Comentario [79]: How did you use
them?
Comentario [80]: Firstly I performe
a story with them and later I let stude
to perform themselves.
Comentario [81]: Good thinking! T
atmosphere must be one of enjoyme
for effective learning to take place.
Comentario [82]: Great to learn th
you benefitted from others' advice!
Comentario [83]: Yes!!!

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