SCHOOL PLACEMENT 1

2016/2017

Student: Luke Sweeney

Class Observed: Juniors, Seniors, 1st and 2nd

Date: 21-10-2016

Topic: Professionalism

OBSERVATION
In this placement I was
looking at the topic
professionalism. As I
entered the school for
the first time I met with
the junior room teacher
as the principal was
absent. I shook her hand
and introduced myself. I
wore suit pants, a shirt
and a jumper. The class
began with the students
sitting around and
interacting with each
other by playing with
Lego pieces. The teacher
then commenced the
class and brought order
to the room. As it was
raining outside the
students stayed in the
classroom and played at
the sandbox. At the end
of break the teacher
called for order again.
One student stayed at
the sandbox. The teacher
changed her tone of
voice to address the
student. After the student
heard the teacher change
her tone of voice she
went and sat down at her
chair. I was then given
the job of helping the
students with their art
projects. I got to interact
with the students.

CRITICAL REFLECTION ON THE

OBSERVATION
As I entered the school I know that I had to be
professional as I am an aspiring secondary school
teacher. I wore my suit pants, a shirt and a jumper to
make sure that I looked like a professional. The
teacher was dressed the same way. I felt professional
because I shook her hand and addressed myself
mannerly. After introducting myself, it wasnt long
before it felt like I had a some what authority above
all the young students in the class.
While observing the classroom I noticed that the
teacher could settle the students very well into their
work places. It was interesting to see the teachers
control over the small classroom. Control is certainly
something that I will interperate into my classroom in
the future. When the teacher tried commence the
class once again after break, one girl did not react to
her first call. Speaking again, she changed her tone.
The student understood that she was doing
something wrong. I thought that the teacher used a
skill to get the student to sit down. The teacher did
not get angry and scare the child. I felt that this is a
very effective way of getting the simple command
into the students mind. It also helps the students to
listen first time off as they do not want to be getting
a telling off. (Wheldall, 1990) states that The
emphasis is on changing pupil behaviour using
positive reinforcement in a controlled, skilful and
managed way, rather than becoming negative, as
can all too easily happen when discipline problems
arise in the classroom.
Towards the end of the day I was asked to help the
juniors, seniors, first class and second class students.
They were working on their art projects. After seeing
how well their teacher spoke to them, I knew I could
not drop the standard. I made sure that I spoke
formally, loud and clear. I thoroughly enjoyed helping
and interacting with the students. I feel like I was
certainly professional in the way that I helped the
students. I was happy that the students were

SCHOOL PLACEMENT 1
2016/2017
interested in how I was showing them how to make
their project. Overall I feel the teacher and I both
presented ourselves and our working instructions in a
professional manner. (Ramsden, 2003, p. 11) states
that The professional authority of the academic-asscholar rests on a body of knowledge in a field of
study.

Bibliography
Ramsden, P., 2003. Learning to Teach in Higher
Education. 2nd ed. New York: RoutledgeFalmer.
Wheldall, F. M. a. K., 1990. Positive Teaching in the
Primary School. 1st ed. Liverpool: Sage Publications
Ltd.