Reflections on My Teaching Practice at St. Mary's HSS Pattom: A Day with Class 9 Chemistry

 As a student teacher embarking on my teaching practice journey, every day brings new experiences and lessons that contribute to my growth as an educator. Today, I want to share my reflections on the fifth day of my teaching practice at St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Pattom, specifically focusing on my fourth-period class with ninth-grade students. On this particular day, I had the opportunity to teach chemistry, a subject I am passionate about. The topic of the day was hydrogen, a non-metal element, and I aimed to make it engaging and relatable to my students by incorporating captivating videos, images, and real-life connections.

Engaging with the Class

The day started with excitement and a touch of nervousness. As I walked into the classroom, I could feel the students' energy, which added to my enthusiasm. The topic, hydrogen, was introduced through a brief discussion about its significance in our daily lives. I wanted my students to understand that chemistry is not just a theoretical subject but has practical applications in the world around us.

Visual Aids and Multimedia

To make the topic more accessible and captivating, I integrated interesting videos and images into my lesson plan. We watched short videos demonstrating hydrogen's properties and its various applications in industries like space exploration, fuel cells, and more. The visual aids helped in breaking the monotony of traditional teaching methods and kept the students engaged throughout the class.

Connecting with Daily Life Activities

One of my primary goals for the day was to help my students see the relevance of hydrogen in their daily lives. I encouraged class discussions and brainstorming sessions on how hydrogen is used in their surroundings. Students eagerly shared examples like hydrogen fuel cell cars and the role of hydrogen in the production of electricity, which made the lesson more relatable.

Review Questions and Follow-Up Activities

To assess my students' understanding, I concluded the lesson with a set of review questions:

What are the properties of hydrogen?

How is hydrogen used as a non-metal in daily life?

Explain the role of hydrogen in space exploration.

Describe the process of hydrogen production.

To reinforce their learning, I assigned follow-up activities:

Hydrogen Poster Project: Students were asked to create posters highlighting the uses and significance of hydrogen in various industries.

Real-World Hydrogen Report: They were also tasked with researching a real-world application of hydrogen and presenting it to the class.

Supporting School Discipline Committee

Apart from my teaching responsibilities, I also participated in supporting the school discipline committee. This involved ensuring that students followed the school's code of conduct, which helped me understand the importance of maintaining a conducive learning environment.

Conclusion

The fifth day of my teaching practice at St. Mary's HSS Pattom was a rewarding experience. It taught me the importance of engaging teaching methods, the value of connecting lessons to real-life applications, and the satisfaction of helping students grasp complex concepts. As I continue my journey as a student teacher, I look forward to more opportunities for growth and the privilege of shaping young minds.

Remember, teaching is not just about imparting knowledge but also about inspiring a lifelong love for learning.