Tackling 2a and 2b The Journal writing experience

The journal initially was a daunting prospect but after I got used to the idea it became useful for reflection. I find myself in a process of reflection when writing it and also when I came back to it the following week. It is particularly interesting to see the pattern of my mood and how the events in a specific day affect it. I haven't noticed before, but certain days repeatedly left me drained and in a generally bad mood, where as others motivate me and I felt energised. These negative days are days that I should take a second look at,  maybe the lessons I teach on these days are not for me. Furthermore, using reflection I can now plan ahead better and alleviate problems that may occur during these days in future.

The journal is a useful tool in reflection in that it has helped me create my own professional identity in text. Reflection is something I find I do in action as discussed in SCHON, D.A. (1983) The reflective practitioner: how professionals think in action.

The Overview of tasks for part 2 explains; 'the modern world values and relies so heavily on the written word as part of my professional development.' I will try to learn through problem solving and 'puzzle through' thinking in words. Using a journal will help me look at what, where and how my thinking has changed through reflection.


Starting the task...

I approached the task by starting small with short comments and general thoughts. In time I developed my writing about thoughts, feelings and idea's from a personal perspective and created an identity of which I could reflect through. Furthermore, looking outwardly at how my actions effect others and see it from an others point of view. From clients, pupils and employers perspective I could learn a lot about myself. I particularly like the idea of writing  from the view of another spectator/participant to help reflection. I think this would be a great way to add another dimension to the reflective practitioner. I want to explore finding a way to reflect through a journal using experience and learning through using the web tools.

OK, looking back at my Journal from the past few weeks I'm going to use a particularly busy day from the beginning of the month. I have chosen this day as it seems in the past I haven't used  reflection constructively on this day previously.

Saturday 13th November
I taught at a local dance school starting at 9am. I started with baby classes of ISTD Ballet, Tap and Modern. The chidren were very excitable and uniforms had arrived. Parents came into the class room, it was rather unorganised, parents took uniforms and not all parents paid. The parents that paid left in a hurry without giving me time to write reciepts. I was stressed! Especially because the first class started at 9 am and the last child and parent did not arrive till 9.15am. 'I need a helper or more time' I thought to myself. How would I do this myself in future to prevent the unorganised messy event that had unfolded?

Once parents had left and the children and I were focused, a productive class ensued. I managed to start all three dances for our christmas presentation as planned. Time management I think is my biggest issue. Even during the class on my own I had to tie 12 pairs of tap shoes, it was trying as the children tend to try and tie them themselves and knot their laces beyond untangling! I need a helper! Toilet trips are only allowed at break times. However, sometimes to avoid puddles children have to be escorted out of the class. There is only one toilet and as many know once one three year old has decided she or he is desperate to relieve themselves the rest of the class is adamant that any minute now they are going to have an accident. Another job for a helper I think?

The dances that I started seem to hold attention well and the choreography was appropriate. I hope they remember it for next week! (They won't).

The class finished and another army of children and parents came stampeding through the door (the studio is only one room, children have to change in the same room). This time parents had ignored my wishes to wait outside as it was cold and I struggled to see children over parents. I managed to keep it together, children were safely collected and another party of parents had paid or stolen a uniform. Only this time I managed to grab a pen and paper to write everything down ready for invoices and book keeping. Thank goodness, progress.

Due to noisy start of class the children were a little unsettled and I had to adopt a few focus games to help them gain composer (I think this is a good example of reflection in action and adapting appropriately). Ballet, Tap and Modern took place without a hitch. Focus games seemed to work. Three more dances have been started. An unexpected surge of emotion from one child did slow us down in tap, but I think this was due to lack of confidence, the child seemed relieved when I explained that everyone struggles at something and that practicing at home this week will help her catch up. Another successful class.

After this I felt, unorganised, overwhelmed negative and stressed. The parents got to me. I need to be firmer with the dance school rules. I was thinking of ways to overcome such problems in the future. A desk, a helper and a queue of lovely quiet parents sprung to mind. I did not expect the parents to act like this. As a result I was unprepared, which made me agitated and unhelpful when questions were asked because of my lack of calm, constructive thinking.

List of things that come to mind about the day;
Busy
Fast
Cold
Frustration
Children disoreintated
Imagery and fun
Christmas (Music)
Excitement
Repetition (memory)

The ballet classes went particularly well today. The children were calm and focused well. There wasn't a need to deviate from my lesson plan, as I had kept the plan simple and flexible. The choreography was learnt to a satisfactory standard. Technique will need a little work. The children liked the familiarity of the Christmas music and found guessing which instrumental piece fun (Jingle bells and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer instrumentals).

I have learn't that sometimes parents are more worried about separation then the child her/himself. That I need to be more organised when it comes to informing parents of what they need to do and when. I discovered that I need more help in the mornings with paperwork from another member of staff. Moreover, to avoid conversations with parents at the beginning of classes in future, I will try to encourage parents to talk to me at the end of classes.

I would love to have a reception area, changing rooms and staff to help with the mornings proceedings.  More than one toilet and proper heating. I would really like to have parents that spoke about problems etc to my employer and not me. I would love to have lots and lots of money to build my own specifically designed venue for just the purpose of a dance school. I would hate to ever have a child injure themselves due to an activity in a class of mine.

Another View...
We were late and we were rushing my brother had been sick in the car, Mum was not happy. When we went through the first set of doors there were lots of tall people standing around me, mainly Mums and Dads. I could see Sophia, I waved, I like Sophia we have a few dances together in the show.

 It was time to go in to the studio. I'm not changed and I have a lot of layers to get out of, Mum helps, we are rushing, she needs to clean the car and drop my brother off at football. Clothes off Ballet kit on. I give Mum a kiss goodbye and I can see her talking to Miss Aby. I think she is paying for my uniform. My Uniform is purple and the jumper has my name on it! I wonder if I can wear it when I get home? I want to wear it now. It's cold I'm only in my leotard now but we are getting warmer, Sophia and I are running around playing tick it's fun! Miss Aby Shouts! We are not to play now. We stand on our spots ready and wait for the all the fuss to stop. Miss Aby is happy now we are standing nicely and listening. We play a game and have a laugh at our silly faces in the mirror. I can't wait to learn our new Christmas dance!

Ballet was the best as I like the pretty music and pretending to be fairies in the garden. Tap was good too! The new dance was hard and I was really worried because everyone else could do it, I cried. Miss Aby told me that it was OK. She told me to practice which will help. I wish she had helped me there and then because I don't know what to practice and I'm worried that I will practice it wrong.

There are many elements in a class that I value, the childrens discipline and motivation to work hard, the childrens laughter and their desire to learn more and their overall zest for dance. This made me enthusiastic and as everyone knows a child's laughter is infectious and everything else is only positive and incredibly rewarding.

Next time I feel more time is needed. I hadn't understood why I could not cope and effectively resolve problems at the beginning the class. Maybe If I allocated a specific time at the end of a class when parents can ask questions, I will only need to answer questions once without haste. If I write signs and letters to help inform the parents of all the information they needed then this will affirm any queries in the first place. Perhaps a comment box or 'question' note pad out front, that I could write in with the response or solution to a parents query. Many ideas I think I will explore in the future.

This day fits at the end of a long week, I see it as the climax, it is my most stressful but favoured day and of which I find most enjoyable. It is almost like an anchor, an axis of which the rest of my work revolves around. Therefore, in this course it is very important, as I wish to expand and create my own business not unlike this one.

I question constantly my ability to create such a business and treat it as valuable experience and training for my own purposes. I have to be realistic, I love teaching and dancing, the combination is a dream. However everyone needs a source of income and I conspire to earn a good living from a business of my own, doing exactly what I love. I think some people around me restrict me a little and take profit from my hard work. These people though, I rely on heavily, regularly seeking reassurance and the valuable experience I talk about. In time I will develop my own ways and means effectively, trying to do so without treading on the people I learnt so much from. Hopefully, this course will give me the confidence I need to branch out alone.

It emerged that although I have a few negative issues when comes to the way I feel or how my mood is affected by certain events, it is apparent I enjoy pressure and thrive on stress. I am surprised by this as I always saw stress as a bad thing. On the other hand, stress can be good. I have found an amount of stress is what boosts motivation and pushes boundaries. I need to make sure I keep the balance right for equilibrium.


Contemplating the ways to write, I particularly liked witting a journal from an others point of view. I am to paranoid about my own performance as a teacher in a lesson. A step back and a look at how a child thinks would help me find ways in which I can approach discipline and the use of different teaching techniques. Doing this and being able to differentiate between different abilities and characters too, will improve the outcome of the lesson.

Looking and taking Marks comment into consideration I really do think I worry too much, the children I teach are doing very well and enjoy my lessons, at the end of the day this is what matters. A positive mental attitude will help me through the tough days.