Reflections



GRADE 5/6 STUDENTS REFLECTIONS ON TEACHING THEIR GRADE 1/2 BUDDIES HOW TO USE THE LAPTOPS – “When I first started teaching my buddy I was really shy, but now I am really confident because I have gotten to know the kids in Room 5.” – Claudia, Grade 5. “Working with the buddies is a good experience for when we are older. When we first started working in Room 5 I was a bit scared, but now I am used to it.” – Brandon, Grade 5. “It’s a big experience working in Room 5 because we get to help the little kids use a laptop and help them with their work. When I go down to work in Room 5 I feel happy and excited. The work Ms Gabby gives her kids is also challenging to us because if they don’t understand her instructions, we have to try to think of another way to explain it to them. I usually show them what to do instead of telling them what to do.” – Mohammed, Grade 5. “When I work with my buddy I feel happy because I am helping them with their learning. If my buddy makes a mistake I help them.” - Keiron, Grade 5. “I reckon working with the same buddy over time has meant that we can help them better because we get to know them better. It is important that we get along well with our buddies because they need to trust us. Working with our buddies has also helped us a bit. We have learnt about responsibility. When I know I need to help my buddy, I try to get to school on time.” – Vas, Grade 6. “Working with our buddies is fun because it gives me a chance to connect with younger kids because I don’t have any younger brothers and sisters. It teaches me to be gentle and sensible. In the classroom I am pretty loud but when I go down there (Room 5) I have to be careful because they are younger.” – Phoebe, Grade 5. “Working with the Room 5 kids is a good experience because I get to teach them new things and one of them told me that I helped them and taught them how to get music on PowerPoint, which makes me feel happy and proud. It’s also fun working with our buddies.” – Mariam, Grade 5.

The children from my room who work with a buddy in Room 5 have really benefitted from the Peer Mentoring Program. Generally these kids are quite reluctant in the classroom and are usually the last to share their ideas during a class discussion. However, when it comes time for them to work with their buddies, I see a real change of attitude. They are very excited by the work that they are doing with the Room 5 students and feel a real sense of achievement when they return from a session working on the laptops with the Grade 1/2s. They can’t wait to tell me and the rest of the class what they have been working on. Even their body language is different! Being involved in this program has meant that the Grade 5/6 students have had to demonstrate great maturity and responsibility. To be honest, I thought that some of them may have found it difficult to commit themselves to the program, and that their enthusiasm would slowly diminish as the program went on. This certainly has not been the case. In fact, there have been occasions when students from this group have arrived at school early, so that they could take the laptops down to Room 5 and get prepared for the lesson. I can only hope that by being involved in this program, students’ increased self efficacy continues and that this feeling of confidence and self-worth can contribute to enhanced learning outcomes for these kids. Emma, Grade 5/6 Teacher.

The following quotes have been taken from the reflection books of several grade 5 students who have been working with their prep buddy during Developmental Play sessions. These students are the weakest readers in the class, and most of them also reluctant writers. They have enjoyed reading with the preps, and have been very explicit about what strategies they use with their prep buddy to help them with their literacy. The confidence they've gained is evident in these reflections. Meredith, Grade 5/6 Teacher

//“We need to show them ways to help them read the new words, like making them point to the words and sounding out the first letter of the word. I learnt how to listen better to instructions, and explain things about what we need them to do. I feel proud and good about myself when she [prep teacher] always wants the same group. They really like it when we come in, they get excited and want to read with us, which makes me feel more confident.”- Mathew // //Working with the preps was fun and interesting because we had different tables and activities to work at like the art table, art and craft table, food table and more. The person I usually work with Iverson, have been teaching him how to write his letters properly and write words properly. He enjoys art and so do I- that is why it is good to work together. - Myles, Grade 5 // //I like working with buddies because Asma loves me because we like working together every time when we see each other we always hug and say “hi” When I go in Ms Gertz room I love helping buddies because I be friendly, kind and make them laugh. Asma has become a really good reader. It is nice to be buddies because she is quiet and shy and I am like that too. - Neve// 

//It has been fun working the preps, and it's been good to teach them new things. When I first started with my buddy they didn't know many ways of reading the new words, or even all their letters, but now they do and if they get a word wrong I ask them "What sound does that letter make?" or "Point to the word you are reading" and I try to get them to look at the picture to help them if they are really stuck. I am never bossy or put them down. Mrs Gertdz said I am one of the best and kindest. - Idris//

Mentoring in Room 11 A n ESL group in my room work with a group of five boys from Room 6 about twice a week. One session they spend working with them on Home Reading tasks, and the other session they take the boys through a Guided Reading lesson. Here’s what they reflected on the experience: Nuru – //I know how to read and I liked to teach other people how to read. Doing the mentoring made me feel good because I liked to teach the kids how to read, draw and other stuff. I’d like to do more mentoring because I want the boys to be better at reading and writing and spelling.// Monit – //I like to teach people because I can read. I liked doing the activity with them because the boys were good. I’d like to do more to teach them chapter books and good spelling and being a good reader.// Arif - //Doing the mentoring made me feel good when I taught the kids who didn’t know how to read and spell. I would like to do more mentoring if the boys learn to do as they are told.//