Observation #2 - Lesson Plan

SED 406:  Observation Assignment #2

In this observation assignment, your goal is to reverse-engineer a lesson plan. Watch the class, and write the lesson plan that teacher is using.

Do this by OBSERVATION, even if the teacher is willing to share their lesson plan with you. This is about improving your observation skills, not getting ‘the answer’.

Lesson Plan Template for SED 406 and 407 part 1 = planning
Teacher Candidate: Mt Pleasant English Teacher	Subject: English	Grade(s): 11
Name of Lesson: ∫
Learning Objective(s), including Bloom's taxonomic level: (label A, B, C, *D) *optional Students will be able to compare the red scare to the crucible by watching youtube videos that give historical context
Student Standards (GSE or/GLE or Common Core-in draft for math/science- list which): read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
Teacher Standards (professional society and/or NETS  and RIPTS-list which): 5.5 use tasks that engage students in exploration, discovery, and hands-on activities
Rationale: Why this lesson? How does it fit into the curriculum and context? Is this the introduction, conclusion, or somewhere in the middle of the unit of instruction? This lesson gives the students a frame of reference for reading The Crucible. If they get historical context from the red scare and understand why the play was written they will be able to better understand themes and they will be able to follow the plot with greater ease
Materials/Resources needed, including technology: Notebook paper, laptop, projector, speakers, youtube links, handout on McCarthyism and the red scare
Accommodations and Modifications (special needs and learning styles) For example:  Dr. Kraus has poor vision and needs written material to be at least 12 pt. font.  He also reads two grade levels higher and needs appropriate reading material.  A range of videos that appeal to different learners so that everyone can take something away from watching the videos
What content resources support this knowledge base? (list at least 2) Youtube, wikipedia
How confident are you in this topic as you start this lesson? Nervous about technology working properly

(Boxes expand as you type)   Lesson Plan Template part 2 = action
Bell-ringer: How will you get students seated, and ready for academic work? (without your voice) “do now” assignment. Answer the question in your notes, “would you travel to the new world? Why/why not?”
Anticipatory Set: How will you introduce the material, interest the students, show relevance of topic? Why is it difficult to listen? Speeches lectures etc. – start discussion
Phase (change as needed)/Time	Teacher action	Student action	Questions/Assessments
e.g. Intro/5 min.	Discussion on different ways of listening: youtube, give handout with red scare information and facts		Who uses youtube
Presentation or Open-ended/ 25 min	Repeated 4 times: ask students what they already know about video topic. Watch video and ask students what they learned about topic and what they would like to learn more about	Watch videos and answer questions	One of the videos is concluded with a quick 5 question comprehension quiz – bonus point on next quiz for each correct answer
Guided Practice or Convergent/ 8 min	Repeated 4 times: ask students what they got from the videos, explain their importance and how they relate to the crucible		Ask them to try and relate vocab words to describe what they are seeing in the videos
Closing/ 4 min	Discuss the importance of historical context in order to better understand the Crucible	Participate in class discussion
HW/Application/
Review and Reflection: How will you review for students who are still having trouble?
Extension: What will you offer to students who have mastered this? nothing offered
*Closing: How will you review the material, and draw conclusions? (may be listed above)

	Lesson Plan Template pt. 3 = reflection
WHAT?	What went well?   Students were surprisingly engaged with videos. One of the videos was hard to read and boring – teacher made this into a lesson in itself, asked the students what they didn’t like about it and how they would make it better, related it to a previous lesson on presentations. Was able to relate entire lesson to the whole unit, using vocab words and previously talked about themes. Well organized with the exception of technology
	What area of weakness needs addressing? Flaws in technology, lack of knowledge on how to operate equipment…have it set up already
	Which objectives were met? What is the evidence? Both. Work sheets were properly filled out and class discussion drove home the lesson
	Which students did not meet objectives? Everyone completed their work proficiently
	Was time managed appropriately? Yes, even with flawed technology the lesson was completed on time
	Did any teacher mannerisms or actions detract from the lesson? Teacher has a hearing impairment, makes it hard for students to understand at times
	*What were the strengths and weaknesses of classroom management? Students were kept on track and reminded to stay focused on work. Two students were disruptive the whole class and little was done to control them – they might have been inhibiting other student’s ability to learn
SO WHAT?	Was the lesson engaging? Yes…especially the quiz that followed one of the videos
	*What did I learn from my peer observation (address at least one aspect)   the chance to earn extra points on a quiz is a huge motivator and commands the attention/compliance of students
NOW WHAT?	How will this experience influence your professional identity?  This class is more proof that you need to keep a “strict and warm” relationship with the students. Relaxed enough that they want to listen to you and respect you but strict enough that students don’t slack off
	How will it influence how you plan/teach/assess in the future? I will make sure that my class is set up and my lesson is ready to be taught as best I can before my class enters so instruction time is not lost. I will be sure to utilize positive reinforcement