Lesson clarity is very important when it comes to teaching. If a teacher is not teaching effectively, the students will not get anything out of the class. Like I said in my previous blog, Ms. A has the students write down the schedule at the beginning of class. This is effective because it sets out the plan for the day. It is clear what is going to happen and the students have a direction for the day. My teachers all through my schooling have had the lesson plan written on the board for the students to see. This helps students know what is happening and what the objectives and goals are for the school day.
This week in Ms. A’s class the students were reading a scary story because Halloween was quickly approaching. It is great to see a teacher who connects lessons to real life and the seasons. This is called inclusive curriculum, where the curriculum is culturally relevant and introduces a variety of ways to learn. The students were listening to the story on a CD and they were following along in their textbooks. They could read and hear the story at the same time. Ms. A would periodically stop the tape and ask the students questions. This is known as critical pedagogy, where teachers are encouraged to pose questions to the students and present curriculum in ways that challenge students. This is a great lesson strategy. It helps keep the kids focused and engaged with the reading. My middle school teachers would do this same strategy. I remember they would randomly call on kids who didn’t look like they were paying attention. Ms. A does the same thing.
After the kids finished the scary story, she had them work on writing their own frightening tales. They had to include five different literary techniques, such as humor, figurative language, repetition, and full-circle endings. Before they could type their stories, they needed to have an adult in the room read over their paper. This was effective because it introduces the scaffolding technique. When students do not understand the material, the teacher can work with them to model the skills when they are beyond their ability. I helped a boy fit in the techniques he needed. It is more helpful for struggling students when they receive help one-on-one. It is also good that students of different abilities are in the same class.
Ms. A showed a good example of lesson clarity. However she did give the students an hour to work on their stories and several of them had finished early. Is there a better way to manage the classroom time? Social interaction is also important in the classroom. Could Ms. A include partnering or group work to help the students work together more?
I think it is interesting that you included needing more social interaction. I think that is an important element for students. It helps change things up so they don't have to do as much of the same lecturing every day, and it gives them a chance to work with others to form new opinions. I feel like this is only effective if a teacher has good classroom management and is able to clarify the lesson concisely.
ReplyDeleteI like that your teacher had a theme for your students. I remember writing those types of stories in middle school, and really enjoying it.
Mrs A's agenda at the beginning of class is awesome. It even helps me prepare when we go in for aiding, so I know what to expect and can plan ahead on how I might want to go about helping kids during the lesson.
ReplyDeleteI think it's good too how she rarely deviates from this schedule: I remember when I was in Junior High that we only got half the stuff done we as should have because my teachers wer so busy and stressed and confused by their own plans...
It was good too to know how she set up the structure of her lessons so that when it came time for us to teach our lesson we could make it close to the same as she would have taught.