Lesson Plan Reflection
What evidence do you have that your students mastered or did not master the lesson objective?
In my opinion, I feel as though the students mastered my lesson. It was evident that my students mastered the lesson in the way that they responded to discussion questions that I posed to the class as a whole at the end of the lesson. Many students answered and responded to my questions with developed thoughts. It was apparent that the students took time to reflect on the information that they read in the two different articles, and they are aware as to how the two countries they read about are both alike and different (based on the specific details they read about).
Based on your evaluation of their work, how many students mastered the lesson objective?
Based on my evaluation of the student's work, 95% of the students mastered the lesson objective. The class of students that I taught this literacy lesson to are hardworking, advanced in academics, and interested in learning. These students were engaged and motivated to learn about the material at hand. I feel as though the 5% of the students in the class who did not master the lesson, failed to do so because they did not have enough time to complete the Venn Diagram during class time.
What did your students learn as a result of your teaching? Was that your intention?
As a result of my teaching, I feel as though my students learned how to read two distinct articles, and in turn use the information that they gathered to seek out similarities and differences between the two countries. Through reading, and being able to seek out these commonalities and differences, the students can develop into more engaged readers. My intention with the lesson was to help develop the students in the classroom into focused learners who are cognitively and consciously aware of what they are reading.
Name at least 1 aspect of the lesson that was successful. Why was it successful?
In my opinion, the most successful part of the lesson was the finial discussion that I facilitated in the classroom. I feel as though this class discussion was a positive way to further encourage student reflection. Students reflected more on what they read from hearing their peers discuss the same articles, and then adding to their input. It was interesting to see how the students took what one of their peer's said and further evolved that thought. I found this classroom discussion to be conducive to the learning environment.
Name at least 1 aspect of the lesson that was less successful. Why was it less successful?
The least successful part of the lesson was the independent practice. I felt as though the students in the classroom moved at difference paces. Some students had completed Venn Diagrams 5 minutes after reading the articles, whereas other students in the classroom spent quality time, writing in depth descriptions, and failed to complete the assignment during the class time.
What changed might make this lesson more successful? Why might these changes help improve the activity?
I would have liked it if I planned better for students who needed extra time, or finished early during the independent practice. This way, students who are faster workers could have more work to complete to in turn gain a greater understanding from the lesson. The students who need more time when completing assignments could have been provided with that time. Additionally, I think that this lesson may have been more successful if the articles that students had to read were better designed for the purpose of this lesson. I think that the articles that the students read engaged them and helped them understand what specific details they could compare and contrast, I however also think that there was a lot of "fluff" in the articles that the students read. Students I feel as though wasted a lot of time reading information that was not as important to the success of the lesson.
Additional Notes:
Creating this literacy lesson plan took some thought and creativity, but overall it was a positive experience. With the support of my classroom teacher, I was able to begin the creation of the plan. It was brought to my attention that the students in the literacy class were reading the book, Three Cups of Tea. While reading this book, students are furthering their knowledge on the countries of both Afghanistan and Pakistan. I was presented with two articles that students could read to begin the process of comparing the two countries. Students needed to read a two articles on the two countries and then create a diagram that compares and contrasts specific details from the text.
Having this foundational knowledge on what the primary objective of the lesson should be, I began to think about how I could engage student learning. I decided that I would first create a powerpoint presentation. The presentation allowed for good flow during the lesson. To focus students, I had the students first look at a map of where Afghanistan is located in relation to Pakistan. The students were able to get a visual of just how close these two countries are. The students were then aware of the fact that these two countries are close to one another. However, I posed the question to the students, "do you think that these two countries have the same values and the same culture just because they are close to one another?" The students overall responded to the question, "no." One student mentioned that similarly the United States is close to Mexico, however the United States does not have the same culture and values as does Mexico. It was interesting that this student pointed out this fact because the next slide in my presentation depicted the location of Mexico in relation to the United States. I was further pointed out this comparison. I then explained to students that half of the class would read about the educational values in Afghanistan in comparison to Pakistan and the other half of the class was to read about the cultural values of the both Afghanistan and of Pakistan. I stated to students that when reading we can create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast what we are reading. I provided to students an example. I referenced the text and stated what I could put on the Pakistan side, the Afghanistan side, and what I could put in the middle as a similarity.
Students then began to read the articles silently to themselves. While reading, students filled out a Venn Diagram in their literacy journals. After reading and after the diagrams were completed, I led a class discussion. I asked students to share what they thought were similarities and differences between the two countries. These questions spiraled into a class discussion on the articles read and information gathered from the sources. I feel as though students were engaged in the discussion and interested in hearing what the contrary group had to share from their reading.
In my opinion, I feel as though the students mastered my lesson. It was evident that my students mastered the lesson in the way that they responded to discussion questions that I posed to the class as a whole at the end of the lesson. Many students answered and responded to my questions with developed thoughts. It was apparent that the students took time to reflect on the information that they read in the two different articles, and they are aware as to how the two countries they read about are both alike and different (based on the specific details they read about).
Based on your evaluation of their work, how many students mastered the lesson objective?
Based on my evaluation of the student's work, 95% of the students mastered the lesson objective. The class of students that I taught this literacy lesson to are hardworking, advanced in academics, and interested in learning. These students were engaged and motivated to learn about the material at hand. I feel as though the 5% of the students in the class who did not master the lesson, failed to do so because they did not have enough time to complete the Venn Diagram during class time.
What did your students learn as a result of your teaching? Was that your intention?
As a result of my teaching, I feel as though my students learned how to read two distinct articles, and in turn use the information that they gathered to seek out similarities and differences between the two countries. Through reading, and being able to seek out these commonalities and differences, the students can develop into more engaged readers. My intention with the lesson was to help develop the students in the classroom into focused learners who are cognitively and consciously aware of what they are reading.
Name at least 1 aspect of the lesson that was successful. Why was it successful?
In my opinion, the most successful part of the lesson was the finial discussion that I facilitated in the classroom. I feel as though this class discussion was a positive way to further encourage student reflection. Students reflected more on what they read from hearing their peers discuss the same articles, and then adding to their input. It was interesting to see how the students took what one of their peer's said and further evolved that thought. I found this classroom discussion to be conducive to the learning environment.
Name at least 1 aspect of the lesson that was less successful. Why was it less successful?
The least successful part of the lesson was the independent practice. I felt as though the students in the classroom moved at difference paces. Some students had completed Venn Diagrams 5 minutes after reading the articles, whereas other students in the classroom spent quality time, writing in depth descriptions, and failed to complete the assignment during the class time.
What changed might make this lesson more successful? Why might these changes help improve the activity?
I would have liked it if I planned better for students who needed extra time, or finished early during the independent practice. This way, students who are faster workers could have more work to complete to in turn gain a greater understanding from the lesson. The students who need more time when completing assignments could have been provided with that time. Additionally, I think that this lesson may have been more successful if the articles that students had to read were better designed for the purpose of this lesson. I think that the articles that the students read engaged them and helped them understand what specific details they could compare and contrast, I however also think that there was a lot of "fluff" in the articles that the students read. Students I feel as though wasted a lot of time reading information that was not as important to the success of the lesson.
Additional Notes:
Creating this literacy lesson plan took some thought and creativity, but overall it was a positive experience. With the support of my classroom teacher, I was able to begin the creation of the plan. It was brought to my attention that the students in the literacy class were reading the book, Three Cups of Tea. While reading this book, students are furthering their knowledge on the countries of both Afghanistan and Pakistan. I was presented with two articles that students could read to begin the process of comparing the two countries. Students needed to read a two articles on the two countries and then create a diagram that compares and contrasts specific details from the text.
Having this foundational knowledge on what the primary objective of the lesson should be, I began to think about how I could engage student learning. I decided that I would first create a powerpoint presentation. The presentation allowed for good flow during the lesson. To focus students, I had the students first look at a map of where Afghanistan is located in relation to Pakistan. The students were able to get a visual of just how close these two countries are. The students were then aware of the fact that these two countries are close to one another. However, I posed the question to the students, "do you think that these two countries have the same values and the same culture just because they are close to one another?" The students overall responded to the question, "no." One student mentioned that similarly the United States is close to Mexico, however the United States does not have the same culture and values as does Mexico. It was interesting that this student pointed out this fact because the next slide in my presentation depicted the location of Mexico in relation to the United States. I was further pointed out this comparison. I then explained to students that half of the class would read about the educational values in Afghanistan in comparison to Pakistan and the other half of the class was to read about the cultural values of the both Afghanistan and of Pakistan. I stated to students that when reading we can create a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast what we are reading. I provided to students an example. I referenced the text and stated what I could put on the Pakistan side, the Afghanistan side, and what I could put in the middle as a similarity.
Students then began to read the articles silently to themselves. While reading, students filled out a Venn Diagram in their literacy journals. After reading and after the diagrams were completed, I led a class discussion. I asked students to share what they thought were similarities and differences between the two countries. These questions spiraled into a class discussion on the articles read and information gathered from the sources. I feel as though students were engaged in the discussion and interested in hearing what the contrary group had to share from their reading.