Prior Knowledge Lesson 2

For this lesson, I would have assessed students prior experience with equivalent fractions with lessons of fractions without modifications. Previous lessons on simple fractions and multiplication should give me a good idea about which students will be able to create equivalent fractions with or without difficulty. The technology allows students to create equivalent fractions using squares or circles and students can either create one equivalent fraction or two. My knowledge about my students abilities would help me determine who I would encourage to use which shape and how many fractions I would have them do.

Assessment of Learning

One of my peers had commented about confusion of fossil fuels during instruction but had stated they had an understanding of the topic after the lesson; I feel that this shows the lesson was successful in teaching students new information. My classmates seem stated that I was prepared for the lesson, the lesson was age appropriate, got students involved in the learning process, and all three mentioned the fact that I went around to each student to help and guide the students learning. I also did this as a way to encourage critical thinking skills and to assess the students' understanding of the content.

Teaching Decisions

From my lesson, I learned that I tried to do too much during my lesson period. I was not able to teach my objectives as well as I had liked even though students still gained and applied knowledge from the process. Instead of being able to deeply teach my objectives, it seemed to me as if we just touched on them. My reviews from my peers were not negative but I would have liked to have accomplished more in my lesson. I modified a student's lesson by asking one student to research a resource I chose for her instead of her choosing a resource for herself. I feel that asking a student to "help" me by researching a topic is better than telling him/her that the resource he/she chose is too difficult or easier than his/her skill level. Also, by using formative assessment, I was able to guide students through the learning process.

Plan for Assessment

I will use a formative assessment. As the students are conducting research, I will walk around with a list of the students’ names. I will talk to each student about the research/project he/she is doing to evaluate if the student has an understanding of the topic and the skill(s) being acquired. I will ask each student questions such as "Why", which will cause them to use critical thinking skills. By using formative assessment, I can ensure that individual needs are being met.

Design of Instruction

My lesson is designed so that someone such as a principal or teacher can see what to do to start the lesson, how the lesson should proceed, and how to assess or conclude the lesson. I differentiated instruction to meet the needs of a variety of students. For at-risk students, they can work with a partner or teachers can provide specific websites for research instead of the student finding his/her own. Gifted and talented students could try to figure out if there is an alternative for the resource they are investigating. Students are researching information while using technology; I feel this aligns with research based understanding of technology integration.

Lesson Plan

My lesson plan describes what students will be able to do by the end of the lesson in terms that are easy to understand. I forgot to include how students would demonstrate their new knowledge. My lesson is age appropriate because it does not challenge them beyond what they can handle. The lesson incorporates the skills students already have with critical thinking skills that will be guided throughout the lesson. My lesson applies standards which were pulled directly from the Arizona Department of Education website for fourth grade students.

Assessment Before Lesson

To teach this lesson with 4th grade class, we would have not done this lesson in 20 minutes. In class, I would have assigned a quick write about natural resources a week or two prior to the lesson. This information would let me know how much time I need to plan for the inquiry and instruction process.