Write a 500-750 word reflection summarizing your observations and discussion with your mentor teacher.(use interview Q&A) Explain how you will use your findings in your future professional practice.
Interview with Lisa Crimi
What is your pre-planning process? How do you ensure your lesson plan activities are aligned to state standards?
Before planning a lesson Lisa makes sure to give a preassessment of skills that meet the state standards. This allows her to gage an entry point for where she will begin and be able to plan flexible groupings in which she will pull students during specific lessons for standards they have yet to meet. She will ensure that her lesson plans adhere to state standards by developing “I can” statements or objectives that keep the end goal in mind and are aligned to the standards for that specific subject/topic.
What are some strategies you use to establish curricular goals? How do students know what their curricular goals are?
“I can” statements are posted daily. These statements align to the state standards and identify the objective/goal for each subject, each day. Students are aware of where they are posted in the room and they are written in friendly language so that they are able to understand what the objective is for the day. Students with special needs also have their own set of personal goals taped to the inside of their notebooks. This could come in the form of a checklist, or data tracking sheet. Students also create their own individual and personal goals for themselves for each subject for each unit. They are able to keep track of their progress through conferencing and teacher feedback. This allows students to take ownership of their own learning.
How are cross-curricular connections considered?
Lisa teaches in a balanced literacy classroom in which all subjects are taught with some sort of literacy weaved in. This could look like a read aloud for a math lesson or a science article for a shared reading lesson.
How do you assess student understanding before, during, and after the lesson? How are formative and summative assessments used for instructional planning and within the classroom?
Pre-assessments are given before a lesson. Pre-assessments could be formative or just simply in the form of observation or survey. During lessons observations, small groups, and conferencing are all ways in which she can assess during a lesson. After a lesson, exit slips may be used, or a quick informal assessment on a whiteboard. These formative assessments are used to plan interventions for students that may not be meeting the standards. She will strategically plan small group instruction for specific standards or goals in which students need more support before giving a summative assessment. Summative assessments are used after each unit of study. This will show what students have learned throughout the unit.
How is instruction differentiated to meet students’ learning needs? What factors are taken into consideration when differentiating learning activities?
Depending on the child’s specific needs, Lisa may differentiate a lesson in different ways. One way is by frontloading information to students, specifically ENL students, such as new vocabulary words, and link new words to images for these students. She might also have these students have individual word walls to refer to. Seating assignments may need to be rearranged based on the lesson at hand. Enlarged texts, anchor charts or other supports are provided. Assignments/questions or length of assignment may be altered to meet the needs of students as well, as long as they still meet the same objective.
What opportunities allow each student to demonstrate acquired knowledge and skills through a variety of products and performances?
Students can use technology, small groups, partnerships, hands-on learning experiences, STEM activities, inquiry activities, etc. to acquire knowledge and new skills. Also, any activities that involve students moving and learning kinesthetically is extremely beneficial to learning.
How were home extension activities determined?
Students will be given independent practice to practice any goals/skills that meet the learning standards taught in class. Work is collected or reviewed in order to assess student performance and/or answer any questions/clarify.
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