Creating a Culture for Learning
Lesson Planning
Lesson planning and unit organization are vital to successful teaching. When planning lessons, I begin with state and common core standards to inform unit objectives. I then use the pacing guide to come up with a timeline, and finally consider the skills I aim to teach that unit. I plan units that include various activities and opportunities for students to improve reading and writing skills, social skills, and thinking skills. I believe it is important to prepare and plan, but also to be flexible within those lessons. Throughout a lesson I assess student understanding and engagement and am comfortable changing my plans if it is clear that is what students need.
At EDHS I kept and turned in online lesson plans using Planbookedu.com. Administrators were able to see my objectives each day and a general overview of our plan. I also shared the my online lesson plans with colleagues and kept up with their plans as well.
Lesson planning and unit organization are vital to successful teaching. When planning lessons, I begin with state and common core standards to inform unit objectives. I then use the pacing guide to come up with a timeline, and finally consider the skills I aim to teach that unit. I plan units that include various activities and opportunities for students to improve reading and writing skills, social skills, and thinking skills. I believe it is important to prepare and plan, but also to be flexible within those lessons. Throughout a lesson I assess student understanding and engagement and am comfortable changing my plans if it is clear that is what students need.
At EDHS I kept and turned in online lesson plans using Planbookedu.com. Administrators were able to see my objectives each day and a general overview of our plan. I also shared the my online lesson plans with colleagues and kept up with their plans as well.
Differentiation
My first priority as an educator is to ensure all students have equal access to content. I recognize students learn in many different ways and I work hard to get to know my students' strengths and weaknesses. I plan according to my students' unique needs. I believe good teaching can be measured by student progress. In the classroom students should be engaged and challenged in a variety of ways and lessons should reach each ability level. Any given lesson in my classroom could include; PowerPoint, note-taking, charts, graphs, document based questions, video, group projects, simulations, social studies raps, smart board games, visual thinking strategies, etc.
Example of a Differentiated Unit: World War I
- PowerPoint Notes with Student Written Summaries or Summary Questions dependent on student needs
- Section Summaries
- Vocabulary - with pictures
- Videos -Lusitania, Wilsons War at Home,
- In-depth Reading on the Assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Stations Activity - Chart identifying the underlying causes of the War MAIN
- Technology in WWI Jigsaw - students read about various forms of WWI technology and share with other groups
- Trenches Simulation - students act out fighting in the trenches using paper balls
- Zimmerman Note Primary Source Reading and Questions
- Government Involvement in WWI Group Activity and Presentation - Chart
- Propaganda Creation - students create their own propaganda to convince Americans to support WWI
- Summarizing Stations Activity - Included documents, charts, graphs, political cartoons, and propaganda for students to analyze
- Note Card Creation - for studying purposes
- Study Game - PowerPoint
- Test - Multiple Choice and Written
My first priority as an educator is to ensure all students have equal access to content. I recognize students learn in many different ways and I work hard to get to know my students' strengths and weaknesses. I plan according to my students' unique needs. I believe good teaching can be measured by student progress. In the classroom students should be engaged and challenged in a variety of ways and lessons should reach each ability level. Any given lesson in my classroom could include; PowerPoint, note-taking, charts, graphs, document based questions, video, group projects, simulations, social studies raps, smart board games, visual thinking strategies, etc.
Example of a Differentiated Unit: World War I
- PowerPoint Notes with Student Written Summaries or Summary Questions dependent on student needs
- Section Summaries
- Vocabulary - with pictures
- Videos -Lusitania, Wilsons War at Home,
- In-depth Reading on the Assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Stations Activity - Chart identifying the underlying causes of the War MAIN
- Technology in WWI Jigsaw - students read about various forms of WWI technology and share with other groups
- Trenches Simulation - students act out fighting in the trenches using paper balls
- Zimmerman Note Primary Source Reading and Questions
- Government Involvement in WWI Group Activity and Presentation - Chart
- Propaganda Creation - students create their own propaganda to convince Americans to support WWI
- Summarizing Stations Activity - Included documents, charts, graphs, political cartoons, and propaganda for students to analyze
- Note Card Creation - for studying purposes
- Study Game - PowerPoint
- Test - Multiple Choice and Written
Technology
As a 21st Century Teacher I recognize the relevance of technology in the classroom. Technology has the ability to engage students of all ages in a variety of ways. I utilize technology in my instruction by including the Document Camera, SmartBoard, SmartResponse System, Videos, PowerPoint, Online Games, and more. Students also utilize technology in my classroom for research, presentations (PowerPoint, Prezi, or a video), SmartBoard Interactive Games, WebQuests, and more. I communicate to students using technology as well and have utilized my classroom website, Twitter, and email. I encourage students to email me with questions and respond to them that same evening. Technology offers the 21st century student a variety of new tools and engages the learner in new and exciting ways. Technology is always changing and I will continue to stay up to date on the ways in which I can utilize new technology in the classroom.
As a 21st Century Teacher I recognize the relevance of technology in the classroom. Technology has the ability to engage students of all ages in a variety of ways. I utilize technology in my instruction by including the Document Camera, SmartBoard, SmartResponse System, Videos, PowerPoint, Online Games, and more. Students also utilize technology in my classroom for research, presentations (PowerPoint, Prezi, or a video), SmartBoard Interactive Games, WebQuests, and more. I communicate to students using technology as well and have utilized my classroom website, Twitter, and email. I encourage students to email me with questions and respond to them that same evening. Technology offers the 21st century student a variety of new tools and engages the learner in new and exciting ways. Technology is always changing and I will continue to stay up to date on the ways in which I can utilize new technology in the classroom.