Lesson Plan III - Giving Undergrads the Opportunity to Put Their Work Into Action (Because Preparation Never Results in Actuality)

Students in my Expanding Literacy course learn literacy development, grades 3 - 6, and with an eye on student teaching ahead, I pick up the art of lesson planning to give them a transitional idea of how one works with design before they actually set out for action. The problem, however, is that it's hard to see/learn the pacing of a lesson on paper until they implement it with others.

To fix this, each student had 30 minutes to put their design into action. The vast majority of them them finished in 15 minutes and then had 15 minutes of inaction, which was the point I wanted to make with detailing EXACTLY what will occur in a given block of time. Max and his table, however, made it all 30 minutes, which was the model I could then share with others. 

Lesson III needed to be on an independent book they read, with a lesson all the class could implement or think about with the other 15 independent readings that occurred. Max chose to do a lesson for both English and Spanish speakers, which is a mission he has with his own research. 

I remember my own lesson planning days and, if truth be told, nothing teaches you development or pacing better than having a room full of 30 active learners keeping you on your toes. These students aren't there yet, but I'm trying to mentor them for the days that are ahead (I honestly don't know how anyone who doesn't go through a teaching program survives in their first years of teaching - there is so much that can be, and should be, taught in preparatory classes. In fact, I imagine a lot of faculty members could benefit from such instruction as they design college lessons.

This crew is moving on to Easter, though, and I'm ready to have a few days of grading/writing/preparing myself. There's only a short window left when we return and at this time in the semester I feel like I'm drowning. 

Ah, but good news came in stereo yesterday, only adding to the amount of work being done. So, ram horns down and charge. That's the only way I know how to survive.