Sierra Wall

ELED 4410
Social Studies Reflection
What were your major SIOP takeaways from this lesson?
This was my very first time teaching a social studies lesson. I have only seen one
social studies lesson ever be taught while in practicum, and I was unsure about how to
teach it. However, as I began writing the lesson plan I was able to quickly think of new
ideas as I did my best to incorporate each of the SIOP components and features. As I
began writing my lesson I was asked to teach about an entire chapter, which was difficult
as I tried to write the lesson objective. To write the objective I first found a standard that
coordinated with the chapter I was asked to teach (SIOP 3). I then wrote my content
objective accordingly (SIOP 1), and decided to integrate it with a language objective and
focus on writing (SIOP 2). I feel that these were strong objectives and helped guide me
through the lesson planning process. I was able to focus more clearly on what I wanted
my students to learn.
While planning I had a difficult time determining what supplementary materials to
use. Luckily I remembered watching a history production that went hand in hand with
what I was teaching. I used this video as well as the students textbooks to provide visuals
of what they were learning (SIOP 4). While students were watching the video I provided
them to questions they needed to answer as a group (SIOP 5). This helped students follow
along and learn the material I felt that was most important to learn. This also allowed me
adapt the content and help guide students through the video. Along with an adaptation of
content through use of the video and questions I was able to provide my students with a
meaningful activity (SIOP 6, 20, 21, 22). As I thought about what else I could do to

provide my students with meaningful activities, I thought about what was meaningful for
me as I learned about the material. I was then able to come up with the writing activity
about how the students would have felt about being an immigrant in Utah. As I thought
about this I realized how SIOP impacted my lesson planning and helped me determine
meaningful activities to use.
To build students background knowledge I read back through their social studies
text to determine what they had been learning. Based on what I found I created a
discussion outline and questions for students to answer. However, I feel that I could have
improved this by discussing the most important parts from the previous chapters, with my
mentor teacher. I feel that this would have helped students link their new knowledge to
previous knowledge better and build off what they already knew. However, as we
discussed students current knowledge I was able to the impact background information
has on new learning (SIOP 7, 8). I was also able to see the importance or vocabulary and
how vocabulary extends students understanding throughout the lesson (SIOP 9).
Throughout this lesson I feel that I did a decent job of introducing and using the new
vocabulary words. However, I dont feel that I had students using the vocabulary words
enough. As I reflect back on the lesson I feel that students would have received more
from the lesson if they had had an opportunity to use it themselves.
There were many times throughout this lesson that I felt the speech was
inappropriate (SIOP 10). I had a difficult time simplifying my speech to fit the
proficiency level of each of my students. I feel that I could have been a better job of
reading through the text and finding words that would better fit the level of my students. I
feel that my lesson also would have benefitted from clearer explanations (SIOP 11).

Many times I felt like I had to repeat myself because I was unclear about what I wanted
from students. This is something I would love to improve on. I do however feel that I did
a great job of using a variety of techniques (SIOP 12). I used visuals, demonstrations,
gestures, and body language to teach the lesson. This also goes right along with providing
students with ample opportunity to use different learning strategies (SIOP 13). Students
learned through the use of discussion, reading, writing, and watching/listening (SIOP 22).
I feel like this was one of the strongest parts of my lesson. I however wish I had done a
better job of supporting students understanding through think alouds and probing
questions. This would have helped to scaffold and promote high-order thinking
throughout the lesson (SIOP 14, 15).
Another strong point in this lesson was the use of classroom interactions (SIOP
16). The whole lesson was built off of student participation and discussion from teacher
to students and from student to student. During these group discussions I also feel that I
did a better job of using wait time and allowing students to process the information (SIOP
18). However, I do not feel that I did a good job of supporting the objectives through the
grouping configurations (SIOP 17). One of the groups were unable to get along and
answer the questions, at that moment I wish I would have taken the time to switch the
groups to maximize students learning. During this lesson the use of clarifying key
concepts for L1 students did not apply (SIOP 19).
As I began to close the lesson I feel that I did a great job of tying the lesson back
together to support the content and language objective (SIOP 23, 24). I taught students
about all the events that led up to the end and supported what I wanted students to write
about. I also felt as if students were very engaged throughout the students. They loved

learning about the things that shaped their state. However, I feel that I definitely could
have done a better job of included more opportunities for students to speak and share
their thoughts (SIOP 25). This goes along with pacing as well. There was a lot of group
participation as a whole group that the pacing slacked (SIOP 26). I feel that I could have
done a better job of splitting the students into groups so they could discuss the material
we were discussing as a whole group.
For the final review I asked students to share what they learned from the lesson
with a shoulder partner. I then asked students to read back through the vocabulary words
and discuss what words they learned or did not learn (SIOP 27,28). Because my pacing
slacked, I feel that the final review also slacked. I didnt have enough time to ask students
essential questions about what they learned. I also was unable to provide them with
regular feedback about their comments and answers to the questions (SIOP 29). As I
asked a student about what they learned after the lesson was complete I was able to
determine where there were holes in the lesson. I feel that I missed these
misunderstandings because I didnt respond to students output. Again because of time
issues I was unable to complete the assessment of student learning, which hurt the
students overall learning experience (SIOP 30).
Overall I feel that this wasnt the strongest lesson I have taught. However, I do
feel that I learned a lot about the benefits of SIOP. I was able to see how my lesson
suffered because I was unable to incorporate all of the SIOP features effectively. I do
however feel that my use of interactions and visuals were very effective and helped
further students understanding about the international railroad.
How did you impact student learning in this lesson?

After this lesson was complete I took the time to ask five different students about
what they learned from the lesson. I was trying to determine whether or not their learning
matched the lesson objectives. Based on what students said, they were able to meet the
lesson objectives. They were able to explain how the transcontinental railroad changed
Utah as well as how immigrants may have felt coming to Utah. However, I wish I had
had the opportunity to actually give students the assessment. I feel that the students
papers would have done a great job of demonstrating their feelings and knowledge.
Where will you go from here?
Based on what I learned from this lesson I definitely plan to continue to and
incorporate SIOP into each and every lesson. I was able to see how SIOP benefitted my
lesson and how it slacked when I didnt incorporate SIOP. My goals are to continue to
gain a deeper understanding of how to implement SIOP into my lesson plans and create a
meaningful and comprehensive lesson plan. I would also like to continue to learn about
technology and how technology can enhance my lessons. To do this I plan to get my
technology endorsement after I finish getting my Bachelors degree. I feel that there were
many times during this lesson that I could have had students reading an article on their Ipads or using an interactive app. All in all I want to continue to learn and strengthen my
teaching techniques.