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Grace Koehler

EDUC 307-320-360

25 March 2016

Video Reflection #1

Preparing for my first lesson was both exciting and slightly nerve-racking. Applying the

knowledge I have gained thus far into my lesson was incredibly satisfying. However, watching

and reflecting on the presentation of my Opposite lesson plan was the most beneficial for me as a

future educator. Being reflective of my teaching practices allows me to identify the areas that

require improvement.

While watching the video, I noticed that I established open communication with my

students early on. Unfortunately, I had a terribly hoarse voice the day I taught my lesson, but I

decided to immediately open up with Mrs. Neils students. I explained to them that every spring I

typically lose my voice due to allergies. It was obvious my voice was nearly gone, but I wanted

to address the situation head on so that the students could try their hardest to focus on the lesson

and not on my voice. With this established to prevent further distractions, I believe I was able to

teach the content correctly and with enthusiasm. My future education career is destined to have

unplanned obstacles such as a croaky voice. Regardless of these obstacles, I must still remain

positive and energetic throughout the entirety of my lesson. Enthusiasm towards a subject

encourages students to become excited themselves about the content being taught.

In regards to the content of my lesson, I believe that a strength shown in the video were

the connections I made based on the students prior knowledge of opposites. The children are

familiar with words such as: hot, cold, big, small, wet, dry. Therefore, reading The Foot Book
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effectively introduced the concept of opposite word pairs using vocabulary that the students were

previously familiar with. I chose to include the opposite pair even, odd because during Mrs.

Neils morning meeting, the students review the even and odd numbers. I believe it is important

that students recognize how they witness opposites outside of the lesson as well.

Additionally, I noticed the benefits of making accommodation for the different types of

learners in the room. I believe the illustrations of wet foot, dry foot in Dr. Seusss story and my

vocabulary provided on the chart paper appealed to the visual learners. Additionally, I had the

students stand up and walk forward and backwards. Modeling these opposites addressed those

kinesthetic learners as well. After reviewing the personal strengths of my lesson, I feel more

confident to teach in front of Mrs. Neils students and in future classrooms.

Although it is gratifying to observe the strengths of my first formal lesson plan, I must

also reflect on the struggles I encountered during my presentation. The first struggle I noticed

was maintaining Mrs. Neils classroom management strategies. The students followed my

directions of sitting and standing when asked during the lesson. During my read aloud, they

remained quiet and respectful. However, I struggled maintaining control of the classroom

towards the end of the lesson. For instance, when I asked questions, students began to shout out

answers without being called on. This became a prominent limitation because the consistent

chatter made it difficult for me to identify which students were answering the questions and

understanding the material. Maintaining classroom control will help my next lesson run much

more smoothly and productively.

Accommodating my future lesson plans to appeal to auditory learners will lead to more

productive teaching as well. I made modifications for both kinesthetic and visual learners, but I
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did little to help those who learn primarily through sound. Making a chant or playing a song

would have been tremendously beneficial for the auditory learners. Mrs. Neil incorporates music

every morning when she and her students learn about sight words. Furthermore, implementing

music during my next lesson will provide a sense of familiarity for the students.

Connecting a song or a chant to my next lesson will not only be familiar for Mrs. Neils

students, it additionally will provide an effective closure to the presentation. As my video came

to an end, I realized that I didnt wrap up the lesson. I failed to conclude the lesson after I handed

the worksheet to the students. Bringing the students back to the carpet for a group discussion

and/or song would have allowed the class to reflect on the lesson and concept they learned.

Additionally, a strong closure will provide me with the opportunity to assess the students and

determine if I need to explain any concepts in greater detail. Establishing a strong and an

effective closure is key to a successful lesson, and therefore, must be implemented in the

classroom.

Reflecting on the strengths shown during my Opposite lesson plan and the struggles I

faced are crucial in improving as a future educator. Similarly to my Read Aloud reflection, I

must set attainable, professional goals and use the knowledge I have gained to accomplish these

goals. My first goal is to implement Mrs. Neils classroom management strategies. I am thrilled

that the students showed enthusiasm during the lesson plan. However, maintaining control over

the classroom is tremendously beneficial and will keep my future lessons more organized.

Additionally, I can decipher which students are focused on the lesson and actively participating

in class discussions or activities and which students are not. I will use the phrases Mrs. Neil uses

such as macaroni and freeze and chica chica boom boom. Furthermore, when Mrs. Neil tells
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students give yourself a pat on the back, they collectively say, Im an awesome kindergartner,

Im an awesome kindergartner. When students are following instructions, I will praise them,

and hopefully, instill motivation within them to continue their positive behavior. Another goal I

have set is accommodating for all learners. The knowledge I gain in my courses and future field

placements will provide me with information to modify lessons as needed to guide all students to

academic success. Guiding the class to academic success would be much more attainable with a

closure implemented in my lessons. Each class period I deepen my understanding of constructing

a strong and productive lesson plan. Therefore, I will apply this understanding to make my

lesson plans as effective as possible. Since I frequently search for improvement and growth, my

professional goals will change as I grow as an educator.

Identifying my strengths and struggles better prepares me to provide a more supportive

student-learning environment in the future. Establishing professional goals and taking the

appropriate measures to reach these goals helps me grow as a future teacher. Therefore, being a

reflective practitioner is tremendously beneficial because it provides me with the motivation to

improve as an educator.