Linnea Wagner

Instructional Technology 2
Lesson Recording and Reflection
Creative Writing Lesson

The video is a 10-minute clip from a creative writing lesson that I taught at Washington

Technology Magnet School in St. Paul. The class is a ninth grade ESL level 2 class. The 85-

minut lesson taught adjectives, reviewed past tense verbs, and ended with writing time. All the

lesson activities helped to scaffold the students to be able to write about a scary experience for

them. This lesson was the first lesson of a new unit, “Frankenstein.” The students had to write

about a time they were scared. The two learning targets were, “I can write about a personal

experience” and “I can write past tense verbs.” The video clip included a Kahoot, discussion, and

ended with the students beginning their writing time.

This lesson included many uses of technology. Washington is a 1-1 iPad school. The

students love using their iPads, so I try to use them as much as possible. The students were able

to use their iPads when we played a Kahoot. This Kahoot was yes-no questions asking the

students if they were scare of (blank). The students also used their iPads to take pictures of the

notes and tools to help. Because they are ESL students, it often takes them a very long time to

write things down. Taking pictures of the tools to help them write allowed them to finish their

essays at home while still being supported. This lesson also included a Google Slides

Presentation. This functioned as an outline and provided many visuals and examples, including

an example essay, for the students.

There were several pedagogical strategies utilized in this lesson. The class period is 85

minutes. That is a long time. The students are not able to sit and listen for that long, so the
students need many activities where they can talk and move. This lesson included an activity

where they stood up and made a circle to practice adjectives. The students are also more engaged

when they can use their iPads and they love Kahoot. Using activities, their iPads, and tools like

Kahoot; helps motivate the students. The students were also engaged in discussion. They love to

socialize. In the video clip, the students were able to discuss a time they were scared to help

come up with ideas for their essays. Technology was a great tool to help engage the students, but

it was also a distraction at times. In the video, after the Kahoot, I had to tell the students several

times to put “tech away.”

The assessments of this lesson were formative. An informal assessment was observation.

I observed the students throughout the lesson, especially during the discussion times. I helped

various groups discuss and stay on task. Another way that I observed if the students were

understanding what was asked of them, was the Kahoot. This was informal and fun way to assess

the students using technology. The formal assessment came from grading the students’ essays.

The essays were proof of the students’ abilities to do the learning goals. The essays were graded

for past tense, including adjectives, and being able to write about a personal scary experience.

Many students were successful in this lesson. They were able to write a strong essay in past tense

about a personal experience.