Caitlin CO #1

Date/Time: January 12th, 2016 11:00-11:50pm

Topic/Skill: Reading Level 3/ Applying the Reading Process

Teacher Presentation: The teacher had the students read the article for the first time for homework the night before but had everyone read it silently again to themselves in class. After each section, the students worked in pairs to discuss the main ideas of the passage and try to figure out the meaning of any vocabulary they didn't know. During this time, the teacher walked around the room answering specific questions the students had about the reading or the definition of a word. Once all the students were done, the instructor then asked the class what the main ideas of the article were and whose perspective the readers were hearing. The teacher went over the reading questions in a large group discussion and introduced a vocabulary matching activity using words from the text.

Classroom Management: The teacher was constantly moving around the classroom which made it easier for her to be flagged down by students who needed her help on the article. The class was very quiet and respectful. She seemed to have a good rapport with her students.

Materials: An article about the FSU bus system and questions about the reading

Student Participation: The class seemed very reluctant to answer questions or speak up much on their own. Although when called on, some students appeared uncomfortable while others responded eagerly. The girl I was paired up with was frustrated with the difficulty of the article and so would check her phone and not pay attention as much as others in the class.

Feedback Provided: The teacher was very encouraging and used phrases such as, "Good job" and "That's right!" when students answered a question correctly. Once a student fell silent because they didn't know the answer and the instructor's response was, "Okay, I'll give you some more time to think about it," and then asked another student the same question. Also if some of the answers were given but lacking information, then the teacher would expand upon the given response and correct any grammar issues.

Lesson(s) on teaching you learned: I learned that understanding the learning level of your students is essential to picking the class materials. I also found out that my idea of where the learners should be by level 3 and where they actually are is vastly different! I thought that the article would have been way too hard but for most of the class, the students seemed to understand it quite well! I was very surprised and this instance just proves that I have a lot to learn before I get in front of a class!