Monday, June 15, 2015
Interview Question
Imagine you are being interviewed for an elementary school teaching position. One of the questions is: What does an effective lesson look like in your classroom? Respond to this questions as the interviewee and then to your colleagues as a member of the interview team in thought mode (as interviewers may not respond to you an interview).
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The lesson is based on a State academic learning standard. The curriculum is done with intentional planning so I know exactly what I want the students to learn. There is a clear purpose for the lesson the students can connect with in real life. The lesson has a clear objectives and measurable that is written on the board. The materials that is needed are available, grade appropriate level with supplemental material to enrich the learning activity. There are clear instructions given in kid friendly language they can understand .The expectations and directions for the lesson will be modeled for the students, with anchors to help those students that have a learning disability, or English language learners. So the students know exactly what is expected of them
ReplyDeleteIn my classroom and effective lesson is one that have students engaged, sharing idea, and information. They are working collaboratively with each other. The students aren’t just sitting they are actively moving and interacting with their fellow classmate. The students are actively learning, they are asking and responding to question from the teacher or each other to develop their critical thinking skills. The students are encourage to do most of the talking, prompted by the questions. The delivery of the information is in small unit to help the students comprehend and connect with the new information.
The lesson is one that is challenging but not too difficult for the students to lose interest and get frustrated. There is little dependence on worksheet activity, students are highly engaged in the learning activity. The teacher is moving around the classroom engaging the students scaffolding if needed. When the lesson is effective there should be little behavioral issue to deal with, because the student are motivate and excited by the lesson, their attention is on the learning activity.
I wonder how the applicant differentiates between on task talking and moving around with off task behavior. I hope she explains this... :)
DeleteAubrey
This sounds like a motivating and energetic group! I wonder how lessons are differentiated, so that learners at all ability levels are reached....Jenny
DeleteI like the sound of this classroom, but how will shy/quiet kids be assessed for understanding? Certainly not every student will be so engaged...Kelsey
DeleteHow would you differentiation instruction?
DeleteThe applicant's classroom sounds like it will be a fun one. I wonder how she will utilize time management?
DeleteRobin
This sounds like an engaging classroom. How will you manage all of the group dynamics?
DeleteI am that some of my students will be having conversation that is not directly related to the learning activity. To ensure that they do not stay off task for long i will be moving around the class asking them open ended question and asking them to simply explain what they have been working on. Using this approach the students will allow the students to get back on task without anyone been singled out. i would be also be providing feedback as i walk around to each desk or group acknowledge and assess their progress. for my students who have a learning disability i would be using agreed upon signal to let them know when they are not on task.walking around the class observing and interacting with them the student and reminding them of the classroom expectations whenthey are interacting with their peers doing a learning activity they are less likely to be off task
DeleteI love how much movement and engagement you emphasis during your lesson. What are your management strategies?
DeleteJenny
DeleteTo differentiate my lessons to accommodate my students abilities i would use levels. i would adopt the same whole class lesson into a mini lesson for the students who are not high performer or have a learning disability into small units for them to do one step at a time at their own space. Give them extra time to complete their learning activity, This too would be modify base on the level of difficult of the task they are being asked to do.I would use small, mixed-ability groups allow lower achievers to take advantage of peer support whilst higher achievers gain the opportunity to practice what they have learned.
Audrey
The Question: "What does an effective lesson look like in your classroom?"
ReplyDeleteResponse: An effective lesson looks like all kids are actively engaged and excited to be learning. Each lesson will be carefully planned to be relevant and purposeful. The students will always be aware of the learning target which will be clearly displayed for every lesson. I will provide clear directions in student-appropriate terms in written and oral forms to address the needs of ELL and SPED learners. Lessons must incorporate the core standards, however they must also meet the needs and interests of our students. My lessons will be integrating music, arts, and movement as a means to increase students' engagement, critical thinking, motivation, and enduring understanding of the learning targets. Students in my classroom will be very hands-on, collaborative, and creatively thinking. Students who struggle with traditional teaching strategies will have more freedom to express their understanding while those who excel in traditional classrooms will be challenged to stretch their creativity and critical thinking. I will be able to directly monitor the lessons' success through progress monitoring during the activities, creative assessments, and exit slips.
I like that this applicant will display learning goals for students. I wonder if these goals will be in "I can" or "I will" ownership statements. :)
DeleteAubrey
This sounds like a fun learning environment. I wonder what kinds of creative assessments are utilized....Jenny
DeleteGreat, that sounds very engaging. I wonder how she will implement these strategies in to our boxed curriculum?
DeleteAubrey,
DeleteStudent learning targets will always be written as ownership statements! Students will chorally say the learning target(s) and document them in their learning logs. The students will also do exit slips where they indicate if they met the target and will explain why/what support they need to meet the target.
Jenny,
DeleteDepending on the activity and learning goal there are various assessments to choose from. My goal is to provide choices so that every student can comfortably demonstrate what they have learned. For example, if the students are presenting an autobiography they could create a powerpoint/prezi, act out the persons life, create a visual collage, create a song, make a mural, or anything else they can think of that demonstrates their learning.
Tana,
DeleteDespite a rigid curriculum, arts and movement integration is pretty easy to fit in and it's necessary for keeping kids motivated and engaged in learning. I would also practice test taking strategies and have the students do practice tests in the state testing location so that they feel comfortable and prepared for those tests as well.
That was a great answer. Your hired!
DeleteThis sounds like such a thoughtful and engaging class. I wonder what your management styles are while you are accommodating different kinds of learners?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat does an effective lesson look like in your classroom?
ReplyDeleteAn effective lesson in my classroom has a clear objective which is based off of common core/state standards. This objective will then be explained to my students in kid friendly terms in order for them to know where the lesson is headed. I set out a specific path by explaining and modeling how the students should behave as they participate in the lesson. I also use active student engagement strategies when creating my lessons. These strategies ensure that students get engaged through hands-on activities that enhance the lesson's objective and will have accommodations if needed for SPED and ELL learners. I use small group discussions, make sure all students are participating and am constantly moving around the room in order to make sure students are understanding the lesson and are staying on task. My lessons incorporate questions in order to develop critical thinking skills. I do this by asking students why, how, if, and what else questions in order to strengthen student comprehension of the issues and skills at hand. I like to incorporate music, movement and art into my core content lessons in order to increase student engagement and motivation. Most importantly an effective lesson in my classroom will show through the students engagement and active participation during the lesson and their assessment of the knowledge they gained after the students have completed lesson.
This applicant seems to facilitate a very engaging experience. I wonder how she might assess learning for all the things that are not paper and pencil.
Delete:) Aubrey
This sounds like an effective lesson. I wonder what kinds of accommodations are put in place for SPED and ELL learners...Jenny
DeleteI am glad she talked about Sped and ELL learners. I may ask her to expand on this topic.
Deletethis applicant has some very interesting approach for engaging her student, I am hoping she would elaborate more on how she would scaffold a students who is SPED and also ELL how would she keep balance in the classroom.
DeleteI wonder how she would adjust instruction with movement for students who are blind or wheelchair bound.
DeleteI am also glad she accommodated for SPED and ELL learners. I also liked the fact that she will model to her students what is expected of them.
DeleteRobin
I like how you plan on accommodating SPED and ELL students. I wonder what some of the ways you plan to accomplish this?
DeleteI like that you mentioned walking around the different groups and accommodating SPED and ELL students. I'm curious about your assessment strategies?
DeleteAudrey, For ELL learners I make sure to have lots of pictures in order to help them understand the materials better. I will also sit them in groups so peers can help them and they can work with a partner to better gain understanding of the lesson. For SPED student I will make sure accommodate accordingly.
DeleteTanya,
DeleteI will accommodate my instruction with movement for students who are bling or wheel chair bound by having them use their arms or mobile limbs in order to have them participate in the activity. Also if they are blind I can help teach them the moves by holding their hands or accommodate accordingly.
"What does an effective lesson look like in your classroom"?
ReplyDeleteMy classroom is not a quite classroom but in my opinion this is a good thing! The chatter you will notice is just a reflection of my students showing engagement and the ability to learn from each other. Throughout each lesson I do my best to incorporate Art, Music, and/or Movement. This is a great way for my students to work to together and make the material purposeful and meaningful. Incorporating these aspects also allows for the create lessons to appeal to the learning styles of all my students and appeal to the multiple intelligences presented in my students. With each lesson we discuss what it is the students are to learn (target) and how that target will assist us in our learning. After the lesson the students are also encouraged to not only discuss the lesson but to give me feedback as to what they felt worked best for themselves and the class as a whole. They share what they thought we did well and what we need to work on. When my student engage with each other through Art, Music, and Movement, I believe they are making the most of the lesson. :)
Sounds fun, yet I wonder how loud the class may become. ..
Delete:) Aubrey
I can almost feel the energy coming from this classroom. I wonder how students might share feedback with her.
Deletesounds like a fun classroom. I wonder about her management strategies for preventing behavior from getting out of hand?
DeleteThis is an very energetic and lively learning environment, I am wondering how she would accommodate students who are introverted and uncomfortable speaking in a large group. How does she get that child to shine in this interactive classrooom
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSounds great! I wonder how she would accommodate for the SPED students?
DeleteRobin
Aubrey,
DeleteAt the beginning of the year, I would work with my class to establish very clear expectations. We would take time to practice what group discussion should look and sound like. Because we would take the time to practice appropriate voice, the classroom would maintain a discussion level and not a recess sound level.
Robin,
DeleteLet's say a am accommodating for a student who has an hearing impairment: to accommodate for his/her needs during a music lesson (any for that matter) I would ensure that everything we are doing is translated into a written handout and that the students aid is provided with one ahead of time so that he/she is able to communicate the expectations; if I cannot.
Audrey,
DeleteIn order to get my students who are reluctant to speak in larger groups I will make sure to build a safe community so they feel a bit less resistant. I believe that the students who are more shy need some exposure to speaking publically. I will allow them, at times to complete a small assignment that does not require them to be in the spotlight.
Safety is so important for students to feel in a classroom!
DeleteStephanie
What does an effective lesson look like in your classroom?
ReplyDeleteAn effective lesson in my classroom is one in which lessons are engaging and students are motivated to learn. Students know exactly what is expected of them and objectives are clear. This is done by having the learning target posted in clear kid-friendly language. Also, by verbalizing it at the start of the lesson, during the lesson, and at the end of the lesson. Lesson activities are differentiated to meet the needs of all learners. Modeling is used to demonstrate activities, but also to develop routines. Scaffolding is used for students who need some extra help, with assistance slowly being taken away as they are more capable of doing tasks on their own. Students are motivated with the use of positive reinforcement and I am moving about the room checking for understanding. Comments are descriptive and the generic “good job” is avoided. I ask students questions to check their level of understanding and to help them develop critical thinking skills. As I am moving about, I am scanning the room to ensure students are on task. Arts integration often accompanies learning in core subjects to make learning more meaningful and lasting. Learning is often hands-on and interactive. Student often work in groups and students are given opportunities to learn through exploration as much as possible. Students feel like their voices matter and they are given choices. Learning is assessed using a variety of methods. Students know exactly what and how they are being evaluated. If it is by a rubric, then they have helped create it.
Jenny
Wow, this sound like Ms. Jenny has a well developed classroom management plan? I wonder more about different lesson activities she might implement.
DeleteThis applicants classroom sounds great, however how will she prepare the students for state testing?
DeleteTana,
DeleteMany of the activites that we do in the class are project-based learning activiites. Students work in groups to solve real-life problems, which are curriculum-based and often integrated with arts and core content areas.
Jenny
Kelsey,
DeleteStudents will be prepared for state testing through curriculum-based lessons, which are based on common core state standards. The lessons emphasize real-world problem-solving skills, which are skills that students will need to develop for the Smarter Balanced tests.
Jenny
I wonder how she would ensure the students are on task while they are working in groups.
DeleteGreat answer. Sounds like she has her stuff together!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteTanya,
DeleteThe classroom would have well estalished routines, so that students were aware of expectations. Directions would be clear and students would be given choices. Activities would be interactive to keep students engaged. I would offer specific praise to on-task student, encouraging others to follow their lead. Finally, I would be circulating the room watching for off-task behavior and give the students a brain-break if needed.
Jenny
Jenny,
DeleteThis is great, I feel like you've covered all of the basics of a wonderful classroom. We would like to offer you the job :)
This sounds like a great lesson. I love that you avoid the constant "good job" comment. What are some of your assessment strategies?
DeleteAn effective lesson is one that is standards based and contributes to build on knowledge. I would ask myself are the students learning information that they will need in future lessons and in future years. We are not helping our student if the information is not useful. An effective lesson is one where the students are engaged. I would be able to gage this by wither most of the students are participating verbally in the questions and activity in the activity. In the early years I feel like developing social skills is important and Vygotsky suggest that this supports learning, so many of my lessons would probably involve cooperative learning elements. In order to do this it would require a bit of movement and may be a bit of noise on the student part, all be it on task noise and movement. I would be able to know if the lesson was effective based on assessment of wither most of the student reached learning target and for though that do not I would be able to see where their understanding fell short so I could provide supplemental instruction.
ReplyDeleteSound interesting, I hope she will elaborate more on her assessment method for that year group she would use to find out if the students are reaching their learning target, also provide examples of what kinds of learning target she would be assessing
DeleteI appreciate the emphasis on developing social skills, I wonder if/how she will incorporate instruction to meet English Language Learner and Special Education needs?
DeleteI would also like to add that I will use varying strategies including graphic organizers and vocabulary building techniques to help scaffold information for learners with extra needs like our SPED student and the Ell Students.
DeleteAudrey,
DeleteI would like to also add that I use a variety of assessment based on the needs of the student and the learning objective
I like her emphasis on social skills for early childhood, I wonder what she would do to accommodate a child who has social anxiety? How would they be assessed?
DeleteStephanie
Social skills are very important, especially during developmental years. What would you do with shy students who do not want to engage in conversations or play with other students?
DeleteI like that you pay attention to assessment to adjust your lessons! I'm curious how introverted students would do in your class? Do you plan to balance the noisy time with quiet time?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAn effective lesson would consist of differentiated learning for all different types of learning styles of each student. For the visual learner, the lesson would consist of charts, graphs, and/or pictures. For the auditory learner, the lesson would consist of some form of music that rhythm or beat to it that reinforces memorization and recall. For the Kinesthetic learner, the lesson allows the students to use the hands-on approach to learning the lesson. An effective lesson would be created that will allow students to apply the lesson in real life situations. An effective lesson would incorporate student’s interests and allow them to engage within the classroom. The lesson would also integrate some form of art, music and movement.
ReplyDeleteRobin,
DeleteI like how you are hitting all of the learning styles. Each child is so different in the way they process information. I appreciate your thoughtful answer.
Sounds like a great approach to creating a lesson, I love all of the variety! What is your assessment style?
DeleteI like how you will incorporate all the learning styles into your lessons in order to better fit your students. Also I like how you will integrate the arts, music and movement into your lesson plans.
DeleteI wonder how she would integrate all of these things into each lesson she prepares? How would she manage her time effectively?
ReplyDeleteStephanie
An effective lesson is purposeful and relevant; by insuring those two things it also has to be engaging and exciting for the students. Technology may be used to enhance the lesson and learning. Lesson objectives are clear and measurable and the activities are varied to meet the needs of all learners. I would instill constant positive reinforcement while moving around the room and maintain an enthusiastic attitude about content. Routines and procedures would have already been set up in the classroom so students know exactly what is expected of them. An effective lesson gets students thinking and allows them to interact and ask questions, building new skills and tapping into their background knowledge. I feel lessons should be investigative, showing multiple possibilities, even wrong answers, so students truly understand why something is right.
ReplyDeleteStephanie,
DeleteI like the word investigative. How would you get your unmotivated students interested in exploration? I feel like you would have great classroom management with your high expectations!
Taylor,
DeleteI think that students are naturally inquisitive and I would probably have to tailor initially to their interests.
Stephanie
What does an effective lesson look like in your classroom?
ReplyDeleteMy classroom will look different during the day. I plan on using a variety of instructional strategies such as think-pair-share, groups of 3 students working on projects and I will use some time for direct instruction. All of the lessons will incorporate multiple learning styles such as using visuals, hands on activities when possible and auditory aids. I also want to emphasize ELL strategies such as strategically pairing students to help each other.
My students will have practiced all procedures and routines and understand that I have high expectations for them all. The lessons will be engaging, motivating and have clear objectives. These objectives will be aligned with Common Core State Standards as well as the district's curriculum.
I think it's important she is considering her ELL students!
DeleteStephanie
I like how you incorporate multiple learning styles of students into your lessons. Will you have them take a learning style test in order to see what type of learners you have in your classroom?
DeleteI like how you will incorporate direct and indirect instructional strategies into your lessons. Also I liked how your students will understand how you have high expectations in your classroom.
DeleteWhat does an effective lesson look like in your classroom?
ReplyDeleteTo create an effective lesson I go through a check list in my head. I first focus on the objective I want the students to know, what the goal is from the beginning of the lesson. I then make a connection between the objective and its relevance to students’ lives. I believe the most important element in a lesson is student’s engagement. There are many ways to engage students. Two major influences for me have been Gardener’s ideas about multiple intelligences and Bloom’s ideas about higher level thinking and questioning. Gardener’s ideas support integration and including arts during lessons. An effective lesson would include an engaging activity with an interdisciplinary approach. The activity would ask questions requiring students to think beyond rote memorization and get them to analyze and evaluate the material. While creating the lesson I would ask myself what accommodations my students need. I would anticipate effective ways to differentiate and scaffold the lesson. Assessment, like the lesson can be done many different ways and I believe variety is important to give students who may not excel verbally or with testing an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding. An effective strategy I would use for one lesson would be a combination of written and artistic assessment. One way to do student voice is an exit slip. I would ask the students questions about their understanding of the lesson, what parts were confusing, what they enjoyed and most importantly if the target was clear, i.e. what is the target and did they feel that the target was reached.
Will you be implementing art, movement and music into your lessons? Our school no longer has art or music due to cut backs.
DeleteKelsey
ReplyDeleteto help my students that are not engage in the lesson i would use and alternative learning activity something that the students show an interest in that is related to the lesson I would put them in a collaborative group with students of different ability level,each member of the group will be assigned a specific task as part of their learning activity that they must complete and share with their group as part of the group completed task Each member will have a rubric that will be used to asses their participation and contribution to the learning activity. I will be walking around the class scaffolding students if they are struggling.
Audrey
Robin
ReplyDeleteTo manage the time in my class I would go over the learning objectives with the class. Write down lesson schedule on the board with the alloted time for each part of the learning activity. Of course i will have a running clock that i will use to give students warning s when the time is getting short for them to write down their notes. As with any lesson a one day lesson may turn into a two lesson If the students are engaged in the learning activity and need more time it would be up to the teacher to make that adjustment as need to accommodate the students learning and not rush them to complete a learning activity because of time.
Tanya
ReplyDeletethis is not a question i can easily answer until i have information on my students. There are certain things that must be taken into consideration ,the need of the students , their ability levels, If they have specific learning disability with accommodation, whether they are ELL students. I have to get to know my students before i could create a differentiate lesson/ learning activities to match their learning styles and capabilities.
Audrey