Extra Blog: Reflecting on my lesson plan.

Reflection on Facilitation

I feel very fortunate to be in this class with such talented, smart, and passionate educators. There is nothing better then to be able to learn from your peers and really learn important information from graduate classes. Knowing I would have to facilitate, I was definitely nervous but also very excited. I think we all come with some confidence that we are good educators and that we are always striving to improve. Although, I do know that I am smarter than “most” of my students, I definitely felt a little intimidated “teaching” this graduate class. All went well and as planned, for the most part.

Jim and I emailed and spoke on the phone to initiate the lesson plan. We decided that breaking up the text in two would be a great way for the two of us to be “experts” on that specific section. Therefore, we would be able to have good, leading, and follow-up questions. We met for a couple of hours to go over the lesson plan and the logistics of how we would implement it. Writing out an outline/lesson plan was crucial in keeping us on task and organized. We even put how much time each mini-lesson would take. It was important that we had enough time to discuss the essential question that would lead us back to the text at the end of class.

Each section of the plan was exciting.  Any time technology is involved we take the risk of it not working correctly. However, it worked great and I think that this tool in the classroom is essential in keeping kids focused and on task, especially for the visual learners. I was really excited about the Socratic Seminar at the end. This strategy of student led discussions doesn’t always work as planned. I was very confident that this group would have plenty to say, but we, as facilitators needed to make sure that the essential question was the main focus of topic.

Overall it was a positive experience. Jim was very easy to work with and he was also very dedicated to putting out the best lesson plan so that the group fully understood Prudence Carter’s “Keepin it Real.” I learned that overpreparing is always a good thing. Staying on task and giving myslef a time frame is essential, and understanding the text very well is crucial.  It was nice to get the constructive criticism at the end. It was also a great compliment when I was asked to share parts of my lesson plan with a few of you. I have included the videos below.  I also have included below the Socratic Seminar Questions for the outside circle. Obviously these questions can be changed. This tool often is used to keep the kids in the outside circle interested and focused while the inside circle discuss the text.

1. Make a text-text or text to world connection to comment someone makes.
2. Keep track of the number of times each person speaks.
3. Observe two peoples body language. Describe their gaze and the position of their hands.
4. Who facilitates. How do you know? What strategies to they use?
5. How many times do you here the phrase “I think” or “this reminds me of?”
6. Who connects their statement or question to a previous speaker?
7. What is one thing you wanted to say but could not?
8. What are two things you heard that you agree with?
9. What was the point of the highest energy? Why?
10. Did anyone make a connection to a previous text?