Nick Sawyers

Lesson #2 Reflection:
1. What did teaching this lesson teach you?
Teaching this lesson taught me that I need to work on differentiating my instructional
presentation to better accommodate different learning styles. I also need to improve on my
modification skills when preparing and teaching the lesson. I found myself teaching to the
masses and retracing my steps with some of the students while others were done quickly and
waiting to move on.
Teaching this lesson also taught me that students work better when they are collaborating
together and teachers tend to get more participation and enthusiasm from the students when they
can share ideas. Having the students share their idea of typical stereotypes of birth order with
their peers before sharing with the rest of the class helped the students gain motivation towards
learning the lessons material, because it made the information more relevant.

2. What are you discovering about your style in front of the students?
Im discovering that my style in front of students is relaxed but stern. Students understand that
Im open and willing to their ideas but I also command attention that prevents behavior
problems. Students are encouraged to show enthusiasm or energy towards the material but also
understand there is an expectation to handle yourself in a professional manner that wont conflict
with their peers learning ability.
My classroom management gives students the freedom to include their thoughts and experiences
with the material being presented, engaging the student more with the material. Im learning that
Im more open to students taking notes with their lap tops, checking their phone quickly if they

are done early with an activity, or making comments about the material during the presentation
than I thought I was before.

3. Your choice of instructional methodology for this lesson?

My instructional strategy choices for the facilitation of learning during this lesson were: direct
instruction/presentation, peer teaching/group work and cooperative learning.
During the body of the lesson is where I implemented the direct instruction/presentation strategy.
I utilized a PowerPoint presentation that reviewed information on sibling rivalry and directly
instructed the class to take notes on the material being presented.
The second and third instructional strategies were peer teaching/group work and cooperative
learning, these were used to open up the class and encourage collaboration. Students were
directed to match up with their peers who had the same birth order, then list traits or stereotypes
associated with that birth order. Once groups were finished listing traits, they had to share with
the rest of the class. Peer teaching was also included in the closure when students shared two
thing they had learned from the activity and presentation.

4. Your instructional planning and delivery?

My instructional planning for this lesson was accurate but could have used improvement in time
limits for the grouping at the beginning of the lesson and during the think-pair-share activity. I
could have also aligned my evidence outcomes better with my closure, giving me a better idea of
student understanding. Both of these issues could have been solved if I would have better
reviewed the essential elements of my lesson plan.

I also learned that my delivery was easily comprehended and students didnt have trouble with
instructions. My delivery of the activities instructions and material being presented allowed for
active participation in an efficient manner. I do feel that I could improve my delivery by
breaking up the information on the PowerPoint and asking students for their understanding or by
asking students more probing questions.

5. Your style with different types of learners?

My style with different types of learners changes to better accommodate the student. Some
students have interpersonal learning styles while other students are more intrapersonal. I tried to
accommodate all styles of learners by switching up the activities. I learned that I will be louder
and more social, during group activities, with students who have more of an interpersonal
learning style. I also will have more one-on-one conversations with students, during a reflection
period of a think-pair-share activity, who have more of an intrapersonal learning style.
I also learned that Im more relaxed and willing to let kids learn from their failures when the
lesson is more visual, physical or social. This allows me to more easily assess the students
understanding.
After teaching the second lesson I also discovered my style doesnt work as well with students
who have a more logical or solitary learning style. I need to improve on my lesson modifications
and ways I can reach those students to help keep them involved. I feel the improvement can start
during my lesson preparation with better and more differentiating assessments and be carried out
during my delivery.