Plugging Away

For the past few weeks, I have been really plugging away at my Unit Plan. Only a few more pages to add. What an experience this has been. Every time I look back at a page that I created early on, like the Rationale or an Anticipatory Set, it feels like so long ago. I am happy to report though, that when I look at those pages, I can really see how I've grown. The first anticipatory set was so hard and then they gradually got easier. The enabling activities were a lot of work, but they too got a bit easier by the 5th or 6th one ; )

Next week we present our Unit Plans at Dr. Smirnova's house. It should be a great time!

Get Ready...Get Set.....Start Your Activities!

I have begun creating Anticipatory Sets for my Unit Plan. Trying to keep it simple is harder than I thought. The micro teaching topic, which stressed not overwhelming students by bringing in an elephant to teach the color gray, has stuck with me. I have memorized KIS, an acronym for Keep it Simple. I have planned five activities which I hope meet the requirements of an Anticipatory Set and I am now on to plan the enabling activities. It is important in this step to remember to plan a variety of activities for different learners. When I went to school, this was never done and it made me feel very inadequate if I didn't "get it." I want to make sure that my students never feel like that, so I have to be very creative when I start planning. Wish me luck!

Which Way Does the Triangle Point?

Tonight we discussed making connections between learning, planning and teaching. I was absolutely amazed watching Dr. Smirnova's Power Point Presentation. It contained so much information but it gave me the Aha moment. It showed how every triangle of knowledge, objectives and models builds up to and overlap different levels. I realized that each layer of the triangle teaches information based on different approaches, and they are all related. I think I will always remember the quote Dr. S said tonight about methods of teaching and how it is the most sophisticated way of touching a child's soul. I know I will use that again.

Up until now, our triangles have been building up in height, but when looking at the Unit Plan design, it makes sense for it to have the funneling effect to the right. In the beginning of the UP, it is overwhelming because you have so much information and you are trying to sort through it. It is a collection process where you do a great deal of research to come up with a project that the student can show they have learned and accomplished the objectives. We are half way through and I can't wait to have a complete Unit. What an accomplishment for me!