After reading ask students to return to their tables to write thier own alphabetical list of words related to October and.or pumpkins. Students are to make the list in thier journals.
Overall the lesson went well introducing anothe genre, reading together, listening to books being read, and following most directions. The writing assignment was a bit overwhelming and expected too much. Yet we all learned something. Students were introduced to assimilating the writing they encountered in a book. Not a total loss. Perhaps a seed was planted. Due to a shortened day with early dismissal, the art project planned is on hold or perhaps discarded. It was for extention/expansion and not primary to the lesson though.
Zagwyn, Deborah Turney., The Pumpkin Blanket., Tricycle Press, Berkeley, California., 1995.
4. Evaluation
Students will be assesses on following directions, if they write on topic in their journals, and listening and participating on the carpet.
I will use the following rubric to assess student's progress:
2 = Child has followed some directions, wrote off topic, and contributed little to discussion.
1 = Child did not follow directions, wrote nothing, did not participate in discussion.
B. Students will be graded for assessment according to the above rubric. Visual assessment will also be noted.
C.We have a small group of students who are not performing to expectations. With these exceptions, I expect to see nearly all 4's and some 3's.
5. Feedback
The continuation of the pumpkin unit is going very well. The journal writing activity is showing us a lot more about their writing. The mix of genres are adding to their knowledge and to their journals. The early dismissal day seems to have had them very excited. I was impressed at how much you got done with all the interruptions. You are doing such a good job on the morning activities. The pumpkin unit is fitting in nicely.
6. Reflection
Students really liked the rhyming rhythm of Patty's Pumpkin Patch. We had to read it twice. This book was a great book to use for an alphabet, fiction book. The class quickly recognized it as and ABC book and as we read, heard the rhyming verse without my telling them. I was impressed! They allowed me to read the top of the pages and tried to figure out the ABC words on their own with a great deal of success. This was a very interactive book mostly by the students choice. I loved their enthusiasm and went with it. The participation was tremedous. Yet I had to calm them down a bit. Unfortunately, their excitement died for the most part when I asked them to return to their seats and write their own words about October and pumpkins to go along with the alphabet. Most did write some things, but several seemed rather confused. They wrote the letters of the alphabet and then stopped. Perhaps if I had demonstrated more, other than writing the letters along the side of their paper, I would have gotten a better response. We should have done the first few letters together. This might have given them more direction. I need to remember that they are only first graders and need to be shown how to do things more and model what is expected. Sometimes I expect too much and therefore become disappointed with the results.
Gibbons, White, Linda., Patty's Pumpkin Patch.., Holiday House, 1996.