There are several factors I would use to determine the success of my detailed lesson. The first would be brief conferences during in-class exercises, observation notes taken by the classroom teacher, and my own observations of how students reacted to discussion, examples, and the closure activity (thumbs up/thumbs down). If students seemed to be confused or struggling, something would have to be changed before future use of the lesson. Secondly, student success on the quiz would indicate how well I had accomplished the lessons' objectives.
In order to evaluate the success of the unit as a whole, a final collaborative meeting should take place, during which the classroom teacher and I could share overall impressions of what worked and what didn't. This could also serve as planning for how the unit would change for the next year, or if it would be used at all. During this discussion, students' end-of-unit assessment rubrics and their conferences with the classroom teacher would definitely be focal points. Looking at examples of student work and grades for the unit would give a good idea of how well students actually constructed new knowledge and understanding.
I would be sure to keep a portfolio of student work and reflections. It should include not only work from the lessons I taught, but also examples of student note cards and final products to show how my lessons contributed to student performance overall. Evidence of this kind would help prove that my program plays an essential role of in the school's learning environment.
I would also include written comments from the classroom teacher with whom I had been collaborating. Hopefully, this unit would have strengthened the teacher's appreciation of what can be gained from a collaborative relationship and increase the likelihood of our working together again.
Items that might be included in my portfolio:
- Examples of student quizzes
- Copies of student note cards
- Copies of students written reports, including the works cited page
- Copies, photos, or other representations of final group products
- Examples of student self-assessment
- Examples of student assessment of myself
- Examples of student process rubrics
- Comments from collaborating teacher
Field Test Results
From Elisabeth Nowak, elementary teacher and Masters student in Education:
Your unit outline looks really good. What an impressive unit you have created. One idea for your time in the library when first exposing the 2nd graders to the animals: After you do the read aloud, you might want to set out a bunch of different animal books that the kids could browse through and see what questions they come up with and what they notice with the environment. This might be a good way to generate some questions and ideas that the kids already have.
This is a great unit and I can tell that you have really put a great deal of work into. Make sure to keep this one around for future use.
Let me know if there is anything else that you need.
Elizabeth
From Heather Bouillet, special education teacher and mother of three elementary aged children:
Looks Fun! My only question is in the Final Project checklist. Are both children required to write 3 paragraphs? It seems there are three areas to cover in the report: name/description, environment and features. I would think a lot of the information would be repeated. Maybe an outline of the 6 paragraphs and content could be provided.
[I adjusted the final product checklist to make it more clear.]
I LOVED that you had the children drawing a picture of their animal w/out their most important feature (answering the big questions). What a way to develop creativity in the assignment!
I was glad to see the state requirements listed for 2nd grade. I honestly thought this would do better in a third grade class but it maybe the special education teacher in me :)
Outline, materials and objectives clearly stated. You did a great job. I can tell a lot of work and planning went in to this unit.
Heather
From Julie Vander Pluym, elementary teacher and Masters student in Education:
Awesome Jennifer.
Here are a few suggestions. Overall... I wish the font and graphics were a little more "kid friendly". Is that silly? It may be totally beside the point, but these lessons seemed young, and the instructions tended to appear "technical".
[I have changed the font on the student pages and will add some graphics as time permits.]
The questions that the kids are to ask themsleves throughout the plans are awesome!!! I am stealing those.
I love the various types of assessment sheets. On the sheets I think they need to have room to write comments, rather than just check yes or no.
Great idea on having a teacher assessment sheet!!
This was a great lesson. Short and to the point! Very clear and easy to follow.
Good luck with your projects, and I hope we work together again sometime!
Julie