Providing instruction that attracts student engagement is important in lesson acquisition.
Instruction that is current, interesting and relevant motivates students to learn and gives them a purpose for succeeding. Ultimately,
this quality instruction has the potential to create an ideal learning environment.
I disproved a myth I created about how a well planned curriculum was the magic key to student success.
I presented a case for flexibility in planning and lesson presentation to accomodate the needs of a diverse student body.
I analyzed a case in which a student blurted out inappropriate answers in class to gain attention
to a willing student audience. I illustrated how I would redirect student focus back to me and turn his commentary into
an appropriate lesson relevant to the activities in which the class was previously engaged. I followed my presentation
with a low-level of intervention on the part of all of the students since they were laughing and paying heed to the lesson
felon.
I realized that offering opportunities for students to participate more in class in academic and "other than
academic" ways creates a stronger bond between the students. I nailed down some ways that I could involve students more
in facilitating the classroom operations, grading proceedures, and establishing classroom rules and consequences. My
plans have worked in my last two classes, and I am looking forward to many more successful classes.
I read Chapters 2, 4 and 7 in "Classroom Management, Perspectives on the Social Curriculum"
(Powell, Richard R., H. James McLaughlin, Tom V. Savage and Stanley Zehm; 2001) and wrote the three research reports listed
below. I discussed various issues related to appropriate and engaging curriculum planning with five
classmates by reading and responding to their reports and opinions, as well as discussing my work.
