Week 11 - Mini Lesson 2

Candidate’s Name: Shulamith Elias

Grade Level: 3rd

Title of the lesson: Hurricanes

Length of the lesson: 45 Minutes

Central focus ●     what do you want your students to learn? Students will learn how to identify the main idea. ●     what are the important understandings and core concepts you want students to develop within the learning segment? Students will develop skills required to decipher an expository text.

Knowledge of students to inform teaching ●     What do students know, what can they do, what are they learning to do? Students are fluent readers, but are new to expository texts. Students have already read the text used for this lesson. ●     What do you know about your students’ everyday experiences, cultural backgrounds and practices, and interests?  Students can read and write independently and work well in groups. There is a group of ELL students that are struggling somewhat in comparison to their peers.

Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2 Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

Support literacy development through language (academic language) ●     Students will analyze the expository text ●     Students will identify the main idea and supporting details ●     Students will recount their understanding using a Main Idea chart

Learning Objectives Students will analyze the expository text with help from the teacher Students will identify the main idea vs. supporting details as presented in the text Students will demonstrate their understandings using supporting materials.

Formal and informal assessment ●     Students worksheets will be assessed for understanding. They will also be informally assessed throughout the lesson, as I will check for participation and understanding.

Instructional procedure: We will begin the lesson with a brief recap of the article about Hurricanes, which we read during a previous lesson. Students will then fill out the corresponding worksheet independently. (see link below for worksheet) Students will then divide into groups to self-check their worksheets as a team. In case of conflict, students will be required to look back in to the text. If the discrepancy is still not resolved, they may consult the teacher. Once the worksheets are completed, the teacher will present a Main Idea chart on the blackboard. Together, the class will come up with the Main Idea. Then, each group will choose one supporting detail to the Main Idea chart. Students can use their worksheets and articles as a reference. ELL students will do the work with the assistance of an assistant teacher. They will also be provided with an illustrated version of the text, to increase understanding.

Instructional resources and materials used to engage students in learning. Smartboard, https://projects.ncsu.edu/project/lancet/third_grade/hurricane3.pdf

Reflection ●     I believe that my instruction supported learning for the whole class including the students who need great support or challenge. ●     What changes would you make to support better student learning of the central focus? I would plan additional lessons that require similar skills, to further build on the concepts presented. ●     Why do you think these changes would improve student learning? I think this would help concretize the students’ knowledge, since practice is key to understanding and using new skills.