Evaluating the unit continues to be a struggle for me. I want to be able to evaluate my unit as I go, I want to be able to comprehensively evaluate it at the end, I want my learners to be able to evaluate my unit, I want my instructional coach to evaluate my unit. As a second year teacher, I do not have the experience behind me to know which activities will work with which lessons, and which lessons are going to take more time than others. I have started to make notes on each of my lessons and the worksheets that I provide. Another method for evaluation, is to actually complete the lessons in the unit before using them for instruction. My units have been more successful since I started to measure the time it takes me to complete the notes and the unit. I realized that in a lot of my units the notes were too complex for my students, that pictures were easier than words, that they needed the steps with the examples - identifying the major components of the unit and breaking down the notes to all fit on one foldable has been working great well for this group. Defining vocabulary and then using it, and requiring them to use it appropriately has also given my students a more thorough understanding of the material. My analysis of the unit consists of sticky notes plastered on worksheets and lesson plans and hopefully will allow me to redesign the unit next year after conducting a learner analysis with my new group of students. I have also created some Google Forms for students to tell me which parts of the lesson they are benefiting most from, and which activities are the most enjoyable in a unit. Having my content analysis and their motivational analysis is helpful when I design instruction for this group in future units, however modification of the complete unit cannot happen until the following year when the lesson is taught again, to a new group of students.
AuthorI am a seventh grade math teacher, currently teaching Math 7, Pre-Algebra, and Algebra. Technology is integrated daily since the classroom is considered one to one. In my personal world, I have two sons, Daniel and Shay, a step-son, Evan, and an awesome husband George. Currently owning and operating in Myrtle Beach, SC! Archives
December 2015
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