Monday, September 8, 2014

Lesson Plan Week 1: Reading Comprehension Second Grade


Lesson Plan: Reading Comprehension Second Grade
Tamara Stotler
ESE 697: Characteristics of Students with Mild & Moderate
Disabilities & Evidence-based Strategies
Julie Treadwell
September 8, 2014



Lesson Plan: Reading Comprehension Second Grade
            Teachers create lesson plans every day to help students grasp new concepts from the curriculum that align with the state standards for application. These standards help students prepare for life after school, either a career or furthering their education (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2013). Creating a reading comprehension lesson plan for students in the second grade with various disabilities can be challenging, but using the proper teaching strategies that are evidence-based will help students and teachers have a successful classroom interaction.
The Classroom
            In the fictional classroom that has 15 students there are five students that have ranging disabilities. Two students have learning disabilities (LD), two students have an emotional behavioral disorder (EBD) with one also being English Language Learner (ELL), and one who is visually impaired (VI). Each student in the class has varying strengths and weaknesses. Most students respond well to the use of technology in the classroom and like to work in small groups to further their conceptual understanding. The classroom is arranged to have small groups of desks two to four in each group allowing students to work together collaboratively and have cooperative learning (Eredics, n.d.). Students are encouraged to use problem solving skills to figure out the answers. They can ask peers for help quietly while paying attention not to bother other working students and this show respect on of the classroom/school rules.
            Using universal design for learning (UDL) and differentiated instruction (DI) in the classroom will help customize the curriculum to suit the needs of all the students so they are successful. As well as using cognitive strategy instruction (CSI) in the classroom it will actively engage students with the curriculum and improve skills aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) (Vaughn & Bos, 2012).  Universal design for learning will allow teachers to customize the classroom curriculum to suit the needs and abilities of their students in the classroom (Puckett, 2013). While using differentiated instruction (DI) will allow teachers to change the style of teaching by customizing and individualizing the classroom curriculum to suit the learning styles of the students (Puckett, 2013).
The Lesson Plan
            Creating a lesson plan for diverse learners can be challenging but using teaching strategies like cognitive strategy instruction (CSI) will allow the teacher to model and scaffold the students towards understanding the concept. The teacher will be able to build on previous knowledge about story building while offering feedback on knowledge already known (Vaughn & Bos, 2012). This lesson plan titled, Prediction: How will the story end? Uses story structure of beginning, middle and end to have student’s determine how the story, The Paper Bag Princess will end before the ending is read. The teacher will engage students’ interest by asking them about story structure and to name a few of their favorite stories. Calling upon students randomly and listening to their ideas the teacher will encourage their recalling techniques. Allowing for time for engagement the teacher will then explain that they will to try to come up with the ending this story as they hold up the book. The book has illustrations as well as words to help encourage story development and ideas. The teacher will read the story out loud, pausing periodically for students to absorb the information and to gather ideas. Before the story is finished the teacher will close the book and ask, “Now how do you think the story will or should end?” This will have students to think of their own ideas in how the book The Paper Bag Princess should end. The teacher can ask probing questions to help further the students’ problem solving skills. Will the dragon win? Does the princess save the prince? Do the prince and princess get married? Is there a happily ever after? These questions will help the student explore the possibilities and come up with their own ideas in how the story might end. The teacher will allow the students a set amount of time to write down their response on the worksheet. They can either write their response or draw what they believe is the ending. Having alternative options to show conceptual ideas allows teachers to differentiate (Puckett, 2013). The teacher will also move throughout the classroom offering assistance and feedback. Once the time is up the teacher will ask students to share their story endings and write potential endings on a chart in front of the room. This will visualize the many alternate possibilities that could be the ending for the story. The teacher will then finish the ending of the book and ask students which one they liked best (the actual ending or someone else’s ending). Using probing questions the teacher will engage students in the discussion about differences and opinions and validate that it is okay to have your own likes and dislikes. There are differences everywhere and everyone needs to understand that there are differences and alternative endings.
Lesson Overview

Lesson Title
Prediction: How will the story end?
Grade Level
2nd
Subject
Language Arts/Reading Comprehension
Class Size
15
Summary
The teacher will read the selected story out loud to the entire class and before they reach the end they will stop and have the students guess what will happen next by: either writing their response on a paper, drawing their response, or verbally explaining their response on what will happen next depending upon the skill level of the students.
Classroom Scenario
15 students, ranging in ability, are in a second grade classroom that is set-up to include everyone. Desks are arranged in a group of (2-4) so that students have the opportunity to collaborate together with cooperative learning (Eredics, n.d.). The teacher is able to easily move from group to group to offer assistance while instructing and scaffolding the classroom in the lesson(s).
Students with Disabilities in the Classroom
5 Students: 2 with a learning disability (LD), 1 visually impaired (VI), and 2 with emotional behavioral disability (EBD) where one is English Language Learner (ELL) as well.
PRETEACHING TASKS/PLANNING

Common Core State Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1
“Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text,” (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2014).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.7
“Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot,” (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2014).
Lesson Objective
Students will be able to use problem solving skills to determine how the story might end before they hear the ending of the story. Students will also determine which ending fits the best based on everyone’s response and the previous information/ideas stated in the story.
Assessment (Describe the assessment task and the levels of achievement based on what you expect from students on this task).
The teacher will be able to observe sentence structure of students describing the ending of the story (through written, oral, or illustration). This information will allow the teacher to evaluate the lesson plan and determine if it is successful teaching tool as well as determine if students need further assistance with story structure (plot, characters, scene, etc.).
Materials
  • Age appropriate book: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
  • Paper/worksheet
  • Pencils/pens/crayons
Accommodations/Modifications to be provided
Large print worksheets for the student who is visually impaired. Visual/digital content for all students (differentiate). Small group collaboration/discussion (differentiate). Scaffolding and modeling via the teacher (CSI). Offering one-on-one assistance (CSI & differentiate).
TEACHING PROCEDURES

Opening/Activating Prior Knowledge

The students will recall their previous discussion on story/plot structure and how stories have a beginning, middle, and end. The teacher will ask students how do fairy tales and stories sometimes start: “Once upon a time, or in the beginning”. The teacher will ask students to name a few of their favorite stories and asking them how they ended. The teacher will then introduce the story they will read today, The Paper Bag Princess. The teacher will use cognitive strategy instruction to model the proper behaviors of listening and responding appropriately to response.
I DO:  Teacher Input and Modeling
The teacher will explain to the students about the story, and tell them that they will be coming up with their own ending and how they “think” the story should end. The teacher will have students pay attention to the main characters: Ronald the prince, the princess, and the dragon. The teacher will then start reading the story, pausing and allowing the information to set in for students to comprehend the information from the story.
Checks for Understanding (How will you know if students are grasping the concepts? What formative assessments will you use to check for understanding?)
The teacher will observe the students and see if they are paying attention to the instruction. If a student is not paying attention they will address them quietly to see if they need further help or to help keep their “brain” in the game. The book offers pictures that the teacher can point to when they are saying the words for students to understand the language as well as the story.
WE DO:  Guided Practice

The teacher will help start the sentence structure on the front board/SMART board to illustrate what is being requested of the students. “I believe the ending of the story is:_________.” This will allow students to copy part of the story and add their own ideas. The teacher will write in a generic ending such as, “happily ever after” and they might draw two stick people holding hands (illustration).  
At the end of the allowed time, the teacher will have students give their example on how they felt the story ended. Everyone will pay attention quietly showing respect to the speaker. There are no wrong answers. The teacher will go around the room and write a graph/table on the front board/SMART board to offer alternate endings. At the end the teacher will finish the book and see how the ending was similar or different from the students/teachers responses. The teacher will discuss about how people have different perceptions.
Checks for Understanding (How will you know if students are grasping the concepts? What formative assessments will you use to check for understanding?)
The teacher will walk around to each group and ask how things are going, and offer assistance where needed. Prompting students to think deeper and to offer guidance without telling them the answers. During this time the teacher can observe how each student is progressing (is this easy or challenging).
YOU DO: Independent Practice

Students will write their sentence structure on their paper/worksheets using pencils, crayons, or pens. This will allow them the option to alternate their writing structure. If they prefer to draw an illustration picturing how they think the end will be it allows for differentiation. Students can also talk with their small group to gain further ideas or to offer encouragement, using soft talking. Using soft voices in the classroom allows other students’ to focus if they need quiet time.
Lesson Closure
How do people’s perceptions change or can be different from our own. Each story had different ideas or they were similar and it still could fit to the story. Which ending works the best for The Paper Bag Princess? It is okay if the ending that one of us came up with is better for the story then the actual ending. It is all about perspectives and how we view things. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and we often use those opinions in school and at home. Some of you might like broccoli where others prefer carrots or apples, and this is okay. Differences.
Reflection
Assessment for Learning: How will you use assessment results to assess student performance on the lesson objective?

What steps will be taken if objectives not met by all students?

The students will turn in their papers/worksheets that have their ending on it about the story (written/drawing). The teacher will be able to evaluate writing skills as well as determine if the student was able to grasp the story concept. The teacher will use this lesson plan to further student’s thinking and having them process the information on differences to use at a different time for another lesson plan.
The teacher will offer further assistance in the next “How it ended” story, making sure instructions are given clearly. The teacher will also make sure that each student is able to follow along, and if not offer pull-out sessions that will offer further assistance.


Conclusion
            Creating a lesson plan that includes all students with all types of abilities can be challenging, but with the right teaching/learning strategies the teacher will be able to incorporate all learners. Using different strategies such as differentiated instruction and cognitive strategy instruction will allow teachers to offer alternative conceptual understanding as well as modeling and scaffolding the students in the right direction allowing them to use problem solving skills and prior knowledge to understand the concept. There are many teaching strategies that are evidence-based that will help students learn and succeed while aligning the lesson plan to the Common Core State Standards or state standards as required by their specific state.




References
Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2014). English language arts standards. Reading literature: Grade 2. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/ELA-Literacy/RL/2/.
Eredics, N. (n.d.). Arranging a classroom to create an inclusive environment. Retrieved from http://nichcy.org/arranging-a-classroom-to-create-an-inclusive-learning-environment.
Kubiszyn, T., & Borich, G. (2013). Educational testing and measurement: Classroom application and practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Puckett, K. (2013). Differentiating instruction: A practical guide. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Vaughn, S. & Bos, C. (2012). Strategies for teaching students with learning and behavior problems (8th ed.).  Boston: Pearson.


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