Monday, September 29, 2014

Lesson Plan Week 4: Mathematics Kindergarten


Lesson Plan: Mathematics Kindergarten
Tamara Stotler
ESE 697: Characteristics of Students with Mild & Moderate
Disabilities & Evidence-based Strategies
Julie Treadwell
September 29, 2014


Lesson Plan: Mathematics Kindergarten
            Teachers need to create a lesson plan for all levels of abilities and readiness in the classroom. One way to do this is through universal design for learning (UDL) and differentiated instruction (DI). Using these teaching styles and instructional techniques will allow the teacher to differentiate and individualize learning for their students with understanding through different applications and tools. Creating a lesson plan dealing with mathematics can be challenging unless the teacher understands the different levels of requirements of the common core state standards (CCSS). These state standards determine what skills should be learned in each grade to help prepare students for life after school leading them towards a career or college (Puckett, 2013). Aligning a mathematical lesson plan to suit the needs of the students the teacher can use several strategies along with DI and UDL to help students succeed. The use of cue words and real world applications will help show students why math is important and how it is used outside of the classroom. Teaching skills and obtaining mastery will give students the feeling of self-determination; knowing that they can use their problem solving skills to conquer any mathematical equations that they may face in the real world.
The Classroom
            The classroom is an inclusive kindergarten classroom that has students’ set-up in pods/groups of five desks. There are three different groups allowing the teacher to interact with each group easily as well as interacting with all the students at the front of the classroom. There are three students in the classroom on an IEP with mild to moderate disabilities. One student has downs syndrome and needs occasional redirection due to socialization and interaction with students. This student sits closer to the front of the class so the teacher can help redirect them without interrupting the class. Two students have autism and they both need frequent breaks and possible redirection to help them focus on the task at hand. The teacher will make accommodations and adaptions to the classroom to suit the needs of students with disabilities as well as offer additional support such as fidget toys, frequent breaks, and redirection techniques.
The Lesson Plan: Counting with the Count!
            Creating a mathematical lesson plan for a kindergarten classroom with 15 students that allows all students the opportunity to interact and engage with the learning concept can be challenging, but using appropriate teaching strategies will allow the teacher to engage students and help them build on their problem solving skills and boost self-determination. Engaging the students by using cue words that trigger understanding will help students determine what the correct response is. The teacher will use modeling, co-participation, student demonstration, fading overt self-instruction, and feedback will allow the student to continue to use self-determination and understanding to problem solve and figure out the mathematical problems presented to them (Vaughn & Bos, 2012). Other ways the teacher can help all students succeed when dealing with mathematics and word problems is using cue words, corrective feedback, and real world applications (Vaughn & Bos, 2012).
            The teacher will model the lesson and offer feedback for students and encourage them to try to work out the problem without too much help. This will help build self-determination skills which will be needed as the student continues to progress through school and life. These skills are needed to make proper decisions that build self-esteem and confidence.
            Having counting tokens at students’ desks will help students manipulate the numbers directly and use problem solving skills as well as listening to determine what numbers are being asked for. These manipulatives will allow students to visually determine what amount is needed and follow along with the problem the class is working on.
            At the end of the lesson plan the teacher can give students’ homework to find items at home and group them together and count, such as grapes, Legos, pencils, balls, forks or something else they find to count. They can show their counting skills to their families/caregivers and the next day they can share what they counted at circle time. Using household items the student will realize that mathematical concepts are used throughout all areas of life besides school.

Lesson Overview

Lesson Title
Counting with the Count!
Grade Level
Kindergarten
Subject
Math
Summary
Fall activity: The students will learn to count with the Count and manipulate tokens/items to represent numbers and how they work with addition and subtraction.
Classroom Scenario
There are 15 students in the inclusive classroom. The room is set up in groups of five desks to include each student in a pod to promote social interaction and offer multiple resources. In the center of the pods are materials that are shared and used between the groups. At the beginning of the year the group named their pod to something they wanted to represent themselves with. Doing this helps engage the students to want to be a part of the group and offers a sense of responsibility and understanding. 
Students with Disabilities in the Classroom
There are three students in the classroom with an IEP and disability noted. Two students have autism, and one student has downs syndrome.
PRETEACHING TASKS/PLANNING

Common Core State Standards
CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.1
“Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings1, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations,” (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2014).
CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.2
“Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem,” (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2014).
Lesson Objective
Students will understand the concept of addition (adding more) and subtraction (taking away) when dealing with items/tokens and how they relate to written numbers on the board/papers.
Students will be able to follow along with the verbal announcement of numbers when spoken.
Students will be able to recognize physical counting of items from 1-10.
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 acknowledge and assess students understanding of counting items in front of them individually and as a group. There will be written math numbers on the SMART board that the class will be able to identify together and a work sheet handed out with pumpkins on it in different groups. The teacher will be able to identify students who may be struggling with number recognition and determine who might need continued assistance with basic addition and subtraction.
Materials
  • Small pumpkins that are in the front of the room
  • Counting tokens at the desk
  • Worksheets
  • Pencil
  • Crayons/markers
  • SMART board

Accommodations/Modifications to be provided
  • Counting tokens (autism & downs syndrome)
  • Fidget toys (autism)
  • Frequent breaks as needed (autism)
  • One-on-One direction/instruction (autism & downs syndrome)
  • Peer grouping (autism & downs syndrome)
  • Preferred seating towards the front of the room near the teacher to receive additional assistance with less distractions/redirection (autism & downs syndrome)
  • SMART board technology for differentiation and interactive engagement

TEACHING PROCEDURES

Opening/Activating Prior Knowledge

The teacher will greet students as they enter the room for the day (possibly dressed up as a count Dracula without the fangs). They will ask students who they think they are today: Count Countcula similar to Dracula, but I love to count numbers just like The Count on Sesame Street! Today we will count pumpkins in honor of Fall and Halloween coming up.
Previous skills that would be recognized are counting one through ten. The teacher will have students review their basic counting together and hand out a worksheet.
I DO:  Teacher Input and Modeling
The teacher will turn on the SMART board and pull up counting symbols. They will also instruct students to collect their counting tokens in front of them if they need a reminder. The teacher will show a picture of three pumpkins on the SMART board, and count them out together. Next they will show a picture of the three pumpkins and two pumpkins and ask how many are all together coming to the total of five. After every correct response the teacher will say: “YES _____ pumpkins ahahahaha” just like The Count would on Sesame Street.
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 be able to observe and monitor to see if students are following along and counting with the classroom. Are they saying the right numbers or they not participating at all. This will allow the teacher to address with redirection or even to call on a student to see if they can identify the next set of pumpkins on the SMART board. If they need help the student can gain help from fellow students and the teacher.
WE DO:  Guided Practice

The teacher will show a picture of two pumpkins and one pumpkin ask for one student to come up and represent the two groups of pumpkins out of the group of baby pumpkins in the front of the room. Together they will add the pumpkins together to get the total of three through the representation of the baby pumpkins.
Students have the option to do this at their desk with their tokens to follow along. The teacher will give each student a try to add and subtract a set of numbers using the baby pumpkins as a manipulative tool. If a student is struggling the teacher will remind them the best way to figure it out is by grouping the pumpkins and adding them up separately by determining the total.
The students will then look at their worksheet, with verbal guidance and together they would do the first problem out of ten.
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 be able to help redirect students and remind them of the order of counting, using the pumpkins and tokens. They will also be able to monitor students at the desks and look for class participation.
YOU DO: Independent Practice

 The teacher will have students work on their worksheet finishing the final nine problems reminding them to use their counting tokens at their desk and to ask for help if they get stuck. The teacher will walk around and offer assistance to those who need it and give feedback encouraging them to continue doing good work.
Lesson Closure
The teacher will close this lesson by telling students that they can count things at home, and add and subtract things as well. Counting can be challenging but if you remember to use visual cues it helps it to be easier and as we gain in skill it will become easier and easier until it is natural. Addition and subtraction is used throughout life and students will master it in no time. As a homework assignment the teacher will ask students to go home and find something they can count that is a group of items and show their family what they can do and tomorrow during circle time the teacher will ask what was counted and who they shared it with.
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?




Observing the students as they count out loud and at their desk will show the teacher the concepts being gained by the students. They will be able to assess and determine if further instruction is needed to help students succeed.
The teacher will use differentiation to include all students and help students gain the lesson objective reaching the goals. The teacher will offer one-on-one support and feedback for students who are struggling. Especially during independent time, where other students are working. If multiple students’ do not understanding the concept the teacher will create a small group and re-teach the assignment and offer further support.

Conclusion
            Creating a lesson plan that incorporates all learners in the classroom understand the learning concept can often be challenging, but teachers can learn new strategies and use different teaching methods to create a lesson plan that is suitable. Using cue words, modeling, and even scaffolding will help show students what skills are needed to figure out the problem and even gain self-determination skills. Teachers can use strategies such as universal design for learning, differentiated instruction, and other strategies that will help students gain skills needed that will prepare them for college or a career. These skills are emphasized through the Common Core State Standards that are incorporated into the lesson plan. These standards will help teachers align the necessary skills and concepts to help prepare students for higher learning while building on previous skills and knowledge.

References
Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2014). Kindergarten. Operations & algebraic thinking. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Content/K/OA/.
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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