Before beginning each unit, a Unit Pre-test is given to each student. The pre-test is used to measure student understandings of each of the unit objectives.
The results of the student pre-tests are then used to guide instruction. The results tell me what objectives need to be taught to the whole class, and which ones need to be taught to smaller groups.
The results of the student pre-tests are then used to guide instruction. The results tell me what objectives need to be taught to the whole class, and which ones need to be taught to smaller groups.
When creating a lesson plan, I make sure that students will have the opportunity to read, write, interact, and produce something each and every day. In this lesson, students were to demonstrate their ability to identify various types of conflicts, explain their resolutions, and evaluate which conflicts would be the most difficult to deal with. By completing all of these steps, students had to tap into their higher order thinking skills.
When planning lessons, I try to use up to date and relevant sources in order to keep students interested. Some of the current issues we have been able to tie into our curriculum include: Whitney Cropp, the student who was nominated to her homecoming court as a practical joke; the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy; The Long Brothers, who were the 2012 Sports Illustrated SportsKids of the Year; and iParenting- known as the steps parents take to ensure that their kids are safe when using technology.