Review Resources I reviewed USATestPrep to ensure that this program would align with our South Carolina Standards while reviewing the topics and skills presented appropriately in third grade. Included here is a live demo to show other educators how to use this program and how it could appropriately fit within all grade levels ranging from elementary to high school. Not only did I review the resources of the online digital tool that will be used for students but PicCollage was also reviewed to be sure that this was age appropriate for my 8-9 year olds. Included here you will find one of my favorite bloggers that goes into detail showing a video and various student resources in how PicCollage can be beneficial to students within multiple projects and tasks. USATestPrep and PicCollage are programs and apps that I have used frequently within my years of teaching and I have seen how these programs can be beneficial to several content areas. These programs/apps will promote student motivation while keeping track of individual progress for students to self-reflect, teacher monitor, and parent feedback! With the start of my lesson, I felt confident that students would feel comfortable utilizing this apps so that these tools could be managed appropriately for my active learners!
Prepare Resources 1.) While preparing this lesson I knew that our iPads would need to be utilized for the tasks and project based creations. This meant that students would need to have significant charge on their iPads so that they could follow through with their assignments. As a reminder students were able to charge their iPads on the charging station to ensure that their materials were ready. 2.) While working through USATestPrep I was sure to have student groups already identified when placing students into three categories. These categories were beginning, mid level, and advanced. These categories could be identified into colors so that students did not necessarily know what the group level represented. These groups were premade so that students could be challenged yet not overwhelmed when working on their tasks. 3.) With the use of these programs I felt it was important that students had previous practice before letting students work with small groups. With extra practice this would identify what needs were needed so that I could model whole group or know what students to pull to my back table to apply the individual practice. Once students had practice in previous weeks they would be ready to tackle these smaller group settings and individualized practice much better at a higher success rate.
Prepare the Environment / Prepare the Learners
The context clues reading lesson will take place in a general education setting in a third grade classroom. The whole group size will range from 20-25 students and the small groups that students are placed in will be groups of three. The desks will be separated into rows while maintaining the expectations of 6 ft apart. Students will be able to have their masks on and whisper from an appropriate distance. Students will also have the option to airplay their iPads on our mini computers when working in partners or on our smartboard to model by example if needed. The teacher will have a small group pulled to the carpet where I will work with the beginner group at identifying the various strategies to find the word meaning in the paragraph level meaning text. I will have anchor charts printed for students to look back at various context clues strategies and students will use the vocabulary of which strategies they feel fit best. Anchor Chart Example (Context Clues)
Students will each have their own iPad so that the experience will be authentic and that students will continuously be engaged through each section. Not only will students be engaged but they will also have the opportunity to earn coins as they answer questions correctly. This will help students understand if they are on the right track and keep track with their progress. USATestPrep also offers a great way for students to retry answers for a second choice so they can have practice with narrowing down the two closest answer choices and by not feeling defeated if their first choice doesn't exactly align with their reasoning.
Previously our reading lessons have been introduced in our Collection 1 standard checks so students will have a bit of schema before working on these assignments in smaller groups. The challenge that students will face will be the freedom and control of a student led conversation verses a teacher led conversation. While students are utilizing their Context Clues Anchor chart that was given previously they will be able to identify three out of the six strategies that best fit their order in thinking while determining the meaning of vocabulary words. Students will be challenged to also complete these small group parings with the option of graduating color groups which will advance the skill. For students that are in the green category (advanced) those students will be able to click onto the next grade level which will be fourth grade. This keeps a constant challenge for all learners and a goal setting mentality! Students will be able to rate themselves in comfort levels using a google form and also write their next steps so they can see their direction when working at home independently or during our next small group setting. Throughout this lesson I will be monitoring progress and also have an app on my iPad, "Classroom" to view student screens!
Provide the Learning Experience
All students will watch for the first ten minutes of our lesson to see the teacher model set directions when working in small groups and on their digital platform of program and app. These will be procedures that are continued practiced and modeled since the first day of having access to student devices. I will have examples of PicCollages linked on our Google Classroom for students to see how previous classes and students interpreted the creation project stage and made their strategies and ideas come alive! I will also have a video of myself recorded guiding students to the usage of tools on the programs and apps that they are being asked to use. I will have a checklist at their desks so that students understand the process in which the lesson is to flow so that constant growth is being achieved! Once students have had proper directions before the release of small groups again, I will be monitoring once I have started my group on the carpet. If changes are needed then these changes will be made during the lesson as I will have constant conversation with all groups. Overall, this lesson is designed to promote student engagement, student reflection, and track student progress to know what steps come next when achieving their goals!