Teacher Rockstar Academy

What is your learning style? Take some time to research various learning styles. Visit sites like Time4Learning, Teach.com, and use search terms like:

• Learning styles
• Different learning styles

Once you have read about the various learning styles, answer the following questions:

• What kind of learning style do you have?
• What kind of lessons would work best for you?
• Why is it important to reach the different learning styles of your students?

Visit Edutopia and use the following search terms for differentiation: I’ll have this info for you.

• Differentiation
• Differentiated Instruction
• Strategies for differentiation

After you have read 2 to 3 articles on the topic, consider the following scenario:

You have a student in your classroom named Maribel. Maribel recently moved to the area from a non-English speaking country. While she did study English in school and can follow basic instructions, she is not proficient. What kind of considerations would you have to make for Maribel when planning a math lesson for your class? How would you differentiate to meet Maribel’s language needs?

Watch the first 10 minutes of this lesson found on YouTube:

Grades 2-3 Informational Writing Lesson by Nancy Fetzer.

Notice the intro for this lesson. It activates prior knowledge and engages the students quickly.

Consider the content and grade level you teach. Choose a grade level state standard that you would like to teach. Create an introduction for the lesson. Ask yourself the following questions as you craft it:

• Did your introduction awaken prior knowledge?
• Was it engaging?

Were there opportunities for the students to interact with each other?

Practice creating a presentation of new material for the standard you chose in Activity 3. Let’s try doing this in the mini-lesson format of a 10 to 15 minute presentation. Your mini lesson should simplify the information and make it easier for all students to access. When you are done, consider what students will use to practice the material learned.

As you create your lesson, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is this lesson simple and easy to understand?
• How are you making this lesson fun and engaging?
• Does the lesson meet many different learning styles?
• How can you differentiate this lesson for English Language Learners (ELLs)?
• How can you differentiate this lesson for students who might learn more slowly or more quickly?
• Is the lesson addressing the aspect of the standard you selected?
  • Keep in mind that it is OK for the lesson to address one element of the standard.
    Other elements can be addressed in subsequent lessons.

How will students practice the content?

Time to work on the conclusion to go with the lesson that you have been working on. Your conclusion should recap the objective presented, check for student understanding, encourage student reflection, and contain a form of assessment.

Here are some guiding questions for this activity:

• Did your lesson hit the learning target? How do you know?
• What kind of assessment will you use?
• How can you make the assessment engaging and informative?
  (Note that this should be a quick assessment rather than a full exam or long test)
• How can you give the students an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned?

You can also check research quick assessments styles like Exit Slips and Post-It Parking lots to help guide you.

I have provided you with a link in your email to assessments in education

Assessments in Education: Top 14 Examples by Teachings in Education

After you have watched the video and have a general understanding of assessment, reflect back on your own education, then answer the following questions:

• How did your teacher know you had learned the objective?
• What kind of assessments did they remember?
• Were they an accurate assessment of your learning?
• How do you think assessment varies from when you were a kid versus how assessment is in today’s classrooms?