Michelle Perry

Hello group!      I really wish I would have known we were going to use this particular subject for our blog post because I have one heck of a "I did not get my way" story.  I will start in 2012 when I got out of the Marine Corps, I served 13 years, took that summer off to relax and hang out with my son.  I started my college adventure that fall, I loaded up on classes and pushed through to complete my associates degree after four semesters.  I had my daughter in January of 2014 so I was only in one class for that spring semester but was able to push through to more courses that summer and fall.  Spring of 2015, I was almost finished with my education courses I needed but this is when everything fell apart.      I was rocking and rolling toward my bachelors degree and finishing all of my schooling, so excited and could not wait to start teaching.  It all changed that Mother's day with a phone call from my mother in law ...

Hello group!      As always, I enjoyed class tonight!  By going over word walls and having a quick thought on creating a lesson plan really got my mind going.  I really enjoyed that because it was a quick learning tool that opened my eyes to very different words and how to use them in a classroom.       Creating a mini lesson plan about a writing lesson almost blew my mind though!  I felt like we needed about 15 more minutes but I was able to learn a lot about thinking quickly on my feet about different teaching ideas used during this assignment.       Unfortunately, technology was not our friend last night so the last portion of class was pretty confusing so I plan on going back over the power point to make sure I do not miss out on anything.  I think I have my unit lessons planned in my head, I have started my 100 questions and I hope to start/finish a lot this weekend.  We will see....

 Hello group! This week's class was mostly about chapters 2 & 3 to ensure we know what steps or wickets we should/need to go through for our students to be successful in language arts.  I really think that an hour for reading and an hour for writing should be put into a lesson plan for a classroom.  Yes, this seems like a long time but if it is broken up into different areas, such as, read aloud, silent reading, writing to a pen pal, phonics, etc.  The students may run out of time wanting to finish what has been set up for that particular day.  Every day would be a different round about of reading and writing so they do not get set into a slump like routine and so they are able to accomplish the assignments during the given time.  I am not sure if that makes sense but it does in my head.   Michelle Perry Michelle Neat, happy, fun, outgoing Sister of Heather & Stephen Lover of my Husband (Josh), Son (Fernando) & Daughte...

Hello group! I apologize for being so late with this post!  I was unable to attend class last week so I am still catching up with assignments due for this week.  I was able to listen to the recording of the class and as always I am excited to see a lot of familiar names/classmates from previous classes.  Honestly, I do not remember reading much growing up but at the time I could care less so that is probably why now I enjoy a good book now and then.  I really got into reading in Afghanistan because there was only so much you could do at the gym and our work load lightened so much at one point we thought we were going to go crazy!  Lol I still was not a reader until a few years ago when college kind of forced me into that direction but I am glad I did!  I have gone back through and read all of the Nicholas Sparks books, all of the "old school" readings (Shilo, Huck Finn, Old Yeller, etc), and of course my regular college course rea...

Hello group!        I cannot believe we are almost finished with this 8 weeks, we are rocking and rolling along!  I did get my presentation on my lesson plan done this past class so that is one less stressor to work on.  As well as presenting my lesson to the class, I gave my lesson to the kindergarteners!  According to my supervisor, I did a great job and she really had nothing negative to say about the lesson.  I did add a thinking map (square in the middle of a bubble map) to the beginning as a whole group exercise and the students loved it!  They told me everything they remembered from the day prior's lesson and I loved it as well!        Everyone did a great job with their presentations in the class last week, I tried to take notes but my 4 year old was on a rampage.  Ugh!  Susan, I know did a fabulous job with her science lesson--life cycle of a frog.  Rachel, did a fab...

Hello group! I have not started/completed my lesson plans yet so I am going to go through our text, talk about the different activities from there and see if one/all of them stand(s) out to me. :-) Analogy charting -- "A classroom strategy that provides a visual framework for students to analyze key relationships in an analogy in depth" (Buehl, pg 56, 2014).  This particular activity helps student relate the information they are being presented in the classroom to their lives.  Hum, to use or not to use.... Anticipation guides --"Engages students in examining their knowledge and beliefs about a topic and then prompts them to reassess their thinking after reading a text" (Buehl, pg 59, 2014).  This gathers what a student/class may already know prior to the actual lesson or reading assignment and this could adjust the teacher's lesson all together so the same information is not being given over and over.  Author Says/I say --"A variation of a stra...

Hello group members! I really enjoy working with thinking maps because they can be changed up to go with all subjects, lessons and are very easy to use.  Using thinking maps can help a student organize what they are thinking or what is being taught.  Having a bubble map to break down the parts of a plant or a bridge map to assist with a math problem.  Students can use any one of these thinking maps to help them break down information so they can better understand the information being presented to them.  I also really like using the teaching strategies we discussed in class.  As for a couple of the teaching strategies, I really like using quick writes as a fun closer to see what the students recall from a lesson.  KWL plus is also another fun tool to use at the beginning of a class to check prior knowledge of a specific subject. There are so many different strategies, thinking maps and techniques to...

Hello group!  I apologize for the delay in my initial post, I have had a horrible week.  This week we talked about RAFT and anticipation guides.  I am not sure if I completely understand either of these strategies them but I am going to try to explain it the best of my ability.  RAFT stands for role, audience, format and topic.  It is a writing strategy that helps students understand their roles as writers, the audience they will address, the varied formats for writing, and the topic they'll be writing about.  I think being able to use this strategy in all subjects will give students a better understanding of a specific subject and assist those who are having writing problems.  I keep finding all of these little activities online for so many different subjects; I may have to incorporate this strategy into my lesson plans.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:raft%20activities As for the anticipation guide strategy...

Hello class!      It is a tough decision on which strategy I would want to use in my classroom, I think I would have to try them all to know what works best for the class at that time.       The jigsaw strategy might be one of the last ones I try because I am wanting to teach the younger students so this may be a little complex for them.  This strategy consists of the students working together to solve a problem or a set of problems from a reading or even working on a math assignment.  I could try to have a 1st grade class work on a math worksheet together so they can help each other work out the tougher problems together instead of just doing a worksheet as homework.  I think it depends on the lesson and the class for this strategy.      Now, with the frayer model being a chart/organizer for students to use when they are learning about different vocabulary words, what the vocabulary words me...

Karen—6 th grade science periodic table.   Creating their own chart for the periodic table so they are able to remember the elements.   I really like how you break down the vocabulary that you want the students to know and remember.   Using the bottle caps will give the students a different way to break down the table.   Great job! Devyn—2 nd grade synonym and antonyms.   I love the “snowball” game with using different student’s synonyms and creating their own words for the current words!   I will definitely be saving the frayer model sample that I pulled up to use in my class. Thank you Devyn for adding that to your lesson!   Great job! Rachel—1 st grade language arts.   Creating a journal about animal babies and using a venn diagram about true/false questions is a great way to get the students involved.   I think getting them excited about owls and how to write about them, maybe not just have a stuffed animal to see but to have...

Devin Strum—History on the Civil War, poor Devin was having technical difficulties like I had a couple weeks ago.   I really liked the pre-assessment idea to find out what the students know or do not know.   It gets the students involved with the lesson and helps them remember what they do need to remember.   The inside out chair game seems like it would be a great way to keep the class moving and informed.   Great job!

Clint—Social Studies for high school students.   Focus on the Civil War-lesson one.   I really liked the bell work with having the students tell what they know or ask questions on what they do not know.   Having the students have a journal to keep information about what was talked about in class.   I love the sample thinking map to give the students the openness to work on their own.   I really like the power point Clint used for the lesson, simple, to the point but gains attention on the information.   Lesson two adds the slavery portion of the Civil War, making sure they remember what was taught in lesson one, another thinking map, project for the class and putting the class into groups to discussion the railroad at the time.  

Tiffannie—3 rd grade science about plants and animals.   I love the Froggy Froggy video presented for the anticipatory set, the students will remember what the lesson is about with that kind of hook!   I loved how you broke down what time frame the information was to be presented in your lesson.   The second lesson had really pretty pictures and another great video for the anticipatory set.   Great idea for the students to write about how animals adapt. Carman—Continued with 2 nd grade “Fall into Math”, I love the worksheet idea but need to have specific math problems for the students.   Linsey—1 st grade writing, the students writing about The Three Little Pigs .   The story maps with the setting, characters, problem, and solution.   The next lesson writing about Goldilocks and the Three Bears , similar to the previous lesson using the story map.   I love the worksheets for this assignment!   Sara—5 th grade landforms, fun, wor...

Crystal- 6 th Science lesson plan, requiring 100% of specific organisms.   Certain characteristics of organisms that are alive or not alive.   What is an ecosystem?   Breaking down what an ecosystem is and continuing on with the lesson as a unit.   Ensure that the class is given a closure, like mine but I really enjoyed the lesson. Carman- 2 nd grade math lesson with adding 1-4 digit problems.   How you named the lesson plans was awesome….”Fall into two digit numbers,” this hooks the students almost right away!   I really enjoyed how you kept the students engaged with learning math.   Sometimes, students really have a hard time with math but keeping them excited about it is great!   Awesome lesson plan! My corrections--Closure- at the end of the lesson. What they want to come up with remediation and enrichment.   Have to have work done at school with no homework.   Different anticipatory set activity.

I really liked all of the lesson plans that were done tonight! Great job everyone! Amanda’s presentation- (1) I really enjoyed Amanda’s lesson plan for 2nd graders breaking down how to explain a story’s beginning, middle and end. Making sure the students understand how a book is broken down will help them understand reading the book itself. (2) Explaining character traits in 2nd grade on the book Molly Lou Melon’s on a handout, traits about themselves, and using apps on iPad. 2nd grade students are still learning different traits about themselves and so for them to learn about it in class is a great way to help the students grow. Douglas’ presentation- (1) Language arts with metaphors, hyperboles, etc for 5th grade. I love how Doug makes the class excited about learning language arts. Playing a game to help students learn is a great way to keep them engaged with the subject. (2) Similes for students to learn in 5th grade. Making sure the students stay engaged is the best way to ensure...

Hello all! Thinking maps are a great way to bring information together for those who are visual or a student that needs information broken down in a different manner.  I really liked the bridge map choice but I think if I add too much to the map, I may get confused but that is me.  It seemed as though most any subject could be used in creating a bridge map and help to keep information organized.  I am not sure if I would utilize this method in an elementary classroom, I think there would be too much drawing for some of the students and less learning.  Just a thought after observing the last few weeks, I could be oh so wrong though.  :-)

During this assignment for our blog post I had to stop myself from watching more videos and writing about them, I absolutely loved this particular bit of information and will be looking to purchase the book Teach Like a Champion .  I have been in my field experience classroom for just over a week now and a lot of the information that my cooperating teacher does follows along with the information from these videos.  I think there is a lot more to learn about lesson plans but there is so much to learn as to what not to do in the lessons as well.  Video # 1 Teach Like a Champion 2.0  - Wanting to make the book Teach Like a Champion a better book by the notes taken from teachers and the students that can make teachers better for the students.  This is a way to work with teachers to make better teachers; it is all about working together to make everyone better! Video # 2 Technique 1 No Opt Out - Not allowing the students to get out of something they "don't ...

I think the biggest portion of class that stuck with me was during the video when Mr. McTighe stated that we should not worry about all the "extra" mumbo-jumbo that falls within teaching to a test.  (not his exact words but close :-))  The main point was that teachers should not worry about all the unnecessary information that is added to lesson plans but to teach the "meat and potatoes" of a lesson.  Teachers are so worried about teaching to a test or trying to make a subject fun that they loose sight of teaching the students.  Yes, the lesson should be fun and tests should not be the end result...ensuring the students retain the information being presented.  Focus on the students and everyone will win! 

I feel as collaborative planning would be beneficial for the teachers and the students.  If all the teachers work together in creating lesson plans, changes can be made as needed and the teachers will know from year to year what needs to be adjusted, added, deleted or left alone.  Another benefit from having collaborative planning is that if a substitute teacher has to be in a class for any period of time, the students will not have to miss out on the next pieces of information.  The class can continue on as though the primary teacher had never left.   As long as the teachers and administration are able to work together as a team, the students will benefit from all the extended minds being used to create lessons.

Hello class! I am not sure I will have a lesson plan "style" but I really like the step by step of Madeline Hunter's lesson plans. I do think that she has a lot of steps/information that goes into one of her lesson plans but I think the more the better for the students.  I think I read this at some point tonight, "Lesson plans should be geared mostly for the student and types of students; being a guide for the teacher".  I really like that because if for some reason the students are not understanding what the lesson plan is about then the teacher needs to be able to adjust quickly.  For a teacher to know the class very well, definitely helps in creating lesson plans for them.  Work smarter, not harder!