Kinder Lesson Plan

Sept. 9, 2015
Grade:

Kindergarten

Lesson Topic:

ELA Zoophonics, letter recognition, phonemic awareness

and writing the letter H,h

Candidates Name:

Bobbi Ross-Neier

1. Introduction:
CA Common Core Standards: English
Language Arts
Phonics & Word Recognition
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.3.A
Demonstrate basic knowledge of one-to-one
letter-sound correspondences by producing
the primary sound or many of the most
frequent sounds for each consonant.
Comprehension & Collaboration
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.3
Ask and answer questions in order to seek
help, get information, or clarify something that
is not understood.
Conventions of Standard English
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.2.C
Write a letter or letters for most consonant
and short-vowel sounds (phonemes).

Rationale:
Kindergarteners should know the
letters of the alphabet and the
corresponding letter sounds. This is
includes 52 upper and lower case
letters and 31 letter sounds. All
concepts adhere to CA Common Core
curriculum headings and subheadings
for English Language Arts; Phonics &
Word Recognition, Comprehension
and Collaboration and the Conventions
of Standard English. Comprehension
and Collaboration will reinforce
procedures and routines for this group
who is new to the school. The letter
H, h will be reinforced for this lesson.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.1.A
Print many upper- and lowercase letters.
Focus Learner/Behavior Expectations
Activate prior background knowledge by
reviewing letter sounds. Behavior
expectations include cooperative learning,
listening and respect during class discussions.
2. Learner Outcome(s)/Objective(s):
Purpose:
- Students will continue to learn the letter
sounds, used through the adapted school

Rationale:
Kindergarteners need reinforcement

curriculum, Zoophonics.
- Students will ask and answer questions
during whole group instruction.
- Students will cooperatively participate
in class activities such as
demonstrating corresponding actions
with Zoophonics letter sounds.
- Students will write the upper case and
lower case H,h, after whole group
instruction, to continue letter writing
practice.
- Students will follow directions and
continue to learn classroom procedures
before and after whole group
instruction and activities
- Students will be able to work
independently and write name, practice
letter H,h with minimal assistance
from teacher

and practice for classroom procedures

and routines. This lesson allows for
students to move, listen, follow
directions, write and practice all letter
sounds and ends with the practice of
the next letter in our review of the
alphabet. This lesson also provides
time for formative assessment for the
teacher as she gets to know her
students and their abilities.

Mastery will be measured by students ability

to act out most of the Zoophonics motions and
say the corresponding letter sounds for each
letter. Students will also demonstrate mastery
by their ability to follow classroom procedure
directions, such as when to stand, sit, raise
hand to speak and when to begin letter writing
practice worksheet with whiteboards.
3. Pre-assessment Activity:
Students were asked to write their names and
draw a picture of themselves for teacher to
observe fine motor skills, letter writing and
drawing. Students worked one on one with
teacher to review letter and sound recognition.
Whole class introduction to the Zoophonics
animals, their corresponding letter and the
sound associated with each letter. Students
listened to and followed teacher to demo all
hand gestures and say letter sounds. The
Zoophonics song was played for students to
hear and to begin to practice hand gestures
with song.

Rationale:
Zoophonics provides a fun and
engaging method for students to learn
and remember letter and sound
recognition. The beginning of the year
is a good time to introduce and begin
to review and assess where students
are with letter and sound recognition.
Observing how students utilize fine
motor skills, hold a pencil and write,
provides baseline information for the
teacher to plan for future lesson plans
to know what students need to
practice more and what they have

Other formative assessments conducted

include prior lessons taught in a similar
manner, for letters A-G. Those lessons
included writing name, practice writing one
letter per lesson, letter recognition by circling
the correct letter.

mastered. The repetition of listening

and following direction during whole
group instruction helps to establish
classroom routine and behavior
expectations.

4. Differentiation, Adaptation & Accommodation Strategies:

Kindergarteners will learn classroom routine
Rationale:
and procedures as they also learn letter
Its important for differentiated
sounds and letter recognition through
instruction to include learning
Zoophonics.
techniques and teaching strategies for
all learners. By providing multiple
Modification for ELL
means of introducing and practicing
- At this point in the school year, no
letter sounds and letter recognition will
students have been identified as ELL.
help promote success for all students.
Special Needs
- One student has a prosthetic leg. Since
she is unable to bend that leg, her seat
on the rug has been moved to the side
to accommodate her inability to sit with
her legs crossed. (other students need
to sit with legs crossed)
- Two other students are being observed
for possible assessments and/or
placement in a different program. Since
it is early in the school year, we
continue to monitor and document
behavior. These students are placed in
the front row close to the teacher.
High Achieving
Several students demonstrate mastery of all
52 upper and lower case letters and
recognition of the 31 corresponding sounds
for the letters of the alphabet. These students
will be asked to share their work and
knowledge during whole group instruction.
Low Achieving
Continue to monitor and provide feedback and

Whole group discussion, and

individual practice followed by closing,
as a whole group, will provide for
ELLs, special education students and
allow for high achieving students to
dive deeper into the content. For
example, high achieving students may
be able to finish their work and
demonstrate to their classmates
Utilizing technology will help some
students gain visual and kinetic
knowledge and participate in the
lesson that might have been too
difficult. Also, some students may
learn better from kinetic learning such
as acting out the Zoophonics hand
gestures.

praise for students with low fine motor skills

and writing. Additional time to complete work
will be given to students.
5. Resources:
Resources include:
- 26 Zoophonics cards with letter and
corresponding animal
- Classroom laptop with internet access
that is connected to SmartBoard and
able to play Microsoft Power Point
- SmartBoard
- Document Camera
- Letter writing smart board software for
whole class instruction
- Teacher created power point with
Zoophonics song
- 21 pencils
- 25 copies of letter H,h worksheet

Rationale:

6. Learning Activities: Explicit Teacher Instruction

Explain
Rationale:
Teacher will activate prior background
Students are learning the classroom
knowledge with review of each letter and hand routines and procedures, so
gesture for Zoophonics. Teacher will ask for
consistent instruction needs to be
two helpers to help demonstrate gestures.
given to the students. Time for
Teacher will explain to class that they will do
redirection and explanation must be
letter songs and review and then move on to
considered during the lessons time
learning their next letter. Teacher will explain
too. Fine and gross motor skills need
name and sound of letter H, h.
to be developed for some students for
Model
some of the Zoophonics letter
Teacher will model letter name, hand gestures gestures and sounds. Thus, modeling
and letter sounds for each letter. Teacher will
and demonstrating need to be
participate in Zoophonics song along with
reinforced and repeated. Engaging the
students, providing corrections/assistance
high learners will help them as this
where needed. Teacher will model writing H,
lesson may be review for some of
h on the SmartBoard using letter writing
them, while the low achieving students
software. Teacher will also model how to
will need assistance.
complete letter writing worksheet on the
Informal observation during
SmartBoard using the Doc Camera.
independent practice will provide
Demonstrate
valuable insight as to the students
Teacher will participate with Zoophonics
progress with the alphabet.
songs and demonstrate name, sounds and
hand gestures. Teacher will demonstrate
correct method to write H,h and how to

successfully complete letter writing worksheet.

Check for Understanding
Informal verbal assessment by asking
students about the Zoophonics letters, sounds
and gestures. Teacher will ask specific
students and provide prompting if necessary.
Teacher will observe students individually
providing praise and feedback where needed.

7. Learning Activities: Guided Practice/ Collaborative Practice (Check for

understanding and provide feedback and re-teaching)
Learning activities include Zoophonics song
Rationale:
with powerpoint with review of all letters and
Most kinder students enjoy movement
their sounds as students perform gestures.
and songs thus the activity of moving
The SmartBoard software provides
to the Zoophonics song provides a fun
collaborative practice. Students will use their
and engaging method of letter
magic finger to draw H, h in the air prior to
recognition and phonemic awareness.
receiving letter writing worksheet.
The powerpoint with the Zoophonics
Prior to learning worksheet being distributed,
song provides a visual learning tool for
teacher will project worksheet on SmartBoard students and allows the teacher to
for introduction before independent work.
move around the room to aid students
in their movements, rather than
needing to hold flashcards.
Asking students to begin to practice
their writing by air writing provides
more practice before using a pencil
and allows for informal observation by
the teacher. As worksheet is provided
on SmartBoard students background
knowledge is activated, from past
sheets that are similar, and provides
intro of independent practice.
8. Independent Practice:
Independent practice is accomplished after
whole group and collaborative practice in the
form of a worksheet for letter H, h. Students

Rationale:
Its important to gauge the ability level
and amount of time allowed during

must write their names, circle upper case and

lower case H,h and practice writing upper
and lower case H,h.
If students complete worksheets with
additional time remaining, another activity
would be to have students practice writing all
of their letters on the back of their worksheet,
some may be excused to their team table to
color the worksheet and/or excuse a few to
the library for silent reading. Those students
needing additional help and encouragement
can receive more assistance from teacher at
this time.
9. Assessment and Evaluation:
Formative Assessment:
Teacher observation during group and
collaborative practice. Teacher observation
and notes during independent practice.
Summative Assessment:
Once a month, teacher will assess students in
letter recognition (upper and lowercase
letters), sounds, and writing the letters taught
previously. Teacher will use both pre and post
from ESGI and written assessments to
determine student mastery.

10. Closure:
At the end of the rotations students will meet
on the rug for praise about their work. The
idea of reflection is a new concept for some
students so the teacher can explain whey its
important to talk about what they have
learned. Teacher can ask specific questions,
related to the lesson, and gauge student

independent practice. Teacher must

informally observe and redirect
students as needed. This independent
practice provides time for learning to
write and recognize letters.

Rationale:
Formative assessment, as in teacher
observation and notes, will provide
feedback for teacher as to students
progress with fine motor skills, correct
letter writing and ability to work
independently at their team table.
The summative assessment will
provide the teacher with an
understanding of student mastery in
letter recognition, letter/sound
correspondence, and writing the
letters taught. The teacher will use the
data to conference with parents during
October as well as to guide daily
instruction.

Rationale:
Its important for students to be able to
reflect and think about what they are
learning and why they are learning.
This is a concept that will be utilized,
hopefully, for all future grade levels so
introducing this in Kinder will benefit

understanding based on their answers.

Teacher may review the letters learned and
practiced up to this point (A-G). Depending on
time, teacher may read an ABC book.

the students. Reflecting also help

students activate their prior
background knowledge with their
recently learned knowledge.

Teacher can also assign homework where

students practice writing their name and/or
specific letters learned.

Short homework assignments can

help reinforce the learning and the
learning activities that were completed
during class.