Student Teacher:

Chloe Rakos

Supervisor:

Lauren Delisio

Date:

October 1, 2015

Visit #

Summary of Pre-visit Conference/Goals for this lesson:

Keep my students engaged throughout the lesson
Be extra aware of my classroom management
Differentiate for individual student needs
Student Teacher Reflection:
Planning for this lesson presented a challenge for me for a few reasons. One of those
challenges being that our math period has a lot of elements to it. We do a warm up,
practice printing our numbers, a workshop, a game, workbook practice, and quick math
fact practice. Another challenge was that the students in this class present more
challenges because of their needs. These students need a lot of attention and can do very
little completely independently. These two challenges really connected with this lesson
too because there were a lot of transitions in this lesson and the students have really been
struggling with proper behavior during transitions. Aside from these challenges though, I
was excited for this lesson. I enjoy working with these students and my cooperating
teacher very much.
As the lesson was going on, I was very happy with it. One of the things I was somewhat
concerned about the day of the lesson was that Mrs. Mocarski and I would be basically
switching roles for this lesson. Usually she teaches the lesson and I assist. I was not only
concerned how I would do as the leader, but how the students would react to this change.
The students really did well with it. I definitely feel that they respect me as a teacher even
with their regular teacher in the room. I love that they dont automatically go to her for
her for help but its really very evenly split. I was also really pleased with my students
behavior during the lesson. I knew there was a possibility of some difficult behavior
during the lesson because of how Mrs. Mocarski told me the students had been in the
morning but they were very well behaved and really listened when I asked them to stop
doing something or do something differently.
Something I know that I want to work on for my next lesson is that I want to be better
with my time management. I wasnt really paying attention to the timing of the lesson as
much as I should have been. There were several times that I probably could have
elaborated on things but felt that because things were going well behavior and
engagement wise, I didnt want to make them go on longer and risk that behavior or
engagement being affected. The lesson ended up being a little shorter than we had
planned for which was no problem for my cooperating teacher because there are always
other things she would love to be able to do with the students throughout the day but I
would like to know that I can really manage my time well and fill up the entire period.

Supervisors Feedback:
Today you taught a mathematics lesson in the self-contained first grade class, with eight
students. You started by bringing the students to the carpet for their math warm up.
The students all came to carpet in an orderly fashion, and you reminded a few of them
that they should be standing up on our feet. This was a very clear, explicit direction.
You then led the students in the Counting on dance. The student who is holding the
ball says a number and the rest of the class has to count up two more. This is a great,
physical, fun way to practice this skill. After the dance, you reminded students to have
Calm bodies they responded to this it was an effective reminder. Nice work with
behavior management!
Next, you led them in another physical activity: Lets sit down in our cars. Hands on the
steering wheel. We are going to start at one and count to 30. Remember to round our
corners. All of the students were engaged, following along, and following your explicit
directions.
The final math warm up activity was blasting off to our seats. You instructed the
students to get back up on their feet, and explained that they would be counting down to
ten and then blast off to their seats. You reminded them but we dont want any rocket
ship accidents so remember to walk back to your seat. The students transitioned really
well back to their seats, and it is because you gave them explicit instructions and they
knew exactly what was expected of them.
The students were instructed to take out their whiteboards and markers. You told them,
Remember, we dont draw on our whiteboards, we just use them to write our numbers.
Again, this was a nice reminder of the expectations for the activity. You led the students
in an activity in which they were practicing writing numbers and counting up. You would
write a number up on the overhead projector, and then would ask the student who had the
easy button on their desk, What comes after? The student would hit the easy button
when he/she knew the answer, and then all of the students would write the number on
their whiteboards. The students passed around the easy button, and this way each
student had an opportunity to answer. It was a very well organized activity.
After every student had a turn, you instructed the students to put all of their supplies
away and join them on the carpet quietly. Once again the students did a great job and
followed your directions. Just make sure you compliment them when this happens
catch them being good.
The next part of the lesson involved teaching students a math game called Roll and
record. You explained that although they had probably played this game in Kindergarten,
today they would taking it to the next level. You reminded students of their two
counting strategies counting ON and counting ALL, and then modeled both strategies
with large pink dice.
You and your cooperating teacher modeled how to play the game as partners, including
how to record their answers on the sheet, and how to roll the dice properly. As you

modeled, you asked, what counting strategy did I just use? Next, you led the students in
a guided practice whereby each student had a turn to roll the dice and practice recording
their results on the record sheet. You strategically assigned partners and told them where
to go to play the game; the students were split between you and your cooperating teacher
- you stayed on the carpet with four students and Mrs. M had four students at a table
The students played the games in pairs, practicing writing the numbers and their counting
strategies; you provided them with a lot of positive reinforcement and praise.
When the game was over, you told the students to FREEZE! The students responded
immediately; this was a good way to get their attention. You asked each pair, What
number got the highest amount of rolls? Who used the counting on strategy? Who used
count all? Who feels like one is faster? I like how you used the game to get them
thinking about their strategies this is starting to tap into that conceptual understanding
of mathematics. You instructed the students to bring the clipboard back to their desks,
leave their dice, and walk nicely back to their seats.
The next part of the math lesson consisted of an activity called double compare.
Students worked in their books while you modeled on the overhead projector. You and
your cooperating teacher played against the class. A few times you had to tell the students
quiet please. Instead, compliment a student who is exhibiting the targeted behavior
the other students will follow suit.
The students then worked independently on Rocket Math, practicing addition facts
You and Mrs. M walked around and assisted students as necessary, providing prompts
and support. You also knew when to leave the student, and let them work on their own
this is important too.
You used a timer throughout all of the activities; this is a great strategy to keep both you
on track with the lesson as well as to let the students know when to transition. =
This lesson had a lot of transitions, and all of the students did really well during the
transitions. Your behavior and classroom management was excellent! Great job.
Cooperating Teachers Feedback:
Chloe is doing an excellent job in our room. She listens, accepts feedback and takes part
in every lesson every day. She already is stepping in to run our routines, effectively
managing situations that arise with behavior and/or academic issues. We team-teach
throughout the afternoon. Chloe is a natural at jumping in and taking over or leading
lessons. She is bright, enthusiastic, and a wonderful addition to our classroom.

Review and Revision of Personal Goals:

Keep my students engaged throughout the lesson I felt that my students were
very engaged during this lesson. I tried to really keep the students moving around

and involved throughout the lesson to really keep their attention and focus on
what they were supposed to be doing. I also made sure that we didnt continue
doing one thing for too long.
Be extra aware of my classroom management I still feel that this is something I
need to work on. I felt like this lesson definitely had more management than my
first observed lesson but I really need to work on giving positive praise and
pointing out students who are good examples and role models for the other
students in the class to follow.
Differentiate for individual student needs I felt like I did a good job with this but
could do even better next time. The students have pretty good mastery of the
counting content at this point because we have been working on it for so long but
I put the students that usually have problematic behaviors during games at the
back table with Mrs. Mocarski to keep them focused and I put a student that has
trouble counting with a student that is very good at counting down on the carpet
with me so that I could help her as well as her peer. I also gave her a number line
to keep with her during the game if she needed it. I would still like to work on my
differentiation strategies in the future.