Sarah CO #1

Date/Time: 8 May / 9:00 - 9:50AM

Topic/Skill: (2A Grammar class) Practice timed speaking - The students were told to break into pairs and take turns talking about their best friend to each other since they were to record themselves in the computer lab afterwards for a grade.

Teacher Presentation: The instructor presented to the students what was expected of them that day by projecting a grading rubric on the board. She informed them that they would be given a variation of their practice topic (which ended up being to describe their family members) and that they would have exactly 1 minute to record themselves. About 50% of their speaking evaluation would be solely based on grammar accuracy (e.g. subject|verb|object structure, subject/verb agreement, simple present and simple past tense), while sub categories involved using variety in their sentence structures (e.g. by including cohesive devices, forming complex and/or compound sentences).

Classroom Management: Class began with role being taken, and as each student was called on, they were asked what they did over the weekend. I thought this was a simple but appropriate way to get everyone involved and engaged. She proceeded to go over what the class was going to do that day and I also noticed that she used the timer on her phone to stay on track.

Materials: Whiteboard, computer/internet access, an overhead projector, a phone timer, student computer lab

Student Participation: The students had to practice speaking with a partner while the instructor walked around and made herself available if they had any questions.

Feedback Provided: At the end of the speaking assignment that was conducted in the computer lab, the students were given a final in-class assignment (to write about their family) during the last 10 minutes. The instructor made sure they knew that this was not for a grade, but rather for feedback, so she could see what they needed the most help with for their upcoming composition test to be given later this week. 

Lesson(s) on teaching you learned: Ms. Vicky Golen explained to me how she has had to make adjustments in the way she handled her speaking assignment to ensure that time was used more efficiently. She used to have the students speak, listen to their recordings, and then transcribe what they said so she could grade their transcription itself (as well as still listening to their recording) but sometimes students would not write exactly what they said and she also mentioned that it took up a lot of class time. Instead, she now listens to each recording and transcribes them herself. I think that it’s important to be able to recognize when and why to change the structure of a class lesson/routine if you think you can make it more effective and/or efficient.