Paul Pearson

ECUI 531
Scott Reilly
Observation of Michael Goonans Lesson Plan
What I found most impressive about ichael!s lesson is that he used an activity that
fourth "raders #no$ and en%oy& ad 'ibs is a perfect idea for instructin" students at this level
about $ord types and sentence structure& (ot only did $e have fun completin" the $or#sheet and
readin" the finali)ed product* but $e had to recall certain $ords by their type& (o$ the fact that
mad libs are often nonsensical ma#es them entertainin"* but the purpose of $ord identification
came across clearly* and I!m sure this $ould have a si"nificant impact on students at that "rade
level&
I also notice ho$ ichael uses his personality to his advanta"e& While I personally may
not a"ree $ith students addressin" me by my first name* ichael is able to connect $ith youn"
students in a more friendly and familiar $ay $ithout losin" his authority over the class& I also
understand that ichael is plannin" on teachin" in a hi"h school settin"* and he has mentioned
teachers he has had in the past $ho have a classroom mana"ement s#ill he $ould li#e to emulate
in many $ays& +his $ill ta#e time for him ,and all of us- to develop* and a hi"h school
environment is much less predictable than si. of your peers pretendin" to be fourth "raders& If he
can maintain this consistency but establish and maintain his authority throu"hout a school year* I
thin# many students $ill benefit from his type of instruction and the environment he creates&
/verall* I thin# ichael did a "ood %ob steppin" out of his comfort )one& 0e displayed
"reat resourcefulness and fle.ibility in his lesson* and only spent the time he needed usin" direct
instruction& 0e tailored his lesson to a specific a"e "roup and #ept the en"a"ed and entertained*
$hich is a necessary characteristic of an effective teacher&