Ramona Marquez

Mrs. Zawlocki
Introduction to Education
23 September 2014

Lesson Plan Reflection

Of all the different instructional strategies that Ms. Benigno could have used I noticed a
pattern of three strategies that she used the most. During my observation I saw Ms. Benigno use
direct instruction every day. I think most teachers use this on a daily basis but in Spanish classes
direct instruction is essential. Teaching any language can be difficult when you try to get creative
because you still have to teach the same material every year in the same structure. However,
even though the curriculum is the same, it can be taught in a different way. The use of direct
instruction in a Spanish classroom is a must for any teacher and that makes the class more
teacher-centered.
Another strategy that stuck out to me was the group work. Group work was used a lot in
class. Group work goes beyond the classroom by making students socially engage others that
they might or might not know. This makes the class more cohesive during discussions and allows
students to feel like less of a number on an attendance sheet and more like a student with a name.
This strategy is more student-centered.
The last strategy that I want to draw attention to is the use of prior knowledge. In a
foreign language class the words, phrases, and questions that are taught on the first day of school
will come up again and again throughout the semester and even in future classes. In a Spanish
class everything that is learned plays into something that is to come. This allows students to take
the information they know and with it, address the information that they dont. This benefits both

the teacher and the students because the teacher doesnt have to review information that the
students should know and the student can start learning new material instead of reviewing the
same material year after year.