Kurt Sowa March 16, 2014 Lesson Reflection On Thursday, March 6, I taught a comparing and contrasting mini-lesson to fourth

graders. The two subjects in which I compared and contrasted were folktales and fables. The objective of the lesson was for students to develop a deeper understanding of both folktales and fables, while being able to recognize their specific characteristics and compare and contrast them. One week prior to this lesson, I co-taught a lesson on folktales and the characteristics of folktales. Therefore, when I started my lesson, I drew on the students prior knowledge and asked them to recall characteristics as well as details of other folktales. I did this by asking students to raise their hands and tell the class some of the characteristics. Once I finished refreshing their minds, I asked them to turn to a partner and talk to each other about what they knew about fables. Students were then asked to share what they discussed with the class. Now, it was time to show students the characteristics of fables. I had a premade chart that was on the smart board in which I brought up and showed the students. After a quick discussion, I put a Venn diagram on the smart board. Students were then called on and asked to put the characteristics in the right category: folktale, fable, or both. After the completion of the comparing and contrasting, I read a fable to the students, The Hare and the Tortoise by Brian Wildsmith. Before reading the story, I informed the students that I would point out the characteristics of a fable while I read to them. At the completion of the story, I had students turn and talk to their partner. Students were asked to discuss what they thought the moral or lesson of the story was as well as what the foible of Hare was. After this, students shared their responses

with the class. Students were then sent back to their seat to glue in the fable characteristic chart into their notebooks. Finally, the students were asked the write a complete sentence or two about what they believed the moral of The Hare and the Tortoise was. I believe that this lesson was successful because each student met the objective. Each student was able to successfully point out the characteristics of a folktale and fable. The students were able to compare and contrast them and they were able to identify the moral of the fable. There were several reasons why I thought this lesson was successful. First, the prior weeks lesson was successfully taught, building a foundational base and starting point for the start of the comparing and contrasting lesson. Students were quickly able to recall previous knowledge when asked of them. Another reason is that the folktale chart was pasted into their notebook so it could be used a guide. When I moved the lesson onto fables, students were asked to discuss prior knowledge, if any, of what they thought a fable was. Showing the characteristic chart next was a big help in them learning some quick characteristics of fables. The most important part of the lesson I believe came next. This is when the Venn diagram was used to compare and contrast the characteristics between folktales and fable. After students displayed proper understanding, it was finally time for them to hear a fable. Students were asked just to sit and listen to the story while I modeled and pointed to the characteristics of the fable for them. Next, students discussed the morals and foibles of the story. Students then put the chart in their notebooks so that they could use it as a reference guide in the future. Having students write the moral or lesson in their notebook next, is a great way to reiterate that a fable always has a moral. The way in which I think the lesson could have been improved is the beginning after I put the fable characteristics chart on the board. After this chart was gone over, I could have put both the folktale and fable chart side by side so that the students could look at the similarities and

differences of the two types of stories. Then, I would have moved onto the Venn diagram. Another thing that I could have done was slow down the pace of the reading. Although all the students understood the story, the pace may have been a little too quick. There were several ways in which I assessed this assignment. I did it both formally and informally. I informally assessed the students as they talked to the partners on the rug. I went around the room and listened in to make sure students were on the right track. I formally assessed them by asking them to complete the Venn diagram chart as well as write a few complete sentences about the moral of the fable in their notebooks. Overall, this lesson was a success. Students were engaged and enthusiastic. They also met the objectives and goals that were set out for them. If I were to teach this lesson again, I would apply these changes in order to make the lesson run even more smoothly.