Claflin University School of

Education
EDUC 450: Clinical Practice
Reflective Lesson Plan
Name: Tyrone Aiken

Date: September 8, 2016

PART I: PLANNING
Blogging- Citing textual evidence to support a claim or an
argument
Title of Lesson

Source

Is this lesson original idea? If not, from what source did I borrow this lesson?

This lesson is based on the lesson plan of my cooperating teacher and her partner
teacher

English language Arts

Subject Area (s)
8th (Some 9th grade English)
Grade Level
Curriculum Standards

(Reading Literacy)8-RL.5-Determine the meaning and develop

logical interpretations by making predictions, inferring, drawing
conclusions, analyzing, synthesizing, providing evidence, and
investigating multiple interpretations
(Inquiry)8-I.4.1- Synthesize information to share learning and/or
take action
(Reading Literacy)8-RL.10- Apply a range of strategies to
determine and deepen the meaning of known, unknown and
multiple meaning words, phrases, and jargon; acquire and use
general academic and domain- specific vocabulary
Describe the lessons activities and content to provide a clear overview of the lesson.

Description and Background

Information

Lesson Objectives

First, students will begin class by completing a KWL based on blogging. Students
will have an opportunity to write what they know about blogging, what they want
to know about blogging, and after the lesson; what they learned about blogging. I
will then inform students that at the end of the lesson, they will be able to write
blog post using explicit textual evidence. Students will then be shown a
PowerPoint on blog writing and the components/ nature of a blog post. They will
then be separated into two groups (for) and (against) the idea of recess at the
middle level. They will be taught the basics of argument writing to aid them in their
independent practice.

What will students be able to do at the conclusion of this lesson? Make sure that your
objective(s) are measurable.

The student will be able to write blog post using explicit textual evidence

The student will be able to apply the structure and functions of a debate
(constructive arguments)
How will I vary these objectives for students who do not understand the material?
How will I vary these objectives for students who have already mastered the concept?
How will I vary these objectives for students who are presently learning English?

Varying Objectives for

For students who do not understand the material, there will be a blog debate and a

reference to Facebook, Instagram, and snapchat which are more popular among
students today. This will serve as a guide to help students understand the basics
such as format, layout and purpose of a blog.

Individuals Needs

For students who have mastered the concepts, they will be allowed to move on
and read a prewritten blog in which they will answer questions that require them to
cite textual evidence to support their answer.
For those who are presently learning English, the Facebook, snapchat and
Instagram references will serve as a guide. These are international blogging sites.

Why is it important for the students to learn this content?

Statement of Purpose

Materials and Resources

Anticipatory Set

The purpose of this lesson is to establish students knowledge of the basics of

argument writing to aid them in their independent practice.

What materials and supplies are needed to help your students achieve the stated
objectives? What will the teacher need? What will the students need? What other
resources are needed? Will you use resource speakers?

Laptop connected to starboard

Starboard( smart board)

2XL Sticker posters

Several small sticky post

Pencils

PowerPoint

Whiteboard

What will you do to motivate the students and get their attention? What is the hook that
will serve as a focus for the lessons activities?

Students will discuss what they know about blogs and write that information in a
KWL chart. We will discuss two of the most popular blogging sites (Facebook &
Instagram)

Part II: IMPLEMENTATION

How will I find out what students already know about this topic?

Pre-assessment

Teacher Modeling or
Demonstration

Guided Practice
Checking for Understanding

To figure of what students already know about this topic, the KWL chart is set in
place so that students can express in writing what they know about blogs and
blogging.
What will I do to show students what is expected?

To show students what is expected of them, I will construct two XL sticky posters
one designed with the snapchat label and the other with the Instagram label. I will
post one reason why recess at the middle level is good for students and one
reason why it is bad on the poster with the Instagram label.

What will we do together as they learn how to succeed at the new task?

Once students are separated into their groups, amongst themselves and me, they
will discuss what the best evidence to support their claim would be.
What questions will you ask to determine if students understand so far? What techniques
or strategies will be used to determine if students understand so far?

With the reasons students give as to why recess at the middle level is good or
bad, I will ask them to contrast their own ideas vs the opposite group in order to
support the argument they are trying to make. This is practice for students to take
the information they create, and use information from someone else to support
their own claim.

With students creating the poster blog, t will show me that they are in full
understanding of the concept of blogging.

Students are also in control of organizing their ideas to argue against the

opposing group effectively

What will students do by themselves to show that they have internalized the knowledge?

Independent Practice
Closure

Once they are separated back to their individual desks, students will write a blog
post using the evidence that was discovered in their group discussions. Topic:
Should recess be a component in the middle level school day?
How will I conclude the lesson and relate it to future experiences? How will you wrap up the
lesson to reinforce concepts taught during the lesson?

For closure, students will create an argument tree diagram from their group, and
have an around the table discussion of about 15 minutes.

What will students do to demonstrate what they have learned?

Assessment
(attach to lesson plan)
Extension Activities

Blog Making the Future Better, Together Students will read the blog and
complete the citing textual evidence problems.

What can students do at home or in the classroom to apply the knowledge or skills? How
could you use your colleagues or community agencies to improve student performance?

Extended classwork- Students will read Making the Future better together to
read a blog from someone elses point of view and cite evidence that supports
what they claim. Students will also write a blog later in the week in which they will
artistically create their favorite social media page on blank computer paper. The
blog will represent their opinion on whether or not there should be recess at the
middle level.

How will you use technology to assist students with learning the concepts? What technology will you
use to enhance the delivery and comprehension of your content?

Technology

I will use the star board to present the PowerPoints on blogging (posting your opinion) and
debating (constructive arguments) The PowerPoints will include visually appealing images
and sounds for students.
How will you connect this lesson with other content areas across the curriculum?
The Arts: The students will be allowed to decorate their social media page they create. They will be
allowed to turn their argumentative essay into a model of a social media page of their choosing.

Connection Across the

Curriculum

Health: The topic of exercise came up a lot from students when they began to discuss why recess is
important at the middle level.
Physical Education: Students felt that for them, they do not take PE every semester, so having recess
would reinsert their physical activity in their day.

PART III: REFLECTION

Describe the strengths of your instructional techniques, strategies and classroom management.
Describe the strengths of student engagement.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Suggestions for

For this lesson I allowed students to be grouped to create several reasons why there should
and should not be recess at the middle level. I also gave students roles in the groups such as
leader, writer, and presenters. Once students completed their reasons as to why or why not
recess should be inserted to the middle schoolers day, they were allowed to share. They
really enjoyed being able to express their feelings. At the same time, they were learning how
to support their own claims and listen to those of others.
Describe the weaknesses of your instructional techniques, strategies and classroom management.
Describe the weaknesses of student engagement.

I felt as though the grouping process for this activity could have been done more smoothly. I
should have broken the activity into smaller groups which would have allowed for more
participation for more students. Also, the do now was a little long for students. They were to
copy the a few notes including a very long definition of what blogging is. Students became a
little restless.

What would you change when teaching this lesson again?

Improvement

If I was to do this lesson again I would break students into smaller groups and shorten the
notes students had to copy. For the most part students enjoyed this lesson.

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