Effective lesson planning is the heart of good teaching. A teacher who does not plan plans to fail. This chapter showed me a lot about myself as a teacher. I have learned how to make my lessons more effective. I have learned what I need to continue doing and what needs to stop. While reading chapter 7 I realized that the formula for direct teaching is on that I follow.
One of the aspects of planning a lesson is making sure you arouse student's interest in the content. (Slavin, 2018, p. 164) Slavin states, "teaching is like performing". (168) I have always seen every lesson I have taught as a performance. I go into character. There are stories told and analogies made from my own life experiences. Most of them are funny. This chapter has shown me that what has always made sense to me as a teacher are really what make a great teacher. I have often struggled with not fitting into the mold that most of my fellow teachers fit.
Another area I struggle with is allowing my students the opportunity to have freedom during a discussion. I have a tendency to hold the reins very tight so that the conversation follows the plan I have set. Slavin explains, the teacher "should encourage the students to come up with their own ideas". (p. 180) I dominate the discussion instead of leading it. The illustration of Ms. Wilson's class discussion about the American Revolution was an eye opener to say the least.
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