Nikolas-CO1

On Monday I observed the intermediate reading class of Marilyn Sohan. The class was before the lunch-break, so 11:00-11:50. The teacher let me introduce myself, but otherwise, I sat in back of room and wrote notes, so I was not involved in activities. First the teacher started and asked what the students did on weekend. They were not very enthusiastic, so she explained that she went to Renaissance Fair and then had to explain what that was to students. Next the students were to read for 10 minutes in class. They read all a book that they chose outside of class and record in reading-log every time they read, then hand them in. Although it was not clear first why to do this in class, it is apparently to make sure they actually read! Next started the scaffolding. The teacher reviewed Blooms Taxonomy with the students from the textbook and asked them questions. This gave backround to analyise text. Then she read a Tallahassee Democrat article about Florida Caverns Park. The students underlined new words and then discussed with partner. The most important words for everyday conversation (not specialist terms like "stalacmite"), she wrote on board. Then students had 2 minutes to discuss meaning. The class would then discuss definitions as class, but the time was over and lunch break started, so they planned to do it on Tuesday. I wanted to observe reading class to give me ideas for my reading lessonplan, which it did. I liked the way she structured the article reading and class. First introduction, then backround material from textbook and then apply in class and in groups. The 10-minute reading I did not use in my lessonplan, and I am not sure I would use that often, but it was still interesting idea.