Literacy lesson ( Making Jelly, /j/ sound)
The lesson was in KG2 class with 21 students divided in two groups according to their learning ability. This week the students were starting to learn (j) sound.
The preparation were very good, all the materials for the whole and the small groups where ready. The activities where related to the aim of the lesson and they helped to achieve the learning outcomes. Using more creative arts was useful, the children love the activity and they enjoy it because they were busy making new thing and they were excited to see the results.
The whole part was simple, reviewing the alphabet sounds and actions because the children used to that after they learn a new sound. The new thing for them was using the smart board, it have benefits such as attracting and all the children were able to see the pictures. In addition, using the actions to learn sounds is good because it helps the students to remember the sound better.
However, the lesson could be better if I asked one child each time to come out and do the action for his friends and make the sound to see if the students know the sounds or nor, especially for these who were moving and not participating with the others. I could ask the child to come out and do the actions with me to motivate him to participate.
Making jelly was new thing for the children, usually they don’t do these stuff in the class. The students were happy to start and make their jelly. In general the activity worked well, all the students were engaged and want to finish their task. The activity could be better if they did all the parts by themselves from putting the jelly in the cups to putting it in the fridge. Also it could be better if it was group working such as having big container and all the children work together to make the jelly.
Thanks for the comments. I think you identify several points, I'd make about the class. Firstly, the idea of making jelly was ambitious and very engaging for the children, it makes the lesson memorable. You also mention that you could have encouraged the students to be a little more independent and exploratory in the activity - yes, this may be true, but there's a payoff in that allowing them to discover usually takes more time and so you have to be prepared for that. You will have to make sure you stand back and give them time and space, too. You also say that you would like them to collaborate a bit more - a good idea, to try and let them work in pairs sometimes. It's an essential skill which they will need as they move through the school. I think the key is to make sure the activity has a clear aim and that it's possible for both to contribute to the process.
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