Powerful Teaching Strategies Video

From viewing the Direct Instruction lesson plan video, I was very impressed by  the way  the three college students presented their social studies topic and went about with their direct instruction lesson plan. The way  that they engaged their fourth grade students  from start to finish is what made the lesson all the more powerful and all the more inspiring. I actually believed that were the teachers of the class when they were up there. Right from the  beginning of the lesson, they brought students into the lesson by asking them what the pictures on the screen were. Having visuals for students to look and make comments about makes the lesson all the more engaging and focuses them into the lesson right away. From there, the lesson was a powerful learning experience and as a viewer, educational and beneficial for me to watch.

The group's topic was on the thirteen colonies, which is what my group's topic is except our lesson will be aimed as a much younger grade. The one college student who stood out to me the most was Barbara. Even though all three of the students did a great job, it was her who my eyes were glued on the whole time. Instead of standing in front of the smart-board lecturing, she actually walked around the room. She was animated with  the students, she sounded enthusiastic about the topic on the stamp act and the French and Indian Wars. I like the way she expressed "I feel angry" when referring to the colonists because of the amount of enthusiasm she used, and when she spoke it did not sound rehearsed.

Dr. Smirnova showed us this video, or at least I can make a pretty clear assumption, in order to establish what makes a good direct lesson plan. It is not all about teachers standing up in the front of the classroom lecturing while the students sit in their desks and listening, but it is about presenting new information to students in creative and interactive needs that includes all students and adapts to all students needs. When Barbara taught she made sure to pick on all students. She incorporated all of these qualities into the lesson plan, and when viewing this classroom lesson, it really gets me thinking about how I want to teach my second graders about the thirteen colonies and the new world, and how I want to engage them. Even though there are so many ways to include students in the lessons, there are only so many ways to do it successfully. The group that I viewed did a great job, and I look to Barbara as an inspiration. When I teach I hope I show that much level of dedication and enthusiasm.