The Aspects of the Interaction with the Classroom Teacher
The purpose of the meeting with the classroom teacher was to determine the grade level of the class and the topic of the discussion at the lesson planned by the teacher. It was also necessary to discuss the concepts and materials used to create the bulletin board. During the conversation, the teacher informed me that the class’s grade level is the first one. That is why much attention is paid to teaching the children to read with the help of the list of Dolch Sight Words developed for the first grade. That is why the teacher suggested developing the bulletin board with the help of which it could be possible to organize the students’ memorizing activities. The teacher was orienting to cooperation in order to complete the lesson’s objectives, and the tone of the interaction can be discussed as friendly and encouraging.
To develop an effective lesson and achieve the learning goals, it was important to accentuate the cooperative character of the work at the lesson’s plan and activities. The teacher presented all the necessary materials to create the bulletin board for the lessons on learning and memorizing the list of Dolch Sight Words. The classroom teacher informed about the lesson’s objectives, determining the words from the list which should be used at the board, and proposed to create the bulletin board where the words discussed and learned could be easily changed with the other words to learn and memorize in order to provide the active usage of the bulletin board during the series of lessons. It was also stated that the teacher would use recalling strategies to assist children to memorize the words with the help of such methods as word games and singing.
The Guided Reflection Protocol Form
Observation and Description
Describe the physical setting of the area for which you created your bulletin board
1a. The bulletin board was created to be presented in front of the children while memorizing the words from the list of Dolch Sight Words. Thus, the bulletin board is used during the class activities associated with practicing the learned words, and it is the part of the class interior to remind children of the words learned. It is possible to speak about the board as the decorative element and the instrument to teach children with the help of the visual media (Bafile, 2004). When the board is not actively used at the lesson, and it is not put in front of the children, the board stands with the other visual materials presented as boards or wall stands.
Analysis, Exploration, and Reasoning
Explain how you implemented the bulletin board design principles to support a specific instructional unit
2a. It was necessary to create the bulletin board according to the basic design principles to use it to help children memorize the learned words. The principle of balance was realized with references to organizing the left and right parts of the board to change the materials presented (words for learning). The important points (words) were emphasized with the help of different vivid colors to attract the children’s attention. The part containing the words to be learned is designed to contrast with the part for checking the children’s successes with the help of color and decorative elements. The principle of unity is realized through setting the definite task or title on the board, and the title is brief, clear, and thought-provoking. The lettering size of the words and title is appropriate for the viewing area. The information is correlated with the lesson’s objectives.
Connections to Other Effective Teaching Practices
Identify one pedagogical strategy that the classroom teacher is planning to use during the unit instruction and connect it to an instructional purpose
3a. The teacher is planning to use the inductive strategy to discuss the words from the list of Dolch Sight Words and operate specific methods to stimulate children’s memorizing the words with references to recalling and such activities as word games and singing. The inductive strategy based on introducing the words and their systematic recalling is effective to achieve the lesson’s goal (Borich, 2007).
Evaluation
Evaluate how effectively your bulletin board relates to the instructional unit
4a. The bulletin board is created to develop the children’s language and reading skills with the help of memorizing the words from the list (Smaldino, Lowther, & Russell, 2008). The board relates to the instructional unit effectively because it provides children with the possibility to see the words and use them in their activities. The words can be changed, depending on the children’s progress in learning.
Explain the thinking process you went through to complete the evaluation
4b. To evaluate the effectiveness of the board, it is necessary to relate to the lesson’s objectives. The lesson’s objectives are to organize the children’s process of memorizing the words with the help of recalling, word games, and signing. The visual material on the board and its quality respond to these objectives.
Recommendations
Provide one revision idea for your bulletin board that could enhance the instructional unit.
- 5a. It is possible to add the block to the board where the learned words could be presented to use along with the learning ones. Justify your choices of recommendations.
- 5b. The presentation of the learned words along with the learning ones is important to stimulate the children’s memory and learn the words according to the principle of addition to the learned facts effectively.
Personal Meaning and Professional Growth
Explain what you learned about collaboration as you worked with a teacher to develop the bulletin board
6a. While collaborating with the other person, it is necessary to state the goals of the activities clearly to have the opportunity to provide one’s part of work related to the other person’s work. Thus, the materials provided by the cooperating persons should be correlated with each other.
Explain what you considered as you formulated ideas regarding personal and/or professional implications
6b. It is important to pay attention to the role of the effective discussion of the project and plan with references to the goals, objectives, and materials to provide the expected results of the work. The orientation to the lesson’s objectives and goals and to the peculiarities of the grade level is significant to develop the effective plan, prepare and realize the definite activities.
References
Bafile, C. (2004). From “pretty” to practical: Using bulletin boards to teach.Web.
Borich, G. (2007). Effective teaching methods: Research-based practice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Smaldino, S., Lowther, D. L., & Russell, J. D. (2008). Instructional technology and media for learning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.