Friday, April 3

Reflection of lesson 3

Jelly bean math!!

This Wednesday I taught my last lesson. I taught students about combining two sets of numbers (aka addition). I was very pleased with how my math lesson went! I taught my lesson three times in centers of between 7 and 10 children in each center. The students were very excited because they knew I had jelly beans and Easter eggs involved in my lesson. My objective was that students will be able to join two sets of single digits and come up with the sum verbally and represent the sum and number sentence on paper.

I had 35 colored Easter eggs and between 1 and 8 jelly beans in each eggs. My objective was that students will be able to join two sets of single digits and come up with the sum verbally and represent the sum and number sentence on paper. I had worked out how each colored egg had a similar color jelly beans, so that if one student took a purple egg and a yellow egg, they would open it to find two different color sets of jelly beans. I knew this would come in handy when they were counting to keep the two sets divided, and when drawing, to use two colored crayons. I had also made up some eggs with more jelly beans and some with less, because my cooperating teacher told me the lowest group could add sets of 5 and 5 to get 10, but the other two groups could add 8 and 8 to get to 16. After I taught the first center, I took out the eggs with 6, 7 and 8 jelly beans in it (I had remembered which colors to take out), and after teaching the lowest group, I put the high jelly beans back in for the last group.

My lesson was more of a review rather than an introduction lesson since the class has been working on addition for a while now. The first group that I taught my lesson to had more time during their center, so some students were able to complete four number sentences and drawings. All the students were very enthusiastic and they loved working with the jelly beans, and kept asking if they could eat some. The second group I taught had the students with the lowest ability and the special needs students. I think I did a good job pacing myself for this group, but I could have used modeling more. Also when I demonstrated how to fill out the worksheet, I accidentally had the paper facing towards me and not them! This group was very preoccupied with eating the jelly beans, and being able to pick what color eggs they got. In retrospect, I should have given each student one jelly bean at the beginning of the lesson, and told them if they did a really good job they would get more at the end. I think this might have helped students be able to focus.

The last center I taught had the students with the highest ability level. Most of the students were able to complete the worksheet, but because they had less time than the other two groups, some kids didn’t finish the whole worksheet. I wanted students to sit in a big circle so everyone could see me, and the eggs and crayons could go in the middle, but the students kept scooting in and making the circle smaller. I had a hard time getting everyone to spread out, since they all wanted to be close to me.

I had so much fun teaching my math lesson! I really felt that the students learned and had fun during my lesson. When students finished their worksheets I would ask them to pick one number sentence to read to me and then I would give them jelly beans to eat. I felt so happy when I was leaving my cooperating teacher asked the class “Who had fun doing jelly bean math with Miss Shannon?” and all the students raised their hands. Many students came to say thank you as I was leaving and hug me. I felt so excited leaving the classroom that my lesson had gone so well and that the students had listened to me and enjoyed everything.

3 comments:

  1. They loved your lesson and it was great! In fact during dramatic play H.K. goes "Why didn't you bring us candy ms. Lauren?" HA.
    It sounds like you did a good job differentiating instruction with the low group because it is definitely challenging.

    Good work Ms. Shann-ann :)

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  2. I absolutely love this lesson idea!! It's so cute and I think the way that you matched jelly beans to egg color was an excellent way for students to visually see the math problem. I understand about the candy. Small children seem to focus entirely on eating the candy rather than what you are saying about the candy so your suggestion that you provide each child with one bean at the beginning with the potential for more at the end of the lesson is a good idea. Overall, it sounds like a terrific lesson and I'm so happy it went well for you!!

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  3. Thanks guys :) kinda sad that our teaching is over!

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