Cooperating Teacher Feedback

To be completed for at least two lessons.

Date: 10/15/2014
Topic/subject of lesson: Animals: Animal Body Coverings
Please comment on the areas below that are relevant to this lesson.
PLANNING
Lesson objectives and their appropriateness for this group of children
--The objectives were appropriate for K5 students.
Teaching strategies and their appropriateness for this group of children
--Ambers teaching strategies included sensory engagement; having the
children touch various animal coverings, looking at pictures in the book,
Animals up Close. She used a lot of questioning to get the students thinking
about and discussing animals (What kind of animals have fur? Feathers?
etc.) Amber applied environmental clues in her questioning; Why did I wear
rain boots today?
Readiness of materials
--Amber brought feathers, a stuffed toy and a turtle shell to share with the
children. She also wore her colorful rain boots to school that captured the
attention of several of my students before the lesson began. The students
were engaged in Ambers lesson as soon as she asked whether she was
wearing appropriate shoes and gave them feathers to touch.

INSTRUCTION
Ability to model and support active listening, interactive discussions, and
meaningful learning
--Amber facilitated an appropriate discussion with the children. She asked
questions, answered questions and gave the students opportunities to discuss
with each other.
Ability to adjust instruction to meet students needs
--This lesson included plenty of opportunities for children to move and talk,
which is important with this age group.
Awareness of cultural and gender differences
--Amber presented the lesson on animal covering without any biases related
to cultural and/or gender.

Developmentally appropriate teaching strategies

--Amber planned an excellent lesson that was developmentally appropriate;
she engaged the students with her props, allowed them to explore her
materials, provided movement activities and lively discussion.
Ability to explain content accurately and at an appropriate level
--Amber used appropriate vocabulary related to body coverings; she
explained thoroughly.
Ability to ask meaningful questions that enhance learning
--Amber asked questions in the beginning of her lesson to get the children
thinking, and throughout to ensure that the students understood her lesson.

ASSESSMENT
Use of appropriate formal and informal assessment strategies
--Amber used an informal assessment strategy; the game Walk on the Wild
Side. She had the four body coverings written on cards placed in the four
corners of the rug. As she named different animals, the children were to
stand in the corner with the appropriate sign. This gave her an idea of who
was and was not grasping the concept.
Ability to use what is learned in assessments to inform future teaching
--Amber did not teach another lesson from the animal unit; so this does not
apply.