Running head: CT REFLECTION 1 1

Lauren Clark

Angela Hooser

EDE 4940

10th February, 2017

CT OBSERVATION REFLECTION 1

Reflection

For my first CT observation during my final semester, I taught a social studies lesson.

This lesson was focused on diversity. The way I taught this was by using one white egg and one

brown egg. The first day of the two-day lesson (which was my CT observation), we sat in a

circle and passed around the eggs, making observations about similarities and differences and

recording them on a chart. On the second day is when we looked at the chart we made and I

asked the students if they thought the eggs would look the same or different on the inside. This is

when I cracked open the eggs under the Elmo for the students to see that the eggs were the same

on the inside, despite the difference in color. Overall, the students realized that the eggs had some

similarities and some differences (shape, spots, size, etc.), but for the most part were the same on

the inside. When asked how the eggs related to people, the students slowly discovered that

humans are like eggs because they have a shell and we have a shell (skin) and eggs can come in

different or similar sizes and colors just like people can, but no matter what we are all the same

on the inside, just like the white and brown eggs.

Ultimately, I am really happy with how the first part of this lesson went. If I were to teach

this lesson again, something that I would do the same is hold high expectations for the students

when handling the eggs. At 3:13 into the lesson, I explained to the students how important it was

to hold the eggs carefully. After I explained the expectations, a student asked me What if I drop
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the egg by accident? I told this student that I trust them enough that I know that this would not

even be an issue. I felt that this really set the tone for the rest of the lesson because they knew

they had my trust and that knew that I believed they all were capable to participate in the lesson.

Something I would do differently in this lesson is have the opportunity for more students to share

their thinking. From 5:10-12:24, I only heard from about 6 different students. To give each

student a chance to share their thoughts, I could have incorporated a turn and talk somewhere in

the lesson.

Something else that I would change if I could is the time. When I teach social studies,

there is only about a 25 minute window for me to teach it in since we have to leave early for

specials. Therefore, I feel as though I have to rush through the different parts of the lesson in

order to teach all that I have in mind. Although this is something my CT is super accommodating

with (for instance, she ends math early so that I can teach everything that I have planned), this is

something I worry about when I have my own classroom. The time constraint is a connection I

can make with literature I have read in my Teaching Elementary Social Studies class last

semester. A common theme throughout all of the literature is the idea that there is little to no time

dedicated to social studies in classrooms across the nation.

Analysis

I feel as though the students did learn the big idea I was trying to teach- that eggs are like

people in the sense that despite any differences, we can find similarities between us and

recognize that we are all the same on the inside no matter what we look like on the outside. I

know that the majority of the students got this because when filling out a worksheet at the end

that asked them How are eggs like people?, most of the students answered by acknowledging

people may look different but are still the same.

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My activities were effective because almost every single student (with few exceptions)

said that they enjoyed this lesson and had a favorite part about it. When it comes to students who

struggled, Matthew (pseudonym) comes to mind. He said that he did not enjoy the lesson

because there was too much writing. Although I know that this student struggles with reading

and writing, it made me think of ways I could modify the lesson for students who struggle with

writing, but still make it engaging and challenging.

Based off of what happened in this lesson, the next step is to build off of the big idea and

continue to teach lessons that deepen the students understanding of what diversity is. My next

lesson that I plan on teaching is to read students a picture book on Martin Luther King Jr.,

discuss what his dream was for the world, and then come up with dreams of our own to put on

our own dream catcher.

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Diversity EGGSample
Tuesday January 31st 9:10-9:40
Standards:
SS.1.A.2.4
Identify people from the past who have shown character ideals and principles
including honesty, courage, and responsibility.
SS.1.A.2.3
Identify celebrations and national holidays as a way of remembering and honoring
the heroism and achievements of the people, events, and our nation's ethnic
heritage.
EQ: In what ways are we similar and different?
Objective: Students will be able to compare similarities and differences of people
using eggs and make the connection that like different colored eggs, we are all the
same on the inside despite how different we may look on the outside.

Time Teacher/ Student

9:10 Call students by table to sit in circle on carpet
9:11 Read aloud EQ on white board and have students read and point to it
together
9:12 Explain that to help us answer the question, we are going to use eggs!
9:13 Show eggs and explain that we are going to compare and contrast the
two eggs
9:14 Inform students that we will be completing chart together to write
down the similarities and differences (display chart on white board)

9:16 Tell the students that you will let them take turns passing the eggs SET
EXPECTATIONS FOR EGGS

While the eggs are being passed around I am also expecting students
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to share their thoughts about the eggs that we can add to our chart
9:25 Once both eggs are back to teacher, call students by table group to sit
quickly and quietly with a pencil ready at their desks to get ready for
the next activity. TURN ON ELMO WHILE CALLING GROUPS
9:28 Show Step 1 paper underneath ELMO and explain that once the
students get their own Step 1 they need to write their name and date
and color what the eggs looked like. Have paper passer hand out this
sheet.
9:34 Once all students are finished, they must silently read to themselves
and I will come around to collect papers
9:35- Teacher will call students by table groups to line up for specials and will
9:36 pick a secret walker
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