Social Studies Lesson Reflection
My social studies lesson was the first lesson I taught during my IMB clinical experience. It sort of broke the ice for all of the rest of my lessons I taught during the two weeks. Looking back, I am really glad I picked this lesson to be my first, because since it went so well, it put me at ease to teach the rest of my lessons.
My students responded excellently to my lesson. Their social studies lessons are often squeezed into other subjects and just reading the textbook and answering the questions at the end. I wanted my students to write for understanding, so I gave them the assignment to write letters home telling about the end of the Civil War from the point of view of a Union soldier, Confederate soldier, or a slave. I had several students tell me during the assignment that they thought this was really cool and that they thought it was fun. I think they ultimately learned the material, because as they read their letters out loud, they shared why the war ended, who seceded to whom, and what their thoughts on the end of the war were. For example, students who wrote from a slave’s point of view shared how happy they were because they would soon be freedmen and women. They understood what the end of the war meant for America.
I think I delivered the instruction very well. I put a lot of emphasis on the vocabulary in the book, because that is what is so important to teach the students. I asked open-ended questions to encourage discussion. Also, I was able to involve all of my students. I think looking back, I would have given an in depth summary after the reading, because I noticed that I had to go back and clarify which side won and when the war ended several times. I would also have given my students an example of a letter so they could remember the basic set up. I wouldn’t change the assignment, though, because it was a hit. The students loved it and had fun with it. I believe the students were a little confused with point of view. I had to explain a few times that it meant to write how that person would think. They understood the idea of the letter, but I think if I had given them an example, they might have understood better.
Overall, it was a very successful lesson, and I would definitely teach it again. I think it is important to make social studies interesting and fun for students, and I did just that. I was very proud of myself when the students told me how much they enjoyed the activity.
My students responded excellently to my lesson. Their social studies lessons are often squeezed into other subjects and just reading the textbook and answering the questions at the end. I wanted my students to write for understanding, so I gave them the assignment to write letters home telling about the end of the Civil War from the point of view of a Union soldier, Confederate soldier, or a slave. I had several students tell me during the assignment that they thought this was really cool and that they thought it was fun. I think they ultimately learned the material, because as they read their letters out loud, they shared why the war ended, who seceded to whom, and what their thoughts on the end of the war were. For example, students who wrote from a slave’s point of view shared how happy they were because they would soon be freedmen and women. They understood what the end of the war meant for America.
I think I delivered the instruction very well. I put a lot of emphasis on the vocabulary in the book, because that is what is so important to teach the students. I asked open-ended questions to encourage discussion. Also, I was able to involve all of my students. I think looking back, I would have given an in depth summary after the reading, because I noticed that I had to go back and clarify which side won and when the war ended several times. I would also have given my students an example of a letter so they could remember the basic set up. I wouldn’t change the assignment, though, because it was a hit. The students loved it and had fun with it. I believe the students were a little confused with point of view. I had to explain a few times that it meant to write how that person would think. They understood the idea of the letter, but I think if I had given them an example, they might have understood better.
Overall, it was a very successful lesson, and I would definitely teach it again. I think it is important to make social studies interesting and fun for students, and I did just that. I was very proud of myself when the students told me how much they enjoyed the activity.