Clinical Observations #6

This week ended my observations at MPHS. I finished up on Tuesday. I taught my lesson that I planned. I finished up all my Case Study stuff. And...I returned all the things that I had borrowed from the teacher.

On Monday, the students worked on using Context Clues to define new words in Grammar. Honestly, it did not go over really well. Most of the students ended up getting a dictionary and just looking the words up. They could not discover the meanings from the Context Clues.

Also on Monday, the students picked groups (except for one class had assigned groups) and began working on characters, setting, and plot diagrams for the play they are writing later. Mrs. J explained the requirements for the play very well. The students began working without many problems.

The play requirements are:
1. At least 5-10 minutes long
2. At least one SPEAKING part per group member
3. Minimum of 2 Acts
4. Decide on setting (define clearly)
5. Minimum of 15 stage directions
6. Plot diagram for brainstorming (must be turned in with final project)
7. Written script (copy to teacher for performance day)
8. MUST perform for class
9. Keep it PG-13 (no R rated plays)

The students really seemed to like the idea. Some of them began coming up with great things!

On Tuesday, my last day, I taught all three classes. I used the lesson plan I had developed. It really went better than I expected. I really thought I might pass out considering I was going to have to deal with some terrible discipline issues during the lesson. All 3 classes have students who spend more time in ISS/OSS than they spend in class. (It's really sad, but that's probably why they are failing English and have to be in the High School Success class!)

I had a list of 10 journal topics, and I asked the teacher to pick the one she thought would work the best. The journal prompt was, "Imagine yourself in 10 years. Where are you? What are you doing? Who of you current friends is still around?" Some of the students wrote over a page about it. Some only made a list of 4-5 items and I had to "convince" them to write actual sentences.

The lesson itself was really fun. I used an excerpt of "Pygmalion" (George Bernard Shaw) that they had already read and discussed and I showed them the clip from "My Fair Lady" that matched it. We re-read the excerpt first. We discussed how using words/grammar can make a picture in the reader's mind. Then we watched the clip. I asked them questions about the differences. It was one of the Strategies from Image Grammar.

The last 30 minutes of class (of course, as always) was study hall. The students worked on their plays in groups again. In 1st period, I finished up my work with my case study participant. She did improve her fluency some just by doing a couple of strategies that I gave her. However, I was a little disappointed that she did not finish the vocabulary strategy I offered.

So now, I have to write up my Clinical Action Research Project, my Case Study, my final Observation Reflection, and finish my Unit Plan.

This semester at MPHS has been very interesting to say the least.