Week 4:

Assignment 1: ELA Reading & Writing Lessons Response

To complete Stage 1 of Backward design, I first had to establish my long-term goals. By looking through the state standards and doing some research on the content, I got a very clear picture of what my goals for the unit should be. I have to understand what the standard’s expectations are before I can create lessons that will guide my students to mastering the goals. By setting goals before choosing instructional methods and forms of assessment, I was kind of thinking backward by identifying the results desired before looking for strategies.

As a result of using Backward Design, I found myself thinking about which questions if answered correctly, will prove to me that my students achieved the desired results. At the end of the unit, I want to know that if my students can answer the questions that I came up with in Stage 1 they have mastered the unit aligned with the state standards. If they come away with the understandings and the ability to do everything that I wrote up in Stage 1, then I will be sure that they have accomplished the goals. When I will create my lessons I’ll base it on my Stage 1 chart to ensure that my lessons are organized and relevant.

I also asked myself if the desired result, which is the understanding the students will gain at the end of this unit, will be beneficial for them in their future. Is this unit teaching relevant material? Are they acquiring skills needed in adulthood? Will these skills help them in college or at work? Am I giving my students skills that they can each apply and translate towards their own lives? When I was able to answer yes to all these questions, I knew that this unit is important and will help my students in real life.

Assignment 2: Design in Action 

Here is the URL to view my presentation on Stage 2, http://www.screencast.com/t/J4nl8NOmQ.