Final Argument Paper
Running Head: Evaluating Effective Lessons 1
EVALUATING EFFECTIVE LESSONS
Annette Williams
ECE642: Quality Curriculum in Early Childhood Education
Instructor Wynn
October 14, 2019
Evaluating Effective Lessons 2
Evaluating Effective Lessons
Step 1: Making Playdough: Mix, Measure and Describe
Content Area or Developmental Focus: Math and Language
Age/Grade of Children: Pre-K
Length of Lesson: 5 minutes
Goal Guide the children through language
development, learn various English and
Spanish words
Objective To achieve language development in the
children
Help them learn math by showing them
measurements of various ingredients
Enhance fine motor skills
Standards Included Not observed
Materials 1 cup of salt
1 cup of flour
2 cups of water
2 tablespoon oil
Food coloring
Introduction The teacher goes over the several ingredients
of making playdough.
Lesson Development The teacher asks the students open-ended
questions to know more about their language
development and expands vocabulary. For
instance, they learn the name of the yellow
color in both English and Spanish
Differentiation Children engage in a discussion with the
teacher on the making of the playdough
Assessment (Practice/ Checking for
Understanding
The teacher asks students to mix the dough
with their hands to practice hand coordination
and fine motor skills.
Closing The teacher gives students various tools to
help them demonstrate their creativity
Evaluating Effective Lessons 3
Step 2
THIS PLAN IS DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE 4 POINTS
___x_____ My plan is appropriate for the age and experiences of the children I will be teaching.
_______ This activity idea is suitable for the children in my class based on at least one of these
criteria:
• The head teacher/ instructor has approved my idea.
• My idea builds on the children’s interests and was suggested by things the
children have said or done.
• My idea relates to the early learning standards and/ or the content standards for
my state or school.
____x____ The materials and teaching strategies are sensitive to the language, culture, and
experiences.
of all or some of the children and families in the class.
____x____ The objectives are arranged in a logical order using the concept of developmental
direction.
THIS PLAN IS COMPLETE 4 POINTS
___x_____ All parts of an effective activity plan are represented in my plan.
____x____ All materials needed in the activity is specified (including any materials needed for
set- up, such as covering a table with paper, or clean- up, such as sponges and water).
____x____ The procedure includes examples of appropriate teaching strategies for the activity
type, including scripts such as those associated with behavior reflections, open-ended questions,
challenges, or do- it signals.
___x_____ The evaluation section of the plan includes questions related to the children’s
experience in the activity as well as at least one question related to self- evaluation, and
reflection.
THIS PLAN IS RELEVANT 3 POINTS
____x____ The plan uses hands-on materials that are of high interest to the children (they are
meaningful and worthy of the children’s attention).
___x_____ The teaching strategies outlined in the plan support the goal.
____x____ The strategy for assessing the learning of the children is appropriate for the activity
and the children’s development (checklist, work sample, child observations, etc.).
THIS PLAN IS ACCURATE 9 POINTS
Evaluating Effective Lessons 4
____x____ The planned activity clearly supports the goal.
___x_____ There is an obvious link between the goal and the objectives.
____x____ The objectives specify what the children will do about the content.
____x____ Each of the objectives is addressed within the procedure.
____x____ The procedure specifies what the teacher will do and say.
____x____ The specified content is accurate (I have looked up or verified the information).
___x_____ The content is reflected in the procedures section of the plan with the terms and facts
made clear.
___x____ The simplifications and the extensions are related to the goal and remain within the
chosen develop-mental domain.
____x____ The evaluation of the child component of the plan assesses the degree to which
children are successful in addressing the goal and the objectives.
TOTAL POINTS = __19______ Out of 20
Self- Check Scoring Key - Circle the level your plan falls in
18– 20 Ready to Submit/ Try Out with Children
13– 17 Getting Close
8– 12 Try Again
1– 7 Reread Chapter 3, Consult with Others to Clarify Misunderstandings
Evaluating Effective Lessons 5
These steps included gathering information, identification of goals and setting the activity up
(Graham, C., Cagiltay, K., Lim, B. R., Craner, J., & Duffy, 2015). The early childhood educator
organized instructions and implemented them with the students. She also evaluated it. Her goals
were expanding vocabulary and language development, knowledge in math and they're fine
motor skills. The planning contributed to the success of the activity in that it gave the caregiver
the required resources to work with the children such as the ingredients of making playdough.
The lesson was developmentally appropriate in that the children were learning on the same
level, and it was able to teach them about relevant things according to their age such as language
development, math and an evaluation of their fine motor skills. Lessons address the specific
problems of the students (Chen, W., Hendricks, K., & Archibald, 2011). The lesson plan was
aligned with the objective because it enabled the children to enhance their language
development. It also helped them learn math by measuring various ingredients of making the
playdough. Language development was enhanced by asking the students open-ended questions
about the names of the ingredients.
The score of the video was 19 because the teacher was able to attain her goals using the
intentional plan. Effective tools such as measuring equipment were used to teach the students on
math, and the questions asked expanded the vocabulary of the children. By completing this
activity, I will be able to ask leaders to develop plans which align with their objectives. I will
also be able to analyze plans to determine whether they are effective in achieving the goals of the
leaders.
Evaluating Effective Lessons 6
REFERENCES
Chen, W., Hendricks, K., & Archibald, K. (2011). Assessing pre-service teachers' quality
teaching practices. Educational Research and Evaluation, 17(1), 13-32.
Graham, C., Cagiltay, K., Lim, B. R., Craner, J., & Duffy, T. M. (2015). Seven principles of
effective teaching: A practical lens for evaluating online courses. The technology source, 30(5),
50.
Kostelnik, M. J., Soderman, A. K., Whiren, A. P., & Rupiper, M. L. (2015). Developmentally
appropriate curriculum: Best practices in early childhood education (6th ed.). Retrieved
from https://content.ashford.edu