RST 2 Reflection #1

For my first lesson plan I taught turn around facts, which is 4+6=10 and 6+4 also equals
10. For my anticipatory set I put gold fish on the document camera, 7 purple goldfish and 13
yellow goldfish. I asked the students how many of each color there were and how many total
goldfish there were. I switched them around and mixed the colors and asked how my there were
to see if they understood that no matter what order they were put in, the total does not change.
For the instructional modeling I wrote problems on the document camera and had the students
come up with their own turn around facts while we discussed why they could be switched
without changing the outcome of the problem and they wrote the equations in their journals. For
guided practice I used red and blue linking cubes to show them one example on the document
camera and then they made their own and wrote it in their journal, they flipped the red and blue
cubes around to understand that the equation can be put in any order without changing the
outcome of the problem. For check for understanding I called on certain students to come to the
front and hold a paper with a number, plus sign or equal sign on it and I had them stand in an
equation, then once the class read the equation out loud I switched them around and asked if
the equation was still true. I gave the students a worksheet for independent work and they had
to either make their own turn around facts or find the missing number then flip the equation. For
the closure I gave each one of the students a notecard where they were expected to write their
own turn around fact and tell why the numbers in an addition problem can be switched without
changing the outcome of the problem or how knowing turn around facts can help when they are
stuck on an addition problem.
The best part of my lesson plan was my anticipatory set. The reason I feel that this was
the best part is because the students really understood what the entire lesson was about. I
showed them the purple plus the yellow equals 20, I showed them the yellow plus the purple
equals 20 and finally I showed them that even when mixed all together it will still equal 20. The
students really participated in this part of my lesson. The worst part of my lesson was the
guided practice because the students were using linking cubes which caused them to get rowdy
and play with the cubes instead of using them for math. I had to tell the students multiple times
to get back on task and to stop playing with the cubes, which distracted from the learning.
Next time I will prepare better for how distracted the students got from the linking cubes.
I will make sure that I am prepared to get the students back on task and better communicate
that the linking cubes are not for playing. I did not communicate with them from the beginning to
keep the blocks on the desk and not to build anything other than their turn around facts. It was
a lot harder to get them to stop playing with the cubes because I did not tell them from the
beginning. Next time I will better communicate the directions and my expectations.
The students responded very well to my lesson, they sat quietly and answered the
questions I asked. They understood the topic I was teaching very quickly and I did not have to
reteach. I felt frustrated when the students would not listen to me telling them to stop playing the
linking cubes. I felt that the students would not get back on task and this way frustrating. The
lesson was appropriate for all of the students because I let them decide some of their own
equations which made it possible for them to choose numbers they are comfortable with. I also
made sure that the worksheets fit the needs of the different students. For the lower learners

their worksheet has smaller numbers, the middle group had higher numbers and the high group
made their own equations. I would change the worksheets a little bit to make sure the students
better understand what they were supposed to do.
If I had to give myself a grade I would give myself a 95 because I felt that I executed my
lesson very well. I have a few things to work on, as in better telling the directions and asking
more questions. But overall the students understood what I was teaching and I was prepared
with all of my materials on the day and time I had to teach. I have a few things to work on but I
am excited to learn better techniques throughout the year.