Instructor: Dr. Hilda Freimuth
Date: May 17, 2021
Course: Grammar
Lesson: Adjective Clauses
This first lesson I observed was an incredibly helpful and interesting process to watch. This lesson was focused on adjective clauses. The instructor began the class by directing students to fill out their homework in the shared notes in order to verify they did their work and also for attendance to ensure everyone has arrived. The instructor met the students with pleasant enthusiasm, encouragement, and assistance in completing their homework tasks. Once the homework from last week was completed, the daily lesson was introduced as adjective clauses. A variety of activities were completed to ensure interactivity with the students and they even played the game Taboo. This game was altered to include the topic of adjective clauses which I thought was creative and fun. The students at first were hesitant but after the instructor modeled and eased them into the objective they were all able to succeed. Up to this point, the instructor encouraged questions and feedback by being receptive and aware of her online “surroundings”. There was genuine encouragement from the instructor to the students and you could sense the effect of this via their high participation. I, along with the other student teachers thought this lesson was successful. We admired the student participation and were surprised the students could answer the questions. Shortly thereafter, the instructor advised that she was not fully content with the lesson. Her objective was to have this lesson as a review of previous courses. She believed the students were already comfortable with adjective clauses and this would be a refresher. She was surprised to hear student feedback advising she was proceeding too quickly and surprised at certain incorrect answers from students. She was planning on moving on to another topic for the following week but after reflecting decided she would have to do another class discussing adjective clauses. This taught me a few things. First, even when classes seem to be participative and engaged, does not always mean the objective was fulfilled. Second, it taught me to be perceptive of feedback and incorrect answers. And third, it taught me to remember to be adaptive and not be deadset on my plan for the lesson or entire course and that not everything will be achieved to the level I may expect.