Group 2 Takes Over!

          Today we observed a direct instruction lesson.  It was great because Susan, Maureen, and Kristen built upon what the students learned last week from our fellow peers and transitioned nicely into the new topic of "The First People to Come to America."  All three teachers were enthusiastic about the topic and it definitely made the students interested in their lesson!  They showed a great video about how Plymouth Rock was named that was geared perfectly to second graders.  They were all laughing along with it!  My favorite part about this lesson was one of the ways the teachers checked for understanding.  They asked some true/false questions and told students to put their hands on their heads if the statement was true and to put their fingers on their noses if it was false.  This kept the students active and engaged them in the lesson really well.  It made direct instruction much more interesting for the students. 
         The teachers today surely followed the direct instruction guidelines.  They provided an introduction, development, guided and independent practice, and some closure.  While more time could have been spent on closure, the students surely grasped the information from the lesson by the time class was over!