A Mini Lesson

Adding Colourful Adjectives To Paragraph

In this session, I was able to conduct a mini lesson on adding adjectives to a written piece. Although I was nervous at first, it came out to be just what I expected. I did learn a lot. I hope to use the ideas presented in my future language classroom.

Background Knowledge: Students should be able to describe objects.

Grade: 4

Purpose: Students will develop the skill to add adjectives to their descriptive piece.

Resources: Mentor text, concept sort, student's draft.

Introduction/Connection: Description help the reader to paint a mental picture of a story. Therefore, effective writers make their story imaginative, captivating and vivid. When a writer describes a fruit, every aspect of the fruit is described (how it tastes, smells, etc). So, I noticed that your drafts lacked sensory details, which did not make your writing interesting. You will add more sensory details to your piece.

Teaching Point: Students will read drafted story. The description will be highlighted. Students will recognize that the words used paint a very small picture. In order for the story to be more vivid, colourful language should be used. In this lesson, students will be able to add more colourful language to their piece.

Teaching Component:

Step 1: Teacher will read mentor text. Teacher will probe students:

Based on both pieces (mentor text and student draft), which do you think is more descriptive?

Can you compare specific examples in both, which are of a similar nature?

Step 2: Teacher briefly introduces concept sort. It is used as a strategy for vocabulary comprehension. Students are given a list of words form text. Teacher reads words aloud and places them into appropriate categories, from the list.

Step 3: Students will place remainder of words, in small groups, using their own mini concept sort. Students will provide answers. Teacher will confirm.

Step 4: Students will add the descriptive words to the drafted piece used by the teacher. They will put them in sentences, where necessary.

Step 5: Students will review topic. They will say what they have learnt and explain main points of the lesson. Teacher will tell students of the topic for next class.

 Closure: Students will review topic. They will say what they have learnt and explain main points of the lesson. Teacher will tell students of the topic for next class.

In essence, my lecturer outlined my strengths and weaknesses. She liked the concept sort which I used. She also liked that I was able to use modeling, guided and independent practice with students. However, I was not supposed to come with the pieces already on the board so students can see. This serves as a distraction for them. They would read instead of listening to the teacher. It is best to put any details after lesson has been introduced.

I enjoyed this lesson done. I will definitely use it in my future class when students lack description. I will remind them that effective writers want to keep readers interested. I hope to conduct and learn from other mini lessons from my class session.

Example of a Concept Sort

Quote: " To the world, you may be just a teacher. But to your students, you are a HERO."