Michelle CO #2

I observed Mr. Flemming substitute for Ms. Coleman's Reading class for level 2A students. He began the class by giving the students a reading assessment. They read a passage silently, and answered questions independently. He explained it was to help determine their level and needs. After a few minutes he noticed some were using smart phones. He made an announcement not to use them on this assignment. I noted this because I can see how valuable the phones are, and that students must rely on them quite a bit. When the assessment was over, he introduced the activity, which was to begin the novel they would be reading (Rainman). First, he referred to the movie version and they discussed what they knew about the movie. Next, he played the first 10 minutes of the movie (with English subtitles) and discussed the characters, plot, and action so far. He gave the students each a copy of the book and he read aloud while they followed along. When he finished reading for the session, he asked if anyone had questions about the book, specifically vocabulary they did not know. He answered the questions, allowing input from the other students, and he showed images on the smart board to help explain their definitions. The class environment was casual and supportive, and the students eagerly participated in the discussions.