This assignment was time consuming but also something I really enjoyed. It helped me to visualize everything that would be happening in my classroom: what would be projected, what would be discussed, where would I be standing at certain times, how would students interact and participate. It helped grow my excitement at the thought of having my own classroom. I learned that I need to have back up plans and ways to help exceptional students succeed as well as general education students. I need to be ready to make adjustments in the moment and be ready for whatever might come up, whether that be discussion topics, less time than I thought I might have due to interruptions (fire drill, more questions than anticipated through discussion), or students that need to learn in a different environment or setting. Building this lesson plan has helped me appreciate what good teachers do "behind the scenes" and the time they put forth in their lessons. It's also helped me realize how important it is to plan and be prepared to teach, be prepared to be in front of a class and manage a classroom. Not until I wrote this lesson, did I realize that there's more to a plan than instruction. I'll need to be able to manage a classroom while also keeping students engaged and focused. I'll need to be able to make the most of the time I have with my students so they get the education they need and deserve.
