Review of Curriculum Unit from 428

The first comment that I decided to disect was that I needed to work on dropping alot of the lectures that I planned to give and introduce more activities and handouts. I have realized during my student teaching that I definitely relied too heavily upon my lecture skills when planning lessons or unit plans coming through the program. I also have realized that some lecture is absolutely necessary to explain events and their importance on history and the historical cycles that the world goes through. I also understand now that some lecture is necessary to meet all of the requirements for the state standards. I tried a long lecture in my student teaching once this semester and althought it went over well, I noticed that some of my students became detached from the material that I was presenting and upon the next test they were unable to understand why they could not remember the information although they knew it had been presented to them. I learned quickly that 15-20 minute lectures are fine as long as you have an activity to solidify the information that was presented to them.
The second comment that I decided I wanted to respond to was that I needed to be more clear in my preparation and instructions for my lessons. In my student teaching I have had a few instances where I inadmissably got confused myself about my own instructions and also got my students confused about the instructions. I have always had a problem taking my ideas and putting them down on paper so that others besides myself can understand them. The solution that I have come up with is having my cooperating teacher and other teachers within the school I am working in to view my work and see how it strikes them. If they can understand it easily I know that my students will be able too. If they have an issue with the directions then I know I must rewrite my instuctions and give it another try. I have also begun to explicitly explain my instructions before each assignment no matter whether or not the students have read the instructions. I tell them to listen to me explain the written directions and if they have any questions to ask me directly at that time. This process seems to work very well and I believe that I have come to solve this solution in my student teaching.
The third and final comment that I decided to discuss here is that I need to use more technology in my lessons. First off I would like to state that I do use technology in my classroom, alot more than I use too. Secondly I hope that I am improving in my use of technology in my classroom and in my application of technology in my classroom. I have begun to use more powerpoint, photostory, and webquest than I use too. I have begun to incorporate these technologies into assignments, activities, and projects that I assign to my students. I think that it is prudent that I get better at using technology in my classroom simply for the advancement of my students for when they reach college or any other higher education level and need to rely on these skills to help them succeed. I do not believe that the teacher can be replaced in the classroom or the teacher's knowledge but as a teacher it is my responsibility to morph and change as an instructor and to alter my lesson plans and technology to best benefit my students and their future.