Rylee Slesk

11/12/2014
Math Video Analysis

As I watch myself teach, it can be both frightening and relieving. It is frightening

to see all of the silly things I did, or to realize the things I wish I had done. It is relieving,
because lets face it, at least I didnt trip, or faint. As I replayed my math lesson, the
biggest thing I noticed, or was saddened to realize I had done, was the fact that I talked so
much. It is hard, because I feel like towards the middle-end of my lesson, I gave students
the opportunity to do centers; they worked together, and with me. But, at the beginning
of my lesson there was not much opportunity for them to discuss, or speak about what
they were learning. Sometimes, I feel like I get so nervous when my supervisor is there,
and I feel like he/she is mainly judging my classroom management. I become so focused
on everyone sitting perfectly and quietly, so my classroom management is portrayed. As
I watch my lesson, I realize that may not be as important as I have always thought it was.
Students need the opportunity to discuss what they are learning. I should not get so
carried away with them being quiet while Im teaching, and allow them to share their
thoughts more freely. For instance, there is a student who was sitting in the front for my
lesson. He has ADHD and has to be constantly doing something. I noticed throughout
my lesson, he had his hand raised a lot, and I ignored him most times. I did not want to
call on him, because I was nervous to see what he had to say, because I knew it most
likely did not have to do with our lesson. Watching my lesson, I feel bad that I ignored
him as much as I did, and wish I had given him more of an opportunity to speak. I feel
like I have certain parts in my lesson plan that I have assigned for students to discuss, or

answer questions, that when they want to share at other times, I dont welcome it.
Learning should not be this way, I want to improve on letting me students discuss and
internalize what they are learning.
Also, as I watched my video, I realized more than I did when I was teaching, that
students were becoming quite restless. I need to provide more opportunities for my
students to get out of their seats and move, rather than just during center time. I also
noticed that when I would read the objective and vocabulary words, that my back was
faced to the students. I need to become more familiarized with those words and
objectives, so I can turn towards my students. One student sitting in the back, was very
restless, and was almost falling out of his seat multiple times. I did not notice this when I
was teaching; that is something I noticed from watching my video, and need to be more
aware of. Overall, watching this video helped me realize weaknesses that I can improve
throughout my lessons.
As I watched my lesson, I realized the benefit of having my students act out
underlining what they know and circling what they need to know. This helped students
become engaged in their learning, and was an interactive way for them to practice a
strategy. This was strength in my lesson. Also, the video stopped recording after I gave
students directions for center time. Because of this, centers and my review/closure were
not filmed. Throughout the video I noticed I improved on calling on different students.
In a previous lesson I had called on many of the same students throughout the lesson, so
that was a goal I had for this lesson; to call on a diverse amount of students. I also
noticed I continuously tried to reinforce good behavior. That was a strength I felt like I
had throughout my lesson.

Overall, after watching my math lesson, I feel like my lesson went well. I do
want to strive to engage students more throughout the whole lesson. Centers helped
engage students, and were differentiated, but this section of my lesson was not filmed. I
want to be more aware of my students, and not be so strict about them sitting so still and
quiet. They need to get up, and discuss more throughout my lesson, not just in certain
pre-chosen sections of my lesson plan. Overall, I have learned weaknesses such as
engagement and awareness that I can improve on in my next lessons.