Lead Lit Topic: Demonstration Lessons
Literacy leaders are more than “bag ladies” (or bag men), toting a set of books and tricks into classrooms to present dazzling lessons. A successful demonstration lesson is as much about collaborative planning, discussion, and debriefing with teachers as it is about what is actually presented in the classroom. Here is where you’ll find tools and strategies for working with teachers to get the most out of demonstration lessons, using them as a catalyst for discussions about assessment, curriculum, and standards.
Results
Coaching and Demonstration Lessons
Literacy coaches Cathy Mere and Kelly Hoenie talk about the value and challenges of demonstration lessons.
Vocabulary Development in Writing
“You guys have a picture of a bunny in the grass. It looks like he’s moving. What is he doing?” The kindergartners looked at the picture for a few more...
Coaching Debrief: Interactive Read Aloud
Jen Court debriefs with second-grade teacher Logan about the interactive read aloud demonstration she just completed in his classroom, as well as how it fits into their instructional plans.
Demonstration Small Group: Nathan Hale and Point of View
Tammy Mulligan leads a demonstration small group for fifth graders using a graphic novel to teach point of view.
Finding Themes in Graphic Novels
Tammy Mulligan leads a demonstration small group on finding themes in graphic novels. The lesson includes a prebrief and debrief with the teacher.
Demonstration Small Group: Emergent Kindergarten Readers
Clare Landrigan leads a demonstration small group of emergent kindergarten readers focused on inferring. They are reading Cookie’s Week. The lesson includes a prebrief and debrief with the teacher.
Field Notes: When a Coach Models in a Classroom
Jennifer Court is a longtime literacy coach at Aboite Elementary, and she is a favorite host for monthly Think Tanks, meetings for instructional coaches from schools across northern Indiana. Jen...
Spacing Words: Kindergarten Small Group
Tammy Mulligan uses another kindergartner’s writing as a mentor text for teaching young children how to use spaces in their writing in this demonstration small group.
Quick and Frequent Demonstration Lesson: Phonemes
Clare Landrigan leads a demonstration lesson with a pair of kindergarten students who struggle with letter-sound connections. She explains why these “quick and frequent” activities are helpful for young learners...
Demonstration Lesson: A First Grader Decodes and Makes Meaning
In this demonstration lesson, Clare Landrigan confers with a first grader by building on his strengths of growing fluency and volume with strategies for decoding.
Coaching Minute: The Perils of Demonstration Lessons
In this brief video, Cathy Mere talks about how classroom visits that include demonstration lessons can build rapport with teachers but can also serve as a trap for literacy coaches....
Observing Colleagues: Leading Successful Classroom Visits
As coaches, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to be in many classrooms and learn from a variety of teachers. Classroom teachers, however, do not always have this luxury....
Classroom Observation Etiquette
As a classroom teacher, I would occasionally have visitors observe in my classroom for the day. Some people host visitors with the greatest of ease, but I had to work...
Peer Observations with a Purpose
“Please clean up the playroom,” I reminded my daughters before dinner. “Done!” they yelled three minutes later as they skipped through the living room. I peeked around the corner and...
Demonstration Lesson: Quotes in Writing
Tammy Mulligan leads a demonstration small group with fifth-grade girls on using quotes in their writing. The session includes a prebrief and debrief with the girls' teacher.
First-Grade Demonstration Small Group: Reading Engagement
Clare Landrigan leads a demonstration small group with first-grade readers who struggle with engagement and stamina. The lesson includes a prebrief and debrief with their teacher.
Story Play with The Grouchy Ladybug
In this demonstration small group, Clare Landrigan leads kindergartners in a story play session featuring The Grouchy Ladybug. The lesson includes a prebrief and debrief with the classroom teacher.
Planning for a Third-Grade Demonstration Group on Citing Evidence
Kathy Provost works with a third-grade teacher to plan a demonstration small group on citing evidence. They begin with observations from the previous day’s instruction to determine the group’s needs....
Third-Grade Demonstration Group on Citing Evidence
Kathy Provost works with a third-grade teacher to lead a demonstration small group on citing evidence. This is the second video in a three-part series.
Debrief of Third-Grade Demonstration Group on Citing Evidence
Kathy Provost and a third-grade teacher debrief after a demonstration small group on citing evidence. This is the third video in a three-part series.
Nonfiction Notes: Demonstration Small Group
Tammy Mulligan leads a demonstration small group with fourth graders focused on nonfiction note taking. The lesson includes prebrief and debrief sessions with the classroom teacher.
