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
Collections to Spark Writing
Clare Landrigan uses collections as a tool to spark writing among first graders during an upcoming vacation. This demonstration small-group lesson includes prebrief and debrief sessions with the children's teacher.
Building Background Knowledge with QR Codes
In this demonstration small group, Tammy Mulligan works with sixth graders to show them how to build background knowledge with QR codes. The video includes prebrief and debrief sessions with...
Assessing Reading in Sixth Grade
Tammy Mulligan confers with sixth grader Jordyn, assessing her reading before summer break. The conference includes a prebrief and debrief with Jordyn's teacher.
Go-To Texts for Demonstration Lessons
As coaches we are always on the lookout for new picture books that we can use during demonstration lessons. These texts must be short enough so we can quickly read...
After the Demonstration: Modeling Healthy, Sustainable Reflection
The older my children get, the more intentional I am about making the most of the smallest snippets of time we have together. Lately, I’ve been thinking about the 10...
Video for Reflection in a Book Club
In this demonstration small group, Tammy Mulligan uses video to help sixth graders self-assess their performance in a book club. The lesson includes a prebrief and debrief with the classroom...
Discussion Before Demonstration Lesson
In this video excerpt from a brief meeting before a demonstration lesson, you'll see the first-grade teacher Erin, who will be leading the lesson, share her concerns. The principal, Jason...
Using Padlet to Support a Boys’ Book Group
In this fifth-grade demonstration lesson, Tammy Mulligan shows a group of boys how their book group can use Padlet to share ideas. The lesson includes a prebrief and debrief with...
Visualizing to Sustain Reading: Second-Grade Small Group
Clare Landrigan leads a small-group demonstration lesson with second graders who are having trouble sustaining their reading. The strategy she teaches is visualizing as a way to help the children...
Meeting Snapshot: “Look Fors” After Demonstration Lesson
Jason DiCarlo leads a group of first-grade teachers sharing their "look-for" notes after a demonstration lesson in a first-grade classroom. The teachers were observing a lesson on differences between fiction...
Meeting Snapshot: Sharing Resources
Jason DiCarlo explains the importance of previewing resources and not just giving them to teachers, as well as linking the text directly to current work. In this video example, Jason...
Meeting Snapshot: Deciding Look-Fors
In this excerpt from a meeting before a first-grade demonstration lesson, Principal Jason DiCarlo and teachers discuss potential "look-fors" during the lesson—what everyone will focus on during observations. The lesson...
Sticking with a Topic
Tammy Mulligan leads a group with Luke and Gabby, two third graders who have trouble focusing on a topic while writing drafts. The demonstration lesson includes a prebrief and debrief...
First-Grade Retelling Demonstration Lesson
Clare Landrigan leads this first-grade demonstration small group on retelling strategies. The demonstration includes prebrief and debrief meetings with the teacher.
Coaching Tool: Voice-Overs
Demonstration lessons and coteaching settings are great contexts for engaging in the “partnership learning” approach to literacy coaching. What happens when the debrief discussion takes place hours after the lesson?...
Meeting Snapshot: Defining the Essential Question
Jason DiCarlo leads a team of first-grade teachers and specialists as they work to define an essential question before a demonstration lesson on the difference between fiction and nonfiction text...
Problems and Solutions: Small-Group Demonstration Lesson
In this demonstration small group, Clare Landrigan works with a second-grade teacher to reflect on the needs of two students and, after the lesson, debriefs with her about the learning....
First-Grade Writing Group: Catchy Endings
Clare Landrigan leads a demonstration small group with first graders who are having trouble writing catchy endings to their opinion pieces. The lesson includes a prebrief and debrief with the...
Meeting Snapshot: Evidence of Learning
In this brief excerpt from a first-grade team planning meeting, Principal Jason DiCarlo asks for evidence of learning from previous work together. The teachers had observed a demonstration lesson on...
First-Grade Small Group: From Decoding to Monitoring for Meaning
Clare Landrigan leads a demonstration small group with Braden and Talis, who are working to move from an emphasis on decoding in first grade to monitoring meaning. The video includes...
Monitor for Meaning in Third Grade
In this demonstration conference, Tammy Mulligan works with third grader Ben to help him monitor meaning. The lesson includes prebrief and debrief sessions with his teacher.
