UPAGES_Abrahamsen

**1.**“Coming of Age/Loss of Innocence” []
“Identity: How we see ourselves and others” []  “What It means to Be Human” []

=

 * 2.** I came to decide on these three unit plans because all of them include a topic that I believe many young adults will be interested in-personal identity as well as morality. Even though all three may touch on a similar idea they are all very different unit plans in the sense that each one approaches instruction in a different way.======

=

 * 3.** The unit plan that I like the best is “What It Means to be Human”. I really like all of the different elements that the teacher includes in his lesson plans. He diversifies his assessments by having students complete a project by creating a tombstone (based off //Frankenstein//) and another was an essay on how student’s define “what it means to be human”. Jones also includes a video into his unit plan that is a futuristic version of Shakespeare’s //The Tempest//. Through including a variety of assessments and teaching methods, this unit plan will reach the diverse learning styles of the students. I believe that including diversity within a unit plan is what keeps the students engaged and learning.======

=

 * 4**. One thing that I would add to the unit plan “Identity: How we see ourselves and others” would be to include rubrics. Even though this unit plan has worksheets it definitely would be stronger if rubrics were included. This way, students will know exactly what is required of them, especially when they are assigned projects. Not only will rubrics help the students but they would also allow administration (or whoever you’re proposing the unit plan to) understand exactly what you are expecting from the students.======

=

 * 5.** Structurally, all three unit plans include things such as a rationale, goals, daily lesson plans with activities, materials, cover page with title, and references. They are similar but also different. “Coming of Age/Loss of Innocence” and “What It Means to be Human” have rubrics included as the other does not. “What It Means...” also has a table of contents. Since the unit “Coming of...” uses a graphic novel, the educator includes a list of commonly used concepts for graphic novels. This way, students who aren’t used to this genre will be familiar with it before diving into the reading. “What It Means...” and “Identity...” both have additional websites to use for sources as “Coming of...” does not.======

=

 * 6.** I think that these similarities are existent in many unit plans because the structure works and it is easily understandable. I believe that unit plans differ because educators have different perspectives on things and may believe that some aspects are more important to include than another. Just like students have different learning styles, educators have different teaching styles.======

a. Organization

 * ======Is the unit plan neatly organized with a cover page, table of contents, page numbers, etc.======

b. Diversity

 * ======Did the educator include a variety of teaching methods and accommodations for students if needed?======

c. Coherence

 * ======Does the unit plan have smooth transitions and is it easy to follow/understand?======

d. Assessments/Activities

 * ======Do the assessments and activities have variety to cater to the diverse learning styles of the students?======

=

 * 8.** These three unit plans imply that the curriculum of English language arts needs to be diversified and engaging for students. The unit plans pinpoint a topic that will interest students as well as make ELA relevant to them. The different activities and approaches to teaching that the educators have made demonstrate that variety is a good instructional practice in ELA. Going outside the boundaries of research papers will interest students as well as fulfill their knowledge. Even though each unit plan includes projects outside of writing, they also include an essay which puts emphasis on the importance of writing in ELA.======

=

 * 9.** I have noticed that these educators are focused on engaging the student’s. All three mentioned that the topics they are addressing within the unit is something that the students are coming to face in their life.======

=

 * 10.** I agree with the attitude that teachers should make their lessons student centered because by doing so students will become engaged in the lessons and more likely to walk away with having learned something. When educators incorporate relevance with any subject, students are more likely to become engaged and learn. I also think it is important to diversify teaching strategies because learning comprehensions differ.======