Logan_CO#1

J Logan Matthews
CO#1
Sep 2, 2014 (9:00am-9:50am)
Hecht House, RM 313
Debbie's Grammar Foundations

My scheduling for today's observations was in a state of disarray from downloading a previous edit of the google doc. So it was with some unease and on four hours of sleep that I began my observation that morning. When Debbie entered she instructed me to relocate to a hotseat in the front of the class room because I was still trying to find the best vantage point from when I had entered the classroom earlier. I noticed several woman in hijabs or burkhas beginning to sit opposite to me at that table and figured that I would have to move at some point to avoid invoking the ire of Islamic mores which Debbie later defined as "conservative." After that misunderstanding was navigated, Debbie began the class by introducing myself and another observer, Angel, a resident teacher, as the guests. She briefly discussed the period as morning and that she would begin with "review," defined as again-see.

The lesson proper began with the usual prepositional phrases in relation to physical placement. Debbie expressed that she was proud of her students for remembering the prior lesson and provided definition of the expression. After the review the lesson proceeded into using the simple present form of English verbs as well as gendered pronouns for describing daily routines. Much of the lesson's content was able to be elicited from students with individuals comparing the differences between gendered activities. Specific emphasis was placed on when to use the -es versus the e form of the verbs to provide comprehensible pronunciation in situations like brushs->brushes.

This lesson introduced the basic structure of the question and answer format of talking about routine schedules which I would later find provided the framework for the successive series of lessons I attended that day for the foundations group. I later remarked that Debbie must be the "Atlas," who supports the group, since she cannot benefit from pairwork or established material to the extent that the speaking and listening sessions could.