This week, I had the opportunity to take a different approach to the "Problem of the Week."  Connie and I, worked together to provide our classmates with a problem in Free Discovery.
 Free Discovery is a process a child goes through when given a problem, but no instructions on how or what to do with that problem.  For example, we gave our classmates 6 bags of materials, one per group.  Each bag was similar in some ways, but differed slightly.  We explained to the groups to work with their materials and see what they could do with them.  We provided no instruction and no help.  We expected each group to explain to us what they observed about their materials, based on what they discovered on their own!
 As far as our presentation, I feel it went well.  I think Connie and I worked nicely together, and I like the fact we took a different approach to teaching our lesson.  I feel our classmates benefitted more from actually witnessing first hand how a child processes discovery, rather than struggling for the correct answer to an assigned problem.
 Personally, I view my role in teaching this lesson was performed fairly well.  I spoke loudly and clearly when introducing our lesson.  I also feel I introduced the lesson in such a way the students could understand, and I was surprised nobody asked for specific instructions, like I thought they would!
 I also liked the way I encouraged one group, who was starting to give up.  I did not tell them the answer, but I told them they were on the right track.  This led the group to continue to think about their materials, and based on discoveries other groups had made, they were able to draw conclusions on why their materials did not work, and why their materials differed.
 As for things I would do differently about teaching the lesson, I did notice a few.  After viewing the video, I noticed that I made little eye contact when introducing the lesson.  I relied on reading my cards too much, and when I did look up, I noticed I had no enthusiastic facial expressions.  I am not sure why this happened, I am not usually like this.  All I can think of is that I was slightly intimidated by my peers, but I am not sure.
 Another thing I noticed I needed to improve was walking around the room.  When I was walking I merely observed, asking only a few questions.  If I were to do this again, I would walk around each group and ask what they had noticed thus far, how they discovered what they had discovered, and if there was anything else they could do with their materials.  I would not give them instruction, just reinforce their motivation to continue discovering.
 The final thing I think I could have improved was the way I ended the lesson.  I know it is difficult to teach with another person, even if you plan out what to say you both end up saying things as they come to you.  I feel this happened with the conclusion, and I was left just ending it sort of choppy.  When we planned out our lesson, the conclusion sounded better.  I think, I fi were to do this again, I would ask more questions at the end.  I would reinforce and possibly question what each group had discovered.  I also think the fact we only had limited time may have put a little added pressure on me, and perhaps that si why I just ended the lesson like I did.
 All in all, I feel our lesson was a success.  I wish I had asked more questions about how they used the discovery process, and how they could relate that to the way children discover, but I know that for next time.  I feel, we had a strong lesson and the students benefitted from it greatly, as did we!