Lesson #2 Evaluation

My lesson aimed to teach how to multiply fractions by a single digit whole number in a 4th grade, math lesson. My lesson activity involves pretending the classroom is now a bakery, and the students are bakers. Depending on their skill level assessed by you while you were teaching the lesson, students are split into three differentiated groups: decorator, cupcake baker, cake baker. Decorator being the low end for skill level, cupcake baker being on-level, and cake baker being a high-level learner. Each group will get a worksheet with fraction times a single digit whole number problems to complete together. They are able to use an interactive fraction bar tool to compare fractions and help them work through the problems. This tool can be displayed on the board for the teacher to use with the whole class or specific group, and on individual Chromebooks/tablets if available. This is such a great tool to include because it is very intuitive to use, allowing for individual use of it. It helps the student visualize the size of fractions and then to drag the visualization next to another fraction helps the student compare for value.  

Some limitations of this lesson are sight, sound, and time restrictions. If students have limited sight that is a problem because of how small the numbers on the blocks are in the interactive technology tool. There is also no sound options in the interactive tool. Also, the time given is the time of the class period, so if the student needs more time it would have to be at home or during another part of the day. 

I found three great resources to help these limitations: 

• Vision Assist
• Beeline Reader
• Voice Dream Reader

Playing around with these tools, I can see how they perfectly cater to the problems that appear in my lesson naturally. Vision Assist is all about catering to vision disabilities. Allows for the problem of small numbers to be solved in a fast and simple manner. Then there is Beeline Reader which is such a useful tool for anyone whose eyes go cross-eyed after reading off a screen for so long. It also makes an easier format to read if audio is not an option for the student. Lastly, there is Voice Dream Reader which is for students that have more trouble with sight than hearing. By automatically reading what is on a document and transferring it into an audio file allows for the student to have more time actually working on the problems, and not trying to translate, taking work time away.