My ASSURE Method for teaching the months of the year to a first grade class.

1. Haley Swiger September 2, 2015
ASSURE Method
Teaching the months of the year to a 1st
grade class.
A - Analyze Learners
Teaching the months of the year to a 1st
grade class, Special Education, 10 boys, 7
girls, 70% white, 20% African-American, & 10% Latino. Seven students in the class
have mild to severe ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
S - State Objectives
My 1st
grade classroom will demonstrate the 12 months of the year to me and be able to
point out the months by looking at a yearly calendar by the end of the week with 80%
accuracy after showing them a calendar and having them sing a song, playing “Pin the
Month on the Calendar,” working with an interactive computer game, and making their
own calendars.
S - Select Methods, Media, & Materials
Methods
I will teach the months of the year to my students by having them sing a song (for audio
learners) while sitting on the rug in the classroom, play a game where they will have a
blank calendar and will have to place the months in the correct order (for hands on
learners, also keeps the ADHD kids moving and focused), work on a computer with an
interactive computer game to associate weather with certain months (for visual
learners), and have them make their own calendars that they can personalize and keep
to study and use as a reference.
Media
Media that will be used:
• Audio (voice/music)
• Calendar
• Still Images
• Poster Boards
• Computers
Materials
Materials will be obtained by working with what is already in the classroom and what I
will be able to get myself from a store, if needed.
Materials will include:
• Lyrics to the song
• Blank calendar
• 12 large notecards with individual months on them

2. Haley Swiger September 2, 2015
ASSURE Method
• Velcro strips
• Computers
• Paper
• Scissors
• Stickers
• Markers, colored pencils, and crayons
U - Utilize Media & Materials
Preview the Materials
I will preview the music I will be using for the song, the loose month pieces and the
blank calendar that will be used for “Pin the Month on the Calendar,” the computer, and
the miscellaneous materials to ensure that I have everything I need and it is all in
working order before use during the lesson.
Prepare the Materials
I will ensure that the lyrics are typed out and available and the music is ready for the
song and the blank calendar with Velcro strips will work correctly with the Velcro strips
on the back of the loose months for “Pin the Month on the Calendar.” Also, I will make
sure the correct computer game will be available to play and that all materials needed
for making their own personalized calendars is ready to use.
Prepare the Environment
The classroom will be set up with the desks arranged in a “U” shape so that there will be
plenty of room for sitting on the rug during the song activity and moving around the room
during the “Pin the Month on the Calendar” game. This arrangement of the desks also
ensures that all students will have a good view of the materials presented to them and
will allow my observation of their understanding to be more easily seen. Also, I will
ensure that all of the computers are on and working for the computer game activity.
Prepare the Learners
Before starting any activities, I will introduce the months of the year to the class by
having a class calendar and going over the months of the year with them. Then, I will
have the students tell me their birthdays and put those birthdays on the class calendar. I
will prepare my students by informing them of what will be expected of them and the
activities they will be completing during the week. I will also explain to them that I will be
observing them throughout the week to evaluate their understanding.

3. Haley Swiger September 2, 2015
ASSURE Method
Provide the Learning Experience
I will use the previously mentioned methods throughout the lesson to provide a learning
experience for my students. While presenting all activities, I will make sure to have a
clear voice, use eye contact, use appropriate gestures and visuals, and use positive
reinforcement to keep my students interested and engaged in their learning experience.
R - Require Learner Participation
I will require all of my students to participate in all activities relating to the lesson so that
if one method does not work well with their personal learning style, they have more
opportunities to learn. For the students with the mild to severe ADHD, I will have them
sit towards the front of the class when learning the song to avoid distractions and time
spent on each activity will last from 12 to 18 minutes to help to not overwhelm the
students and to keep them focused.
E - Evaluate & Revise
Before
To determine what the students already know about the months of the year, I will ask
students a few questions such as “Do you know the months of the year?” and “What is
the second month of the year?” This will be done individually to give me a starting point
for each student’s beginning knowledge.
During
Throughout the lesson during the week, I will observe the students to evaluate how they
are doing during the activities, mostly through their participation. I will make notes about
concerns or positive things I see with each student and work accordingly with them
going forward.
After
At the end of the week, I will visit each student individually and have them demonstrate
the months of the year to me, however they would prefer, to show me what they know.
This will give me a better idea as to what method worked best for them to learn by
giving them an option on how to be evaluated. After final evaluations, I will ask the class
as a whole if they enjoyed the activities and then ask what they enjoyed the most and
least. This will show me what I need to revise for teaching this subject in the future.