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How could you tweek, build on or create a new lesson based on your observations and what you know now about differentiating instruction in those subjects?

First, I observed a math lesson. The concept taught was addition. The teacher pulled a 2-page worksheet from the school’s provided curriculum and gave it to all students to set on their tables and get their supplies. Next, she had all students in the carpet and used the smartboard to teach, model, and have some students to answer the questions for the first page. Then, she had students do the assignment on their own, and come back to the carpet for the second page, where she repeated the process. I would not have students do worksheet; rather, I would have a few objects that are the same and have students add the amount of toys together to differentiate.     Next, I observed a science lesson. The concept was parts of the pumpkin. The teacher showed a video and played a game with students where they had to match the part of the pumpkin with the sound coming from the computer. To differentiate, I would get a pumpkin and have students sit around me. I would then cut it open ...
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What Math unit could I create for my current classroom which would lend itself to these kinds of centers? What activities would work well in this unit to enhance student learning? What performance tasks could be linked to these activities?

When it comes to kindergarten, students are eager to learn and love to talk and share with their friends about what they are doing. A math unit could be created where there is a center with a math game regarding the topic being taught. For example, if kids are learning about patterns, there can be different patterns set up for kids to complete in each table like a bear pattern, a shape pattern, dot patterns and etc. They can work on groups of 2-4 students for each table, and  rotate with the sound of a bell.This activity will likely enhance student learning, because students are engaged and working together to complete the task. Though, before teachers sound the bell, they should go around at each table and check if the pattern was correctly completed by the group. To create a performance task, students could be given a shape or picture to color (depending of pattern, e.g., whole class is limited to choose between 2 colors for AB pattern) and they can create a whole class patter...
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How useful is the math textbook in your current classroom setting?

Math textbooks are often used in k5 and higher, but not as much in k4 nor k3. For K5 teachers and students, the math book is essential. It has excellent activities that are already linked to standards and provides guidance and ideas to make teaching a bit easier. However, many textbooks' activities often is designed in one or two ways to teach a new skill, neglecting different learning abilities, so it is important to supplement instruction with additional games, materials, and activities that will reinforce the new skill. The first video bellow, from Khan Academy, the teacher uses pizzas to provide an introduction on fraction equivalence, which is important for students to know before trying to compare fractions. On the second video the teacher uses a pie method to compare fractions.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCtXyhepAmQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1X0vf5PUz4
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