Ace Your Demo Lesson

When did it become so difficult to get a teaching job? With the surplus of qualified teachers, many schools are revamping their hiring processes and requiring prospective teachers to plan and teach a demo lesson. Last year, when I was looking for a new teaching job, I was asked by three different schools to complete the dreaded demo lesson in front of the schools’ current students.

There I was, in front of 36 high school juniors in the heart of a San Franciscan charter school, when I realized that I was nowhere close to being prepared to showcase my talents in that particular setting. As kids proceeded to stand up and sing the lyrics to “I Love It When You Call Me Big Poppy,” I looked helplessly at the clock to realize I still had a half an hour before I could run out the door forever. Needless to say, I didn’t get that job, but it undoubtedly prepared me for the other two demo lessons that followed. If you’re invited into a school to showcase your talents, here are some suggestions to help you stay cool, calm, and collected.  

1. Research the School

It seems all too easy, and it is. Research the class size, the programs offered, and if there’s any behavior system currently in place. If you can’t find this information online, reach out to the principal. The more you know about the school, the better. An observation panel is looking to see how you fit into their preexisting community. How do you relate to the students and staff? How do you keep your composure in slightly uncomfortable situations? What do you contribute to the overall environment?

2. Use a Familiar Lesson

This is not the time to whip up a new, innovative lesson, and I wish I had known that. Stick with a solid, tried-and-true lesson that you’re familiar with and can tweak to better fit the particular learning community you’re entering. If the school is all about project-based learning, for example, how can you take one of your successful lessons and show the school you’re cognitive of their preferred learning style?

3. Take Time to Get Organized

If possible, the board should look like what it would normally look like if someone walked into your classroom. Get to the school early to write out the agenda, objectives, standard, etc. This would also be an ideal time to make copies and ensure that your technology works with the school’s technology. It’s these simple hiccups that quickly derail a solid lesson.

4. Set Your Expectations Clearly

If you’re unable to access information on the school’s current behavior system (or the school doesn’t have one), spend the first few minutes of class setting expectations. Consider posing some of these questions to start the conversation:

• What are your expectations here with your current teacher?
• What does respect look like in the classroom?
• What are the actions or behaviors of a successful student?

Then, to solidify the expectations, create a quick visual to reference when needed. It could be as simple as a list on the board. Having these visual reminders particularly help with middle-schoolers.

5. Take Time to Discuss the “Why” of Your Lesson

It’s extremely tempting to jump right in when you walk into the classroom, particularly if the class is already seated (as many demo lessons are only a portion of the full period). Don’t skip this step. Kids, particularly high schoolers, crave to know the why. Establish investment from the start by explaining the purpose of your lesson or posing a thought-provoking question that introduces the day’s topic.

6. Differentiate

Not only will you impress the observation panel, but you’ll reach the kids where they are and push them successfully where they need to go without disengaging kids. When I walked into the classroom that day with a lesson on identifying literary devices in songs, I expected the class to know what basic literary devices were. When it was clear that some kids couldn’t match the word simile to its correct definition, and others knew a long list of hyperboles from their most recent text, I froze. I was so shocked that I didn’t know how to differentiate on the spot, and an introductory activity that should have taken five minutes took half an hour.

Consider using a pre-assessment as the very first academic piece of your lesson and use it to divide the class into two groups: the practitioner group and the master group. From there, you could distribute different handouts depending on group level, or you could pull the practitioner group up with you for some guided practice while the master group works independently. Ensuring that class members have challenging, yet doable, assignments means less off-task behavior.

7. Set a Timer

I use a timer for everything in my classroom. If my kids are completing independent work, sharing with a partner, moving to a new location in the room, etc., the timer is on. Setting a timer creates a sense of urgency and reduces downtime, which keeps kids engaged. If your demo lesson is in a high school setting and you’re unsure if timers would be effective, dedicate a certain amount of time to each activity so learners at least have an idea of where they need to be at each point in the lesson.

8. Give Compliments

The first school where I taught introduced me to PBS, or the Positive Behavior System, and it changed the way I frame things in my classroom. Learners, no matter their age, honestly want to do their best, and recognizing them for the efforts they make in a positive direction reinforces those behaviors, shows them that you recognize their efforts, and encourages others to adopt those positive behaviors as well. When class members feel connected to you, they try their best and you’re able to forge a connection.

After the ill-fated demo lesson in San Francisco, I was even more terrified for upcoming demo lessons. It took some time for me to be able to reflect and reassess the situation before confidently stepping into another demo lesson. When I received a round of applause from the seventh graders in my next demo, I knew two things: first, middle schoolers are awesome, and second, demo lessons aren’t that bad when you’ve appropriately prepared.

Have you taught a demo lesson? What other advice would you pass on to our readers? Or, are you about to teach a demo lesson? What other information can our community provide you with to increase your confidence?