For my pre- and post- assessment of figurative language, I created a Google Form covering the following topics: Simile, Metaphor, Analogy, Personification, Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Imagery, Idiom, Irony, Hyperbole, and Oxymoron. The format of the Google Form is something that students are very comfortable with and works well with the sudden transitions to remote instruction due to weather or the pandemic. This test had a total of 50 questions. It includes matching sections where students have to match each type to the definition. Much of the test was multiple choice with at least 3 questions on each type of figurative language. I also included a number of short answer questions where students were asked to tell me the meaning of a particular sentence, such as the meaning of common idioms. The first time that the students took the test, I told them that it was just for data collection, to allow me to see what they already know as we prepare to begin our unit. They were told to not be concerned with their score as it would only go in the gradebook as participation points for completing it and that they would be taking it again at the end of the unit. The attached document is a printable PDF of the Google Form.

In working to achieve my instructional outcome, I came up with the plan outlined below with the help of my cooperating teacher.

Week 1: In week 1, students will take the pre-test on figurative language. The test consists of 50 questions, including matching of the terms to their definitions, multiple choice, and short answer requiring them to determine the meaning of various phrases. 

Week 2 (Week 1 of Instruction): As the pre-test will be given February 15th, week 1 of instruction will be from February 16 to February 22. Over the course of this week, students will study similes and metaphors and create "I am" poems using both. Lessons will include lots of videos and require active participation from all students as they work to understand what similes and metaphors are, identify them in writing, understand the meaning behind the comparison and write their own similes and metaphors. 

Week 3 (Week 2 of Instruction): Week 2 of instruction will be from February 23 to March 1. Week 2 of instruction will begin with a quiz to ensure that students have a solid understanding of similes and metaphors before moving on to the next topic. Any time remaining after the quiz will be an opportunity for students to share their "I am" poems with the class. We will then move on to covering personification, idioms and alliteration in the same manner that we did similes and metaphors. Lessons will continue to be engaging and interactive. Every lesson that I have planned has at least one video. With idioms, extra time will be spent to emphasize that they must be memorized as there is no pattern to idioms and lots of examples will be reviewed and discussed to understand their meaning. 

Week 4 (Week 3 of Instruction): Week 3 of instruction will be from March 2 to March 8. Week 3 of instruction will again begin with a quiz, this time on personification, idioms and alliteration. I may add a couple questions covering previously learned material to ensure that they are retaining the information. We will then move on to irony, oxymorons and hyperbole. We will spend 2 days on irony to ensure that students are able to identify it in the world around them and to look at the three types. Time will then be spent on oxymorons and hyperboles.

Week 5 (Week 4 of Instruction): Week 4 of instruction will be from March 9 to March 15. Week 4 of instruction will begin with stressing the difference between oxymorons and hyperboles as these are two topics that we feel students will get easily confused with. We will then take a quiz covering everything that we have discussed thus far. Following the quiz, students will learn about imagery. As I will not be in the building on the 15th due to the Campus Job Fair, the 15th will be spent working on their monthly book project and completing any make-up or missing work.

Week 6 (Week 5 of Instruction): Week 5 of instruction will be from March 16 to March 22. Week 5 of instruction will begin with discussion of analogies and onomatopoeia. We will then take another quiz before beginning the unit project. For the unit project, students will be required to use their understanding of all types of figurative language to create several pieces. They will follow a menu of options where they have to create two pieces from the "Appetizer" category, one piece from the "Side Dish" category, one piece from the "Entree" category and one piece from the "Dessert" category.

Week 7 (Week 6 of Instruction): Week 6 of instruction will be from March 23 to March 29. Over the course of week 6 of instruction, students will work on and finish their unit project, and review for and take the post-test. The post-test will be identical to the pre-test.