Observation

Today i observed Deanne and her Year 10 English student Amelia. The main focus of the lesson was developing a comparative essay exploring the theme of Appearance vs Reality, through a comparison of the film Mona Lisa Smile and the novel Sense and Sensibility.
The lesson focused on analysing the similarities and differenced between the film and the novel, how each text presents its ideas, characters, and underlying messages.
Some of the main areas covered during the lesson were:
- exploring the theme of Appearance vs reality across the texts
- identifying similarities and differences in each way the text represents its themes and characters
- analysing quotes and explaining their significance in relation to the essay question
- developing comparative arguments supported by evidence from both texts
- structuring ideas effectively for a comparative essay
A significant part of the session involved analysing quotes and drawing comparisons between the two texts.

Deanne encouraged Amelia to look beyond the surface level meanings of the quotes and to consider how they connected to the theme. They discussed how characters may present themselves differently from how they may truly feel or think, and how societal expectations can influence the way individuals behave and are perceived by others.

Deanne also helped Amelia identify connections between the film and the novel, encouraging her to consider both the similarities and differences of their messages, and how the ideas were conveyed.
This allowed Amelia to develop a deeper understanding of how different forms of storytelling can explore similar themes while presenting them in distinct ways. Throughout, Deanne maintained a conversational style lesson, allowing her student to take lead and contribute her own interpretations and ideas. She guided her student through the process of analysing, explaining, and supporting her evidence. Overall, the lesson was productive and focused on strengthening comparative analysis and writing skills. Deanne effectively supported her in independently making connections between the texts.