When we think about the universal design of learning (UDL) it takes on many forms. In the lessons and activities that we construct in the classroom, we want to make sure that we are hitting the three main focuses of UDL. These are from engagement, representation, and action & expression. As we go into our student teaching we all wonder and think about what we are going to include within our lessons. Some ideas come to hand at the start of class of doing check-in, popcorn (answering a question), or during the class of a brain break of a small activity to not think about math.
In building lessons of not keeping it the same as throughout observations, I have seen students who are custom to a routine that they will have a little panic attack if you do one thing differently. I found it interesting when my clinical teacher would just write on the board before the students came in with a list of supplies they would need and you would see the students wonder and question what they would be doing. I think this would be a good idea to have in a classroom if students are used to a routine.
As the engagement part of UDL, it brings ideas of presenting to the students as to why we are learning certain things in mathematics. This would be a great time in bringing real-world situations in how a mathematical topic fits into it. On the other hand of asking the students what they know about the topic and what they would like to get out of the topic. It would lead to a conversation as well as students creating goals which I would be able to connect to the learning goals over that unit.
I believe that creating conversations in the classroom allows the students to feel comfortable in talking to each other which can lead to working with one another. As coming into student teaching of creating a fun environment of letting students have a background as well as having the opportunity to have fun in the classroom.