OBSERVATION GUIDE ACTIVITY

 

Directions for Field Notes: Record briefly what you see the teacher doing and/or what you see the students doing in your journal or notebook. Record the subject, topic of the lesson, and date of observation (no names please). Use the following questions to inform and guide your observations:

 

  1. What do students do when they first enter the room?

 

  1. What procedure does the teacher follow in checking attendance?

 

  1. What are the students doing while the teacher is taking attendance?

 

  1. What do students bring with them to the classroom?

 

  1. How many students do not bring needed materials to class and what does the teacher do about this?

 

  1. What does the teacher do or say to begin the class during the first few minutes?

 

  1. What procedures are followed in distributing or collecting materials from the students?

 

  1. Do any of the students appear to have a physical handicap or special need that could affect their ability to do some activities/assignments? If so, state them. How does the teacher accommodate such students?

 

  1. What does the teacher say or do when shifting students from one class activity to the next? How do the students respond?

 

  1. What does the teacher do when unexpected situations occur? Explain.

 

  1. How does the teacher respond to disruptive or inappropriate student behavior?

 

  1. What do students do toward the end of the class period? How are they dismissed when the bell rings?

 

 

Follow up notes – Use a copy of your teacher’s classroom management plan and/or interview your teacher after school (or during a break) about the following questions:

 

What standards are established by the teacher for pupil behavior when students are:

 

    1. Entering the classroom?
    2. Leaving the classroom? (especially bathroom policy)
    3. Leaving their seats?
    4. Wanting to respond to a teacher question?
    5. Tardy?
    6. Talking at inappropriate times to another student?
    7. Off-task but not being disruptive?
    8. Disrupting the lesson?
    9. Making up missed work or late work?
    10. Turning in homework?

 

In addition, ask you teacher his or her personal philosophy of teaching and student learning. Do their classroom routines, procedures, and teaching strategies for teaching make sense in light of this philosophy?

 

 

Written Report Assignment: Type up your findings in a 2-3 page paper (double-spaced, 1 inch margins) incorporating your main observation and interview points. Finish your paper in reflecting on your teacher’s practice: What do you think about your observed teacher’s procedures, routines, student rules, and philosophy? Comment on aspects that you think are particularly good and those that you particularly disagree with. Explain why you agree or disagree in light of your current thinking or personal philosophy about running a classroom.