The East Northamptonshire Initial Teacher Training College: Graduate Teacher Training Programme

Lesson Observation Proforma

School Higham Ferrers Infants School Lesson time 13.00-14.30

Date 25/05/2011 Year group Y Reception
Teacher Mrs L.Cowley Subject Music
Number of student numbers 28, 29 and then 28 M F
Student ability Mixed Other adults in the room Only myself
Focus of observation Foundation Music Practice

Establishing the learning environment (Routines: entry, registers, distributing equipment, dismissal)
Wednesday PM is the PPA time for Reception teachers, so Music is squeezed into this time frame. Each class receives 30mins Music
lesson time and 3 members of staff rotate to give the Music lesson, a story time and a handwriting class. I spent the afternoon with the
Music teacher, who took on the duty of register for the first class. This served the purpose of a starter.

How the teacher gains the students’ attention

Voice projection, volume mainly. Raised voice when more instructions were to be given.

Explanation of learning objectives and success criteria

I’m not sure if learning objectives are usually used, but today they weren’t. It seems the Reception children learn a song a week in these
lessons, and as this was the last week of the term, Mrs Cowley let the children chose a few songs to sing.

Evidence of a three part lesson: a starter, main task(s) and a plenary

None.

Teaching and learning strategies; subject knowledge

As with most creative subjects, use of the learning styles and strategies is slightly different. The children were physically moving for the
most part, and encouraged to use aspects such as role-play and performance.

Behaviour management strategies

None really used, or needed for that matter.

Assessment methods
Only informal observations by Mrs Cowley.
The East Northamptonshire Initial Teacher Training College: Graduate Teacher Training Programme

Use of other adults in the room and how this affects the dynamics of the lesson
N/A

Relationships with students

Good – children really enjoy the practical element and performance elements.

What the students learnt in the lesson (were the learning objectives and success criteria met?)
N/A

Any other relevant points noticed in the lesson

N/A