EDUC 5312/3315-Curriculum and Instructional Design

Classroom Observation Assignment

Observation Form 1

Observation Date: June 11, 2017 Observation Time: ________________

Teacher Observed: Female Teacher Subject/Grade Level 8th Grade Language Arts

School Observed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIsfCmPI0cU

Observer: SARAH SOUTHARD

1-What was/were the learning objectives/outcomes of the lesson? (Add state objectives if
known, for example, TEKS 111.4. Grade 2.b.)

2-How did the teacher begin and end the lesson?

Teacher began class by asking students to open up google docs on their laptops and get ready for
a quick write. She explained the quick write prompt by referring to a quote on a poster in her
classroom. She read the quote and asked students what it meant. After a short discussion, she
allowed students 10 minutes to write.

3-What did the teacher use for teaching materials or instructional aids/equipment?

Quote on poster board posted in classroom

White board projector to review outline for novel unit and to look at class website

4-Which instructional methods and strategies did the teacher use? ( lecture, inquiry,
discovery learning, discussions, games or simulations, demonstrations, cooperative learning,
integration of technology, socrative questioning, etc)

Mostly lecture

Inquiry

Cooperative Learning Novel group (groups of 4)

5-How did the teacher assess learning? (informal, formal, formative, summative, oral, open-
ended, quiz, feedback etc) See Chapter 8 for more information on assessment methods

She asked students to share a couple of ideas and points from their quick write.
Informal

Asked questions and Checked for Understanding

6- What can you say about the teachers philosophy/beliefs and style?
(Traditional/progressive, behaviorist, student-centered vs. teacher centered, authoritative etc)

This particular day was more teacher centered; however, she was setting up a novel unit that was
going to be student centered. Teacher was very positive and encouraging.

7-How does the teacher manage classroom? Can you identify classroom management
techniques used?

Direct she asked student if he was locked in. asked another student to drop his laptop screen
while she was talking

She snapped her fingers to get attention or emphasize importance

8-Observe in the classroom setting and determine types of behavior students play when off-
task. What do they do when they are not paying attention? How does the teacher re-direct
them or get them back on task?

Students appear to be focused on the teacher.

9-How does the teacher communicate with students (verbal, vocal, meta-verbal or non-verbal
communication such as facial, body language, use of space, motion and time?)

Verbal

Space teacher moved throughout the classroom

10-Who were the students in the class? What did you notice about them? (Background,
diversity, attitude, motivation, interaction, participation, etc)

White, African American, and Hispanic

11-What did you see that is effective in engaging students? What do you see that is
ineffective in keeping students engaged?

Effective: Teacher lectured, but did include a turn-and-talk. She also asked student to open up
their laptops a couple of times to refer to the class webpage.
Ineffective: Teacher lectured for most of the class.
12-What are the two instructional strategies you observed and would like to apply in your
classroom?

I only observed the teacher lecture. A lecture can be an effective instructional method, and I have
used it in my classroom before.

13-What are two important classroom management strategies that you observed and would
like to apply in your classroom?

Teacher was prepared. She had the outline for the novel unit posted on the projector/white board.
The desks were already set up in groups of 4.