Professional Documents
Culture Documents
One of the most rewarding aspects of EDU 201, 202, or 203 is the opportunity you’ll have to
observe in a school classroom where students are actively engaged in learning. Each of these
three CSN courses require students to complete a 10 hour "Field Observation" in a Clark
County public school. If CDC Guidelines for Covid-19 prevent you from physically attending a
school campus during the current semester, this packet will offer the alternative experiences
required to satisfy your “Field Observation” requirements for this class virtually.
If possible to pair you with a cooperating CCSD teacher, your placement will be processed by
CSN’s observation coordinator, and you will receive details regarding your assigned school from
your CSN professor. Only then, will you contact the school and meet virtually with your assigned
CCSD “cooperating teacher”. Both you and your cooperating teacher will design a mutually
agreeable schedule to complete your required contact hours once you meet for the first time.
Within this packet, you will find the required field experience assignments that you must
complete in order to pass this class.
Standards of Conduct
You are student representatives of the CSN Education Department and the teaching profession.
Candidates are expected to maintain high standards of personal and professional ethics.
Relationships
You should exercise respectful discretion when voicing your personal views. It is important that
your demeanor and opinions remain confidential. Under no circumstances can information
about any students be released to, or discussed with, any unauthorized person. It is forbidden to
have any contact with students outside of the classroom you are assigned. This restriction
includes CSN students contacting CCSD students in person, through any electronic means, or
through the use of social media.
Dress Code
CSN Department of Education wants you to be a success. Therefore we have adopted the
CCSD dress code for students fulfilling their observation requirement in the assigned school
district. Appearance creates credibility; make a good first impression by dressing professionally,
even when meeting virtually.
Classroom Conduct: At all times, the cooperating teacher maintains legal responsibility for
pupils in his or her classroom. You should never assume that responsibility and be left
unsupervised with children. You should not discipline students. You are an observer, who
should take notes to discuss during your next education class meeting, or to record in your Field
Observation packet.
Professional Conduct:
Never speak to staff or students in an abusive manner.
Never touch or be alone with a student for any reason.
Never give a student food, drink, or other items without the teacher’s permission.
Never take photos/video of students or staff without written permission from the principal.
Never make or accept calls/text using any communication device while at the school.
CCSD WAIVERS
Review the terms of the CCSD Waiver Forms provided by your instructor.
“Student Statement of Responsibility” (Exhibit B)
“Student Confidentiality Statement” (Exhibit C)
These 2 waiver documents MUST be agreed to in order to secure your observation placement.
While submitting your Field Observation Request, you will be prompted to check that you have
read the waivers and that you agree to the terms. Completion of the CSN Field Observation is a
PASS/FAIL component of the course.
1. Pre-plan for initial contact with the school you are assigned and make sure that all interaction
with CCSD employees and students is respectful, courteous, and professional. You are a
representative of this class and the college. CCSD is allowing you to observe their teachers to
further your understanding of the teaching profession. It is imperative that your actions reflect a
willingness to learn, and are reflective of a future professional educator. The school will select a
teacher for you to observe and provide you with their contact information.
2. The first half of your field observation/experience will be centered around learning
background information about the school you were assigned, and focusing on the general and
unique characteristics of its culture. You will be looking at, and reflecting upon things that are
going on in the virtual classroom at the school level that you were assigned. You are simply
observing during this time. Your cooperating teacher may give you guidance on how your
experience can be expanded beyond simple observations, if he/she feels comfortable with your
professionalism and skills.
3. Contact your Cooperating Teacher to introduce yourself. Since this is your first contact, ask
the teacher for the necessary information to access their virtual classroom, and when the live
sessions occur that they would prefer you to join. Share this “Field Observation Activities
Packet”, with your cooperating teacher as well as the last 3 pages which contain the
“Cooperating Teacher Information”, the “Time Log” and the “Field Observation Student
Evaluation”. Let the teacher know that you will be taking notes during the observation for your
packet assignments, that you will be asking them to verify your hours of attendance, and
evaluate your participation once the total observation hours are complete.
4. When logging in with your cooperating teacher and their students during a virtual meeting, it
is recommended that you keep both your microphone and video camera OFF during the
observation, unless the cooperating teacher directs you to speak or be seen while observing. In
that case, make sure your home workspace is void of background distractions, or anything in
view that may be considered inappropriate for students to see. Your online attire should be the
same as if you were visiting the school in person. Employ the use of typical lighting and image
framing to make the most of your broadcast. The typical “Rule of Thirds” works well, whereby
the camera height is adjusted so that your eyes are positioned in the top third of the window.
Front lit subjects look better on screen than being backlit by a window or artificial light.
Read through all the assignments and take notes during your observation visits. You will gather
information on more than one assignment during an observation. Then, using your notes
answer the questions for each assignment.
• All assignments must be word processed. Your detailed responses to assignment questions
must demonstrate careful analysis of the questions and the observation information.
• Questions and their responses must include thorough explanations and examples from the
classroom observation. All responses must be written as complete sentences.
Include the question number, along with your response as a short essay response as in this
sample below:
ASSIGNMENT #1 (Culture): Using the questions below, carefully observe and evaluate the
culture of the school. School culture refers to the way teachers and other staff members work
together and the set of beliefs, values, and assumptions they share. A positive school climate
and school culture promote students' ability to learn. Remember you are evaluating the school
for its educational culture, place of learning, sense of safety, invitation for learning, promotion of
self-actualization, development of values and socialization. Use online resources such as your
assigned school’s CCSD webpage, http://nevadareportcard.nv.gov/di/,
https://www.publicschoolreview.com, and https://www.greatschools.org/nevada/las-vegas/ to
answer the following questions.
2. Next, (if available) study the interior of the school: halls, floor coverings, lighting,
doors, windows, hall colors and decorations and entrance security. Explain in detail.
I was not able to look for pictures of the interior of the school.
Culture of the School: Read, listen and/or observe to determine the climate, values, and
atmosphere within the school.
1: What are your first impressions of the school? Enrollment, graduation rate, proficiency
rates, student/teacher ratio etc.
2: Please describe the student make-up of the school, including gender, ethnicity,
students with disabilities, ELL students, and any other attributes that are important to
note you found.
There is a mixture of students and the majority that attend this school are Hispanics.
ELL, special education, and GATE is provided at this school which is very important.
3. Explain the school’s mission/vision statements, motto, and mascot. There mascot is a
lion and the mission/vision at this school is to educate while appreciating the uniqueness
and honoring the diversity each student has. They push student to do their very best.
5. Briefly describe three other pieces of information that can be found on your assigned
school’s website.
Culture of the Classroom: Each classroom has its own culture and way of life.
1. What are the teacher’s expectations for learning and success? It is something very
important to them. They try to be the best they can in order for this to be achieved and
have their students doing the best they can striving for success.
2. Evaluate the level of student participation in the class. Who participates? Who does
not? From my observation I seen that mostly everyone participates. I would say some
get off topic once in a while but the teachers I did my 10 hour observation always made
sure they are paying attention and listening in order to continue.
4. Observe student-to-student interactions, inside and outside of the class. Are they
using any chat features to communicate with each other? They are, that’s how they
communicate or just my simply taking themselves off and on mute.
ASSIGNMENT #2 (Observations)
1: What are your first impressions of the virtual classroom environment? Is it warm,
inviting, organized, etc? Describe the virtual environment in detail. It was certainly
different, but when I joined it felt inviting the teachers were so nice and
2: Please describe the student make-up of the class, including gender, ethnicity, ELL,
students with physical challenges, and any other apparent attributes that are important
to note. The majority of the whole school was Hispanics. There was students who
struggled because they did not know English but they set up a different appointment in
order to have 1 on 1 lessons in order for her to understand and learn the material.
3: Are their posted class rules or course expectations? If rules/expectations are posted
write them exactly as they appear. I was not able to see them, I attended the 10 hour
observation virtually.
5: What is the posted daily/weekly schedule for different subjects or periods? 7:45-
8:45am was English and 8:50-9:50am was for math. After they work on the assignments
given then go to lunch then the rest of the periods such as science and writing.
1: Describe the workflow of the online environment. Is the space and time used
efficiently? Time was definitely efficiently, they provided a fun learning environment and
had the students participate in order to receive the reward on Fridays which is FUN
FRIDAY.
2: In your opinion, how can the virtual arrangement of the room be improved? I did not
see the room.
ASSIGNMENT #4 (Instruction): Observe any instructional time with your assigned Cooperative
Teacher, and record your observations when presented with the questions below:
1: Is instruction delivered in small groups, centers, whole groups, individually? Since its
Virtual it is delivered in whole, if they need help they stay after school in order to help
them.
2: Describe your cooperating teacher’s teaching style. They use the 3 different learning
styles which I love and will be using once I become a teacher. I will say what needs to be
done, show an example and work with them in a few and they will do the lesson but be
hands on while doing so.
3: How does the teacher incorporate the sensory modalities (learning styles)? Give
examples. For example math, Mrs.Gloria says what needs to be done, shows
presentations, works with the kids with exercise and the cool part is that even though its
virtual they have objects where they are hands on and after they are finished they show
the teacher how many objects are placed in order to solve the question. When I was
obserbing they were learning multiplication and they had their little objects and placed it
in a format to teach them how to multiply in a easier way. Students loved it and were
very much engaged.
7: How does the teacher handle transitions from subject to subject or activity to activity?
Are the transitions efficient? They do more of a visual learning so they let them know
what the assignment is going to be, they show the presentation and lastly they are left to
finish homework.
8: List ways the teacher uses “attention getting” commands, word phrases, signals, etc.
Are they effective? Kids tend to ask questions that are NOT about the subject being
taught and the teacher states if they have any questions on the homework in order for
them to be prepared to do after class. Sometimes the teachers even have a couple
minutes to talk to the students and they get to tell them what they were so happy to ask
them or tell them after class.
9: What specific behavior issues does the teacher have to deal with? How does the
teacher handle the behavior issues? Be specific.
With virtual learning the ony behavior problems would have to be interuppting and
talking over students and teachers.
10: Are there any policies or procedures that help or hinder instructional time? Please
explain them and how they help or hinder instructional time. The teachers let them know
that it is not time to talk and if they need any questions, it will be answered at the end or
just by simply raising your hand.
1: What drove you to choose this student? His enthusiastic energy he brought to the
class.
2: Explain what the student did during the observation. One day I was observing in
Mrs.Kylas class he had this eager energy to be in class. After the class ended he stayed
there and told the teacher that he had something to tell her and she listened, little did he
know I was too. He told him teacher that she is the best teacher ever and when schools
open he was going to bring her a cupcake and asked if he can take her a cupcake and
she replied with “yes bud when schools open up okay?” These sweet gestures these
kids make are just amazing, this is what I live for. He did it so unexpectedly and so
happy to tell her that he was getting her a cupcake, this honestly warmed my heart.
3. Summarize the lesson given and the student’s responses to the lesson.
The lesson was a presentation on sentences and using the ed, es, ies after words given.
She had the students either say it or type it in the keyboard sometimes to firgure out
which sounded better in the sentence. He will always want to ask questions and was so
eager to answer them.
4. Make sure to document ALL behavior in relationship to what was being presented by
the classroom teacher.
The student did at times get a little disruptive and talked when he was not supposed to
but honestly he is such a sweetheart.
5. Please describe what you discovered about the student’s learning styles, involvement
in class, and his/her educational needs.
His learning styles were kind of hard to see since everything was done online and not in
a classroom. Since its virtual learning its more of a visual and hearing learning for
everyone. Everyone is adjusting and improving, they are making it work.
ASSIGNMENT #6 (Cooperating Teacher Interview): Arrange for a convenient time to
interview your cooperating teacher either on the phone or by video conference. Ask the
questions below. Include any school document, handouts, etc. the teacher provides..
ASSIGNMENT #7 (Summary): Thoroughly summarize and reflect upon your entire 10 hour
Field Observation. What did you observe, learn, realize about teachers, students, instruction,
the school environment? How has this observation better prepared you to understand the
teaching profession? How does the observation relate to the text information and class
activities? What specific ideas on teaching will you remember to include in your classroom?
I would honestly have to say that it was an amazing experience. The teachers were so
understanding and so kind to me. They even offered their help if needed when following my
career and that speaks out what type of person they are. I was so nervous to begin but they
welcomed me with open arms which made me feel comfortable with asking them any questions
I have, I related with them, and with that being said it was a great experience I won't ever forget.
The kids were as I expected, so full of energy and kind. I definitely got many plans that I am
planning to do once I become a teacher but the number one thing I will always make sure I will
provide is a warm classroom full of love. These teachers are amazing. Although they were not
prepared for what has come due to the crisis, they still made it happen and their plan was
successful. I will do my best to provide a safe learning environment where these kids feel
comfortable being in. I will also use the different learning techniques that were being used in
order for students to be able to grasp the information. Another important thing I will make sure I
do is to make the lessons fun, instead of doing bookwork all the time.
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Remember that before receiving the final grade for this EDU course, the CSN student must
submit the completed Cover Page, Field Observation Activities, Time Log, and Student
Evaluation to the CSN instructor for grading.
The cooperating teacher must also email the instructor to confirm the successful completion of
the observation. The student is required to provide the CCSD cooperating teacher with their
CSN professor’s email, so the cooperating teacher can send an email to verify that the student
has successfully completed the 10 hours of observation. The instructor’s email must be
provided on the first page of this packet, and on the next page for the cooperating teacher.
Remember that completion of the Field Observation is a PASS/FAIL component of the course.
Students must save this completed packet in digital form, and as a hard copy for the Education
Department’s capstone course, (EDU 299) Education Portfolio or (EDU 220) Educational
Psychology
COOPERATING TEACHER INFORMATION - CSN FIELD OBSERVATIONS - VIRTUAL
Thank you for assisting in the preparation of a new generation of Nevada teachers. Our
education majors are required to complete 10 field observation hours in: EDU 20____
Introduction to __________________ Education
This class is where many of our students actually make the decision whether they will continue
further study of the profession. We appreciate you joining us in providing these students with a
wonderful first experience in the virtual classroom. If at all possible, please utilize the student to
assist you in supervised classroom instructional activities if you deem them ready.
We are hopeful that the information we have enclosed with this letter, which has been approved
by the Nevada College Consortium, will help you with a clear sense of how this field experience
works. When the student has completed his/her required 10 observation hours, please complete
and sign the “FIELD OBSERVATION TIME LOG” and “FIELD OBSERVATION STUDENT
EVALUATION” (along with the student). Then, return these two pages to the student who will
submit them to his/her professor.
For your convenience, the student has provided you with CSN contact information below.
Please contact the CSN instructor if there are any questions or concerns.
Also, before a final grade for EDU _____ can be assigned, the CSN professor MUST receive
your official email verification that the student successfully completed the 10 hour observation.
Please also “cc” the student on this email. The student WILL NOT receive a final grade in the
course until the email is received from you.
CSN Course # & name: EDU ______ Introduction to __________________ Education
Should you have any concerns or questions about this process, please feel free to contact the
instructor directly, or the CSN Education Department at: (702) 651-4400.
TIME LOG - CSN Field Observations - VIRTUAL MEETINGS
Total Hours
Please complete the following evaluation using the Performance Indicator Scores below (with
the student) once the total observation hours are met. Your constructive comments are
extremely valuable to the student. Return this page to the student along with their Time Log to
be submitted to the instructor with the completed Field Observation Packet.
Comments:
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