Field Observation of J.

D Smith Middle School

With Mr. Thomas and Mr. Gonzales

Assignment #1

1.) What are your first impressions of the classroom environment? Is it warm inventing,

organized, etc.? Describe the physical environment in detail.

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.

3.) Are their posted class rules? If rules are posted write them exactly as they appear.

4.) Does the teacher enforce these posted rules? What rewards or consequences are used for

compliance or noncompliance?
Assignment #2

1.) Describe the workflow of the room. Is the space used Efficiently?

-While the rooms are extremely small for what is intended, students are trained to retrieve

said instruments by small sections by the teacher or themselves.

2.) In your opinion, how can the physical arrangement of the classroom be improved?

-The rooms for this mariachi class has a small amount of space for both instruments and

students and no room of improvement can be made unless the school give the program

more space of lockers, shelves, etc.

 Assignment # 3

1.) Describe your cooperating teacher’s teaching style.

2.) How does the teacher incorporate the sensory modalities (Learning styles)? Give

Examples.

3.) Do the students seem engaged in the lessons presented? Please explain.

4.) Are there any students isolated from the rest of the class? Explain.

5.) How does the teacher handle transitions from subject to subject or activity to activity?

6.) List ways the teacher uses “attention getting” commands, words phrases, signals, etc. Are

they effective?

7.) What specific behavior issues does the teacher have to deal with? Be specific.

-Children who are loud or do not follow procedures are given a warning and asked to

clean up their act the moment.

8.) Are there any policies or procedures that help or hinder instructional time? Please explain

them and how they help or hinder

Assignment # 4 (Physical Characteristics)

1.) Consider the school property: building, grounds, fencing, equipment, landscaping, trees,

parking lot, crosswalks, gates, signs and symbols. Describe in detail.

2.) Next, study the interior of the school: halls, floor coverings, lighting, doors, windows,

hall colors and decorations and entrance security. Explain in detail.

(Culture of the School)

1.) Explain the school’s mission statement, motto, and mascot.

2.) Analyze staff and visitor in the main office. Note student and faculty interactions in other

areas of the school.

3.) Observe student to student interactions, inside and outside of the building. Observe where

students gather in socialize – office, library, halls, common areas, etc.

4.) Explain how the school is organized- office, library, halls/classroom, sign.

5.) Examine school traditions, achievements and awards; community recognition or

community partners; extracurricular activities/clubs and athletics. Look for and document

sources of community pride and sense of identity through ceremonies, assemblies,

trophies, and artifact.

(Culture of the Classroom)

1.) Look for teacher expectations for learning and success.

2.) Evaluate the level of student participation in the class. Who participate? Who does not?

3.) Evaluate the interactions between teacher and students, rapport, cohesiveness,

distribution of power, teacher personality.

Assignment #5 (Cooperating teacher Interview)

1.) What was the primary reason you became a teacher?

2.) What are the main challenges you face as a teacher?

3.) What is the best part of being a teacher?

4.) How do you determine where students sit in a class?

5.) How do you select members of any flexible groups?

6.) How often do you interact with parents in person? What are the main reasons for

interactions with parents?

7.) How long does it take to prepare lessons for the day/week?

8.) How long does it take to prepare lessons for the day/week basis?

9.) What procedures or strategies do you use to maximize instructional time?

10.) What positive reinforcements you used successfully? What behavioral

consequences seem most effective with this age group?

11.) How are specialist teacher involved in your instructional planning and process?

12.) How often are you evaluated, and what measurement tool is used by the

administration for determining your teaching performance?

13.) What consequences are there if your evaluation is not favorable?

14.) What surprised you mot about teaching as a professional?

Assignment # 6 (Observing a student) – Discretely observe one student in you assigned

classroom during direct instruction. Explain wat the student did during the observation.

Summarize the lesson given and the student’s responses to the lesson. Make sure to

document ALL behavior in relationship to what was being presented by the classroom

teacher. Please describe what you discovered about the student’s learning styles,

involvement in class, and his/her educational needs.

Assignment # 7 (Summary) – Thoroughly summarize and reflect upon your entire 10-

hour Field Observation. What did you observe, learn, realize about teacher, 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?