First Observation Report 1

Observation Report 1: Mrs. Shelton’s Class

As soon as I entered the vibrant classrooms at Johnston Elementary, I had the honor of

seeing Mrs. Shelton's 4th grade Math class every week for an hour. I observed her engaging

teaching methods in action. A positive and educational mood filled the air as kids actively

participated in interactive lessons. The atmosphere in Mrs. Shelton's class was one of warmth

and nurturing, as well as full of curiosity and excitement for learning. Mrs. Shelton

demonstrated a strong dedication to encouraging a love of learning and establishing a stimulating

environment where curiosity blossomed. This observation left a lasting impression of quality

education and provided useful details on the creative teaching strategies used at Johnston

Elementary.

I think a great school has teachers who are welcoming and kind, which promotes a positive

environment. Students are brave and feel safe, which creates a positive learning atmosphere. I

believe a supportive community is created when educators, students, and parents can

communicate effectively. If there is a tailored learning environment that is both demanding and

unique then the foundation of successful academic achievement can be reached. Positive

discipline places less emphasis on fear-based methods and more on character development.

Every student will feel appreciated if equality and inclusion are fostered. I think the school's

energy is influenced by the teacher’s dedication to ongoing professional development and

improvements in education. A great school places equal emphasis on academic achievement and

emotional health. Further study on effective schools is covered in Chapter 2, with a focus on

important characteristics. It talks about high-performance standards for students to establish a

standard for achievement. Teachers at successful schools convey to students their belief that

students will meet their learning objectives through their attitude and consistent support. As well
 First Observation Report 2

as collaboration among teachers is to be encouraged by open communication. Successful

teachers don't work alone in their classrooms, they collaborate. They support one another and are

aware of the curriculum and activities being used in one another's classrooms. Another one is

task-oriented staff, who start class early and end it late to provide instruction. The faculty wastes

minimal time in class while handling its teaching duties with seriousness. Regardless of the style

of instruction, students are informed of the severity of the goal that lies under the surface of

activities. (Ryan, Characteristics of an Effective School)

I would give Mrs. Shelton a perfect score of 10 for her kind and welcoming demeanor

because it positively affects students' emotional health, encourages open communication, and

helps to create a peaceful learning environment. With real compassion, Mrs. Shelton greeted

each student individually as they walked in from PE. Her consistent dedication to each student

and her nurturing style creates a welcoming environment for each student. While Mrs. Shelton

does a great job of promoting a friendly environment, she only gets an 8 for effective

communication since there were times when it was difficult for her to explain complicated ideas

in a way that certain kids found difficult to understand. There was a student who became

frustrated trying to figure out what she was teaching, specifically expanded notation. I then

realized how essential it is to tailor to a variety of learning styles to guarantee that every student

has a thorough understanding, so on both effective communication and tailored learning I would

rate it an 8. She engaged the class in the expanded notation lesson by encouraging participation.

She helped them exercise critical thinking while gaining a better understanding of the concept by

asking questions that provoked thought. As more and more students participated it became clear

that they understood the lesson at hand. Mrs. Shelton is an exceptional teacher who promotes a

positive learning environment through her use of positive discipline and dedication to her role as
 First Observation Report 3

a teacher. While her communication skills may need improvement, she deserves a high rating of

9 for her overall performance. Her strategies and important characteristics of an effective school

play a crucial role in fostering her student's success.

It is clear that several factors prevent Johnston Elementary from reaching its full potential.

Poor leadership is one of the main culprits, characterized by inconsistent decision-making and

unclear direction. Additionally, as someone who works within the school, I have noticed that the

administrative structure is disorganized. These issues are worsened by unsupportive parents who

do not attend school events or participate in parent-teacher conferences, leading to disengaged

students. There is a big gap of miscommunication between the administration and teachers that

has caused this messy environment. These factors collectively pose significant obstacles to the

school's success, hindering academic performance and overall growth at Johnston Elementary.

To improve Johnston Elementary, I would propose three changes: personalized learning,

increased community engagement, and consistent communication. This will lead to better

academic performance, student engagement, and an overall stronger sense of school pride.
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References

Ryan, K. (n.d.). Characteristics of an Effective School. MindTap - Cengage Learning.

https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?
deploymentId=6095632525254171099359674116&eISBN=9780357773420&id=2019025
006&nbId=3851392&snapshotId=3851392&
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Appendix

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Footnotes
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Table 1

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Figure Captions

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