EDUC 5312/3315-Curriculum and Instructional Design

Classroom Observation Assignment

Observation Form 1

Observation Date: ____3/29/2017______________ Observation Time: _11:20-12:05___

Teacher Observed: ___Mrs.Reymer_____ Subject/Grade Level :7th grade science

School Observed: Frontier School Of Innovation Observer: __Mr.Kilic___

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

6-8-PS2-2: Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an objects
motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.

[Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on balanced (Newtons First Law) and unbalanced forces
in a system, qualitative comparisons of forces, mass and changes in motion (Newtons Second
Law), frame of reference, and specification of units.]

Newtons Third Law of Motion

Changes in Motion, Force, and Direction

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

The teacher was started with a warm up question. She asks a question to the class, and she waits
3 minutes to answer it. Then one of student answer it, and she made a correction to him. After
that, she gave them do activity 1 on the stem scopes website. All class period students work that
activity and whoever not finish it in class teacher assigned them as homework.

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

She used to the smartboard, and her laptops for showing the stems comes websites. And also, she
used wooden block, three spring scales, and one thick rubber band for doing do 1 activity.

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)

At the beginning there was a small lecturing part on the smart board, then teacher uses the
cooperative learning style. Students were working in as a group of 4 and for each of them has
own responsibilities to on the activity. The teacher was walking around and ask questions about
their activity. She tries to make them understanding what are they doing.
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 was very active while students were working on their activity. She was making open ended
question to students. When she sees something wrong in one group, she was asking to all class
without the point that group and other groups tried to answer questions. Then she has checked
that group again if still was wrong she help them to correct it.

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

She was using the student centered method more than the traditional teacher centered method.
Students were always active and engaged, and her class behavior was right most students was on
task.

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

She is a very strict teacher in the school. She has own rules posted on boards, directions were
given clearly, and students were kept busy with the task. She was using the body language and
tone of voice actually with his loud voice. There was a minimal lecturing, so kids were not
bored. Once, there were a bit loud; she kept sharp silence for a while and class understood that
sign as a disturbance, and stop doing that.

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?

Most of her students were on task, but whoever tried to talk to other groups member she was
walking to next to them and ask them to questions about what they are doing that time. If
students still talking that time she sent them to the safe seat and give them DPS point. When they
seat the safe seat, students should complete her work by himself.

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?)

She was communicating with students mostly verbal and use of space for their attitude. Teacher
makes them work by himself. It was only one student she sent to the safe seat for excessive
talking.
10-Who were the students in the class? What did you notice about them? (Background,
diversity, attitude, motivation, interaction, participation, etc)

There were 26 students in her class. She has 16 girls and ten boys. Each student has their assign
seat because she gives warning to one of the students to not seating assign seat. Most of our
students from Mexico and she also had three Somalian students. As I observed whoever seating
front they were more active than whoever seating back side of class.
11-What did you see that is effective in engaging students? What do you see that is
ineffective in keeping students engaged?

Effective: She was preparing her class very well. First, she started with a warm up question
which is it was given idea to what they are learning that day. And activity made the students
active all class periods.
Ineffective: Some of the groups finish early, and they asked teacher for any other worksheet.
Maybe she should have extra work for smart kids.

12-What are the two instructional strategies you observed and would like to apply in your
classroom?

Starting with a warm up question and being active while students were doing their activity.
Instead of answer the student's questions she made ask each other and made them critical
thinking about their problems.

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

I only observed her class one time but she is our department head, and I was asked her how we
can handle our students. Because she is working for this school more than six years. She gave me
suggestions. First, she said when you teach your students your voice level should be high and
very clear. Second, always follow your class rules and newer give up to followings rules. I still
tried to use her suggestions but not always working. For some kids, I am skipping some rules
because they are making me crazy.