OBSERVATION FORM

OPENING DAY IN YOUR PRACTICUM SCHOOL

 

 

What the teacher says and does on the first day of school helps set the tone for that class during the rest of the term.  Record your observations, reactions, and insights in the following areas:

 

  1. How the furniture is arranged in the room.  What kind of mood or atmosphere does it set for the students?

 

 

  1. How the room is decorated.  What has the teacher placed on the walls and on shelves?

 

 

 

  1. How the teacher interacts with students.   Does he/she greet them as they enter?  Interact with everyone during the class period?

 

 

 

 

  1. How the teacher begins the class.  How much time is taken for attendance?  How are students seated?  Does the teacher spend time on community building activities? 

 

 

 

 

  1. How the teacher explains the curriculum to be studied in that class.  Is there a syllabus?  Are the students given an introduction/overview of the textbook(s) to be used? 

 

 

 

  1. How the rules and procedures for classroom management are established.  Are rules posted in the classroom?  Do the students and teacher create them together?  Does the teacher explain the grading system? 

 

 

 

  1. How the instruction is delivered.  Does the teacher lecture most of the period?  Does he/she use small groups to discuss issues?  A combination?