Walkthrough Observations
Bret Jacobsen
Western Governors University
Walkthrough Observations
A. Data Report: The walkthroughs were done over multiple weeks where the practicum site administrator and I observed teachers ten minutes at a time by dropping in unannounced. Data was entered into observer tab for each visit, including a personal stickie note detailing something positive observed during the drop-in visit, which was given to the teacher or left by the teacher’s computer to provide feedback. Attached is the report showing the Data Analysis: Teacher Over Time for each of the five teachers observed, followed by a Drop-In Observation Summary, a bar graph tool, which shows the three strongest areas in the classroom as:
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The posted schedule for the day is the agenda outlining the specifics for the day. For example, in a language arts or math class you might have on the board: Chromebooks, textbooks, calculators, so that scholars would know the order for the day. Work Display is getting more teachers to post student work. There are three teachers in the building that are great examples of posting students work, the administration needs to get more teachers posting students work, which probably isn’t the most important thing they could be doing, so minimal time could be spent reminding teachers.
Proximity is a strength of the school; therefore, the school doesn’t have a great deal of classroom management issues. We reflected on the importance of Voice and Tasking in the classroom, but out of all the thigs to look at from the Drop-In tool, we both agreed that the highest leveraged piece to improve student learning was having Posted Learning Targets, and understanding why objectives should be posted, to help scholars narrow the
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From my observation, the objectives were too broad and big, teachers keep going and going, and students never have time to work on their own.
In conclusion, overall, classroom instruction and effectiveness is improving, however, not enough to where the scholars are getting the independent practice they need, therefore the learning levels are still not high, because the scholars need the individual practice in the classroom. There seems to be an awful lot of teacher talk time, and scholars are doing more-scholar engagement is high, but will be even better when the whole school implements sheltered instruction on a consistent
Stiggins, R., & Chappuis, J. (2008). Enhancing Student Learning. Retrieved from July 2009 from, http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticlepf.aspx?articleid=1362.
Teachers themselves are often left to make the best of what little they have to work with. A narrow curriculum with little for scholars to decide themselves leaves them feeling like completing cookie-cutter worksheets is boring and pointless. Over time, students begin to hold educators with contempt and become disgusted by school and the tedious, rote labor that comes with it. With no enthusiasm, defeated students scores plummet and the faculty in turn can develop a bad attitude about students. The worst part is this combination produces a negative loop that often only spirals further downward.
.... (2007). Tips for teaching: Differentiating instruction to include all students. Preventing school failure, 51(3), 49-54.
As a teacher in training, I have very limited in-classroom experience and depend heavily on the expertise of professors as well as a variety of books and articles published on education. I am convinced that a learner centered approach to instruction is of fundamental importance and that it will inform most teaching decisions I will need to make to become an effective educator. Knowing as much about the students before school even begins will help structure the content material and guide the instruction methods. Along with this, knowing what the school provides in terms of environment and materials will help formulate a plan to give students every possible opportunity for achievement and success. Wong (2005) defines classroom management as “all of the things that a teacher does to organize students, space, time and materials so that student learning can take place” (p. 84).
There are many flaws within it that could slowly but surely go downhill with time. Students should be provided with more extracurricular activities that will benefit themselves later on in the future. In the documentary “Mad Hot Ballroom” by Marilyn Agrelo students were given an opportunity to join dance in their community to help them get out of the reality that they face at home. By giving these students a chance at something they had never done and seemed foreign to them they gained many life skills. They were shown on how to be competitive, work with strangers, become responsible, and much more “Let's use this trick eye-to-eye connection I am serious take a look at each other like if it were the last time in your life”. These students have learned to follow directions and keep track someone which could help them when they are in the classroom with a teacher. It may seem like a minor detail but it will help them stay focused on someone when they would really need it. By listening to the dance teacher's directions they become people that will easily comply with a set of instructions that are handed to them and have no trouble doing them as well. These students also face reality one step at a time also earlier than most of their peers will “some people don’t have the opportunity,and it's not their fault it's their parents problem”. Their eyes are opened to what it means to lose or not be able to
Zeichner, K. & Noffke, S. (2001). Practioneer research. In V. Richardson (Ed.). Handbook of research on teaching (4th ed., p. 298-300). Washington, D.C.: American Educational Research Association.
As Classroom Teacher analyzed student achievement data and behavior to build culture, drive immediate and long-term instructional decisions; provided live coaching to teachers on behavior
All effective educators need to find ways to motivate their students. The kids that fill our classrooms have different strengths and weaknesses. It is critical that teachers recognize the strengths and weaknesses of their students so they can use the right classroom management strategies to motivate their kids. In this particular case, the student named Jodie is inattentive and uninterested and neither the teacher intern or classroom teacher have a clue how to handle this situation. Ms. Marcia Thomas, who is the young intern feels that Jodie is just a problem child that lacks motivation and there is nothing she can do for this particular student. Ms. Thomas and the lead teacher Ms. Egan both lack the needed classroom management strategies that are necessary to motivate and engage students in a positive learning environment.
My teaching career has been spent learning how to provide appropriate support, guidance, patience, & understanding, as well as to enhance academic growth & success, for all students. My purpose as a teacher is to enrich and inspire the lives of young students with moderate/intensive needs by providing access to information instead of functioning as the primary source of information for students to flourish. My teaching methods will be to create an environment ripe with opportunities for discovery and exploration which will allow all students to learn at their own pace, generate questions and construct knowledge, while providing hands-on practice of skills in authentic situations as well as to make learning intriguing and meaningful to all students. Carefully planned and constructed learning environment will also allow the teacher more time to meet the individual needs of each student. Another important factor to a well-prepared learning environment is to facilitate learning, and providing students with balance and consistency (2004). Young students require a balance between various classroom dimensions, including activities guided by the teacher and independent work, quiet work and active work, gross motor and fine motor activities, and open and closed aspects to the curriculum and classroom materials (2004). Consistency is also a required condition for learner success. Schedules (daily and weekly), the enforcement of classroom rules, and student expectations should not be in flux but remain consistent. Without a sense of consistency in the classroom, school life would lack the necessary feeling of safety and reliability young children need to focus, to take risks, and to t...
The job of a teacher is never easy but we have seen how cooperative discipline and enabling students to feel capable, connected and contributing can improve classroom management and maybe even our own moods. If we create an environment of mutual respect and give our students legitimate power of voice and choice in the classroom we will see positive results in improved student behavior and student achievement. Because when our students believe that they can succeed, they will.
The classroom should be a democratic environment where students choose what they want to learn. The teacher and stud...
The teacher was rated using a rubric with specific criteria in four domains including planning and preparation, the classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities (Hillsborough County Public Schools, 2012). Within each of these domains are components which are the performance factors that are relevant to classroom teachers. In domain one the components include: demonstrating knowledge of content and pedagogy, demonstrating knowledge of students, setting instructional outcomes, demonstrating knowledge of resources and technology, designing coherent instruction, and designing student assessments. The components for domain two include: creating an environment of respect and rapport, establishing a culture for learning, managing classroom procedures, managing student behavior, organizing physical space. In domain three the components included are: communicating with students, using questioning and discussion, engaging students in learning, using assessment in instruction, and demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness. There is only one component that was rated for domain four which is reflecting on teaching.
...al with class management issues, it is clear that it is not enough for a teacher just know how to implement different strategies or tactics. We should also emphasize to pool the teachers’ efforts together (by different grades). We need to provide the support to each other’s class management, and share the most effective strategies and tactics.
Of all the variables in a comprehensive literature review classroom management had the largest effect on student achievement. Therefore, teachers need to provide clear purpose and strong guidance regarding both academics and student behavior. Teachers and students need to collaborate as a team sharing concerns about the needs and opinions of others. Teachers should be aware of high-needs students and have a plethora of specific techniques for meeting some of their needs. Positive support from the parents, administration, support personnel and the community to bring about positive changes in student behavior is also necessary. Teachers can make a modification; they can construct a community that nurtures and develops social and emotional skills as well as academic
John W. Gardner said, “Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants.” Education today is very ineffective. It is in an in between phase of the ways of old and a time of complete reform. The main issue is that people often lose sight of why the education system should even be reformed. It shouldn’t be reformed because “that’s what everyone else is doing.” It needs to be reformed to bridge the gap for the students who have a different learning style. It should be reformed to expand knowledge for students. Education reform can have good and bad effects. Because the education system is very complex, educators are being faced with changes and they must decide what is best for students.