Directions: A requirement to successfully complete Education 1100 is the completion of a minimum of 15 hours spent observing in a public

school K-12 classroom. While observing you are to look for the following indicators, provide examples, and reflect on your observations for
each indicator. You may or may not see all indicators listed below due to the limited amount of time you spend in your cooperating teachers
classroom. You are however required to learn more about each indicator. Therefore you must have a conversation with your cooperating
teacher to understand the indicators not observed.

Classroom Setting
Indicators

Examples

Classroom Atmosphere:
Teacher- student and studentstudent interactions.

Teacher have a relationship with the

student, so the student can eventually do
what the teacher asks.

Classroom procedures:
Groups, materials, supplies,
transitions, and, routines.

Cellphone alarm, and alarm on the

smart board, gets reset every time by the
same student, is used for transitions.
Just in case, she also reminds them that
its time for a transition by saying,
station change.
MGC- Make Good Choices
The student makes a reflection if they
are doing bad behaviors.
Respect yourself, property, and others.

Chrome books.
Students desks arranged in groups.

Classroom behavior:
Expectations/rules,
monitoring, and response.
Classroom layout:
Arrangement of furniture,
resources for student use, and
technology integration.

Reflection
This is something I would make sure to do right off the
bat when I become a teacher. Being able to connect with
your students and have that teacher-student
relationship, youll be able to communicate with them
easily.
I like the idea of the alarm on the smart board and
having that one student have the role of resetting the
alarm, it gives them that sense of responsibility. And in
case the class is caught up on the previous activity,
announcing that its time to transition is good too.
I dont really understand the whole MGC idea. I like
that when she mentions to a child to make good choices
they understand her and listen to what she says, but I
dont think Ill use that rule in my classroom.
I dont like that their always on their chrome books and
even for vocabulary. I would rather have them look up
vocab words in the dictionary just so that know that
there are other resources that are available to them. And
I do love that their in groups instead of rows.

Teaching
Indicators
Communication: Learning
outcomes, expectations,
directions, explanation of
content, use of vocabulary.

Examples

Conversation
Help
Activity
Movement
Participation
Success
Always announces all As
At the end of the day, she picks 2 students that
behaved and followed instructions that day; does the
same thing for her math class.
Skyscraper question starters, levels 1-6.
Closz read- ask deeper questions.

Reflection
I like that she announces all As because that
way students would want to work just as hard
as that A student so they can get announced as
well. And the awards she hands out for best
behaviors is a good idea too because that way
the students have to make sure they behave if
they want to be noticed by their classmates in a
positive way.

Questioning and discussion:

Blooms Taxonomy and wait
time.

Student Participation
techniques

Manage mat, popsicle sticks with each of the students

name on it, and Kagan.

Activities and assignments

Hands on, Kagan; has lessons, and the students work

on it together.

Kagan is a great way for all the students to be

engaged in the classroom. Something I will
definitely use in the future in my classroom.

Grouping of students: Whole

class, small groups, pairs,
individual, etc.

The students are in small groups, and sometimes they

work individually, but if they ever have difficulty with
something they work with another classmate.

Materials and resources:

Primary and secondary

Primary: Common Core standards with curriculum

Secondary: Internet, Common Core worksheets.com-

I liked seeing that she didnt scold any of the

students for getting out of their seats and
talking to other classmates, because she knows
that they are only up because they are asking
another classmate for help. She would even
check up on the students to make sure that they
are doing their work. If they were my students,
I would make sure my students are working
efficiently as well.
Im sure its mandated by the district that
teachers use common core standards with

I would use closz read with maybe an older

group level. I do like the skyscraper question
starter and that it has different levels, so its for
all readers, even if their not on the same
reading level.
Having the students name on popsicle sticks is
great for wanting to pick randomly, thats
something I would do in my classroom.

sources

only for math.

curriculum and I too will make sure to use

common core when I become a teacher.
I like that she makes sure all the students are in
their appropriate grade level when it comes to
the reading groups. I will make sure to group
my students the same way!
I would do that also because if it is too
challenging for the student, I wouldnt want
him/her stressing over it.
I like how in the beginning of the year each
student shares their culture with the rest of the
class, its a great idea for everyone to know a
bit of their classmates backgrounds.

Pacing: Gaining attention,

transitions, reflection, closure,
wait time, etc.

Yes! In guided reading groups; are paced at

appropriate reading levels.

Improvisation: Making
adjustments, flexibility based
on the student needs
Student interests, culture, and
other diversity incorporated

For ELA, if a student cant do a problem she crosses it

out for them to not do it.

Me Bag- Beginning of the school year, the student

brings a bag with anything from their culture to share
with the class.
Their reading a book called, Maniac Magee.
She even brings up racism and racial tensions.

Lesson Planning
Indicators
Concepts, skills,
prerequisites, and
pedagogy

Examples

Student abilities,
interests, learning
styles, level of
knowledge, culture,
background, and
needs.
Learning outcomes
linked to standards
within and outside of
the discipline that are
able to be assessed
based on a diverse
population of
students.

Reflection

Took courses on professional

development, a technology class, and a
gifted program.
Pedagogy- Science of teaching.

I know when I become a teacher Ill

make sure take some courses as well,
because I want to keep on furthering my
education.

Partners working together, making

modifications to their work load.
Also some modifications- Religious
sacrifices.

I will always have partners course work

because that way if a student is stuck
they can ask their classmate and I would
also make modifications based on
religious sacrifices.

She is not accountable for either high or

low students.

I can see why the teacher is not

accountable for high or low students in
the classroom. She gives the same
amount of seatwork to both high and low
students. I will make sure to do the
same, when it comes to seatwork for the
students.

Classroom Resources
to enhance the
teachers professional
knowledge and
appropriately
challenging student
materials that fit the
learning needs of all
students.
Learning activities
sequentially designed
to engage and
advances students
learning.
Intentionally
organized student
groups created to
support learning.

Gifted class, enrichment, level of

difficulty.
Blooms Taxonomy.

Blooms taxonomy is such a great way of

learning. Something I will make sure to
use in my classroom when it comes to
reading with the students.

Blooms Taxonomy.
Front Row- Used for math, has lessons
and tests, even videos on how to do
certain problems.

Students work with each other.

She always has a high student work with
a medium student or a medium student
with a low student. Never a high student
working with a low student.

Quizzes, exit slips, journals, four square.

Front Row is a great website to use for

math. I really like how it has lessons and
tests as well and your able to see the
scores the students get. Something I will
definitely be using to math!
I like how she has a high student and a
medium student working together,
instead of a high and low student. That
way the high student will have someone
close to their level and the low student
wont feel like their not smart enough.
I too will have quizzes, exit slips,
journals, four square when it comes to
formative and summative assessments.

Formative and
summative
assessments aligned
to learning outcomes
that drive planning
and instruction.

Assessment
Indicators
Criteria expectations

Monitoring student learning

Examples

Not the same for every kid.

Needs and abilities.
Wants quality work.
Individual expectations.
Daily, questions, grade book-formal assessments.

Reflection
I would also want to see quality work from all
the students. And the student will have
assignments thats to their ability and need.
Every student has individual expectations.
To monitor the students, I will also do it daily
and Ill ask them questions. Ill be marking

Feedback: Timely,
substantive, constructive,
teacher proximity, provides
guidance.

Constructive criticism.
Tests, graded that night.
She stands next to them when being bad.

Student participation: Selfmonitoring.

CHAMPS
They know the expectations before the lesson.

Formative Assessment

Front Row, see where their at.

Common Core Standards- what they dont know.
Forming her instruction.

Summative Assessment

ELA packet.
Unit tests.

Grading system: Traditional,

standards-based

If a student is trying, she wont let them fail.

Ex: Math test, if received a low grade a student can get it
up with test corrections.
Doesnt grade the same for everyone.
Grades students on what she expects from them.

down the formal assessments into the grade

book as well.
Giving students constructive criticism will help
motivate them to keep try harder. And I like
that she grades the tests right away to give it to
the students the next day, because Im sure
their anxious to find out what their grade was
on the assignment. Thats something I plan on
doing also when I become a teacher.
Thats great that the students know and are
aware of the expectations in the classroom.
That is something I will make sure to mentions
in the beginning of the school and throughout
the year.
With Front Row you can see where their at and
what the student mostly struggles with. Thats
something I really like about that website. And
Common Core Standards helps form her
instruction and I know it will help me too
when I become a teacher.
I like that for English block, the ELA packet
touches on reading comprehension,
vocabulary, and writing skills. Since all the
students arent at the same level, this packet is
a great way to practice these skills to their
abilities.
If I see that a student is trying their hardest on
wanting to bring their grade up, I will make
sure to change their F to a C with make up
work or test corrections, but if they dont care
or dont show me that they tried to better their
grade then I wont put any effort either. I too
will grade the students on what I expect from
them.

Teacher Interview
1. What ways do you find yourself reflecting on your teaching practices? For example do you think your conversations with your
colleagues, journal writing, examining student work, conversations with your students, or just thinking about your teaching for the
day?
One hour at home, all day long reflecting, in the shower, wishing she can turn off her brain for the day, but she cant.
2. How does reflecting on your teaching practices drive your future instruction?
Hourly, daily, weekly. Everyday trying to meet the needs of the children.
3. What method do you use to keep track of grades and homework completion?
The method she uses to keep track of their grades and homework completions is an excel sheet- late work is circled,
anything highlighted is extra credit. Engrade- calculate their grades.
4. What assessment does the district use to determine a students ability at the beginning of the year and what assessment is used to
determine progress? Do you use any other forms of classroom assessment to determine academic progress?
The assessment the district uses is CBM; Beginning- Math on application, happens in October then again in the spring to
see growth. Its 2 math assessments and 1 reading assessment. She puts their results in a chart to see where they are. Other
forms of classroom assessment to determine academic progress is slate work, quizzes, culminating activities to test
explaining.
5. Can you tell me about the Rti process in your school district? What is the process to refer a student for special services?
A student gets pulled out for 30 minutes, they meet with her 5 days a week, in same group/level. The process to refer a
student for special services is problem-solving, team meeting, bring up a student that might be a concern.
6. What methods would you suggest for keeping yourself organized? For example what method do you use to keep track of parent
contact, when students turn in permission slips, lunch count, attendance or picture day money?
To keep herself organized she has bins for Monday-Friday that holds her papers. The students get their own filing bin and
for permission slips she has a class list and marks the names of who turned in the permission slip.
7. How do you keep your students families informed about what is going on in the classroom or with their individual student?

She keeps her students families informed with a classroom page through the internet, and she texts her students parents.
The students families dont abuse the text messages.
8. Do you encourage parental participation and volunteering in your classroom? Why or why not?
Yes, but most of the students parents work. Sometimes it is a distraction, but she does encourage parents to come in.
9. Do you meet with your grade level partners on a regular basis? Do you have collaborative plan time built in your schedules? What
is discussed at these meetings? Is this district or school mandated or do you find time to collaborate yourselves?
She meets with her grade level partners twice a week, they also do group texts. Its mandated by districts that they plan
together. On Tuesdays they converse about student concerns and on Thursdays they are planning.
10. What clubs, coaching, or committees are you involves in beyond the school day? Does you district compensate employees for
sponsoring, coaching, or committee membership? Is there a minimal requirement?
She is in the running club, which is for fun and the curriculum writing committee-SEL-Social, emotional, learning. Yes, the
district compensates employees. She is not sure if there is a minimal requirement.
11. Does your administrator solicit feedback from teachers on school initiatives? What kind of initiatives are taking place in your
school right now?
Yes, her administrator solicits feedback from teachers on school initiatives. The initiatives taking place is Second Step- AntiBully program and Connections-With fourth graders to connect with them.
12. How do you stay current on hot topics in education or best practices?
Read books, attends seminars- gifted and technology seminar, and professional development on Wednesday.
13. Do you attend workshops or participate in professional development activities? What are the most recent ones you have
participated in?
Gifted and technology seminars.
14. Are you a member of any professional organizations? If so, which ones?
School PTA.
15. Are you on any leadership teams or are you in charge of any committees? What are your roles on these committees?
No.
16. If you knew then what you know now, what advice would you give me?

Teach where your heart belongs.

17. What is the most rewarding thing about being a teacher?
Watching her kids grow socially and academically.
18. What is the most challenging this about being a teacher?
When a child has a melt down, and being emotionally charged then having to instruct like nothing happened. She usually
gets a 5 minute break by having her kids independent read.