Educ 280 Signature Assignment Timecard and Journal Entries
Educ 280 Signature Assignment Timecard and Journal Entries
Total
Hours:
*Your Total Hours must equal 30 or higher for course credit
Video 1
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: Mr. Adler had a lot of unique methods some of them I found strange,
regardless of my thoughts I saw how effective they were. The first thing I noticed was how he taught his students to snap their fingers to show praise for getting an
answer correct or putting in effort in general. The class was really engaged so there was a lot of snapping. The next thing he taught his students was listening. Every
time a student speaks, the entire class must turn and wiggle their fingers in the direction of the student who is talking to show that they are listening. Lasty, he
taught his students to direct their attention to whatever he needed them to by saying the word “track”. If he wanted their attention on him, he would say “track
me”, he would do this for several things.
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Video 2
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: In this observation, Dr. Jay did a lesson on modeling, specifically
airplane models. For this lesson she had students read aloud and help with demonstrations. She would also have them try things on their own so they
would stay interested. For example, she had the student put their papers to their mouth and make it vibrate while she was talking about air pressure.
Shortly after she used a balloon, a cardboard toilet paper tube, a ping pong ball, and a hair dryer for a demonstration as well. Overall, it was easy to
tell she has a passion for teaching because how much fun she has with the kids and how she is able to create an environment that the kids feel
comfortable participating in.
Video 3
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: This is a middle school history lesson. The topic specifically was about gun
laws. For the lesson the teacher had the students write down three points about where they stand on regulating guns. He then split them into groups and allowed
them to share their viewpoints and make arguments. One of the things I liked about this lesson is that he had the students prepare for the debate ahead of time in
their homework. I like that because it made the discussion go more smoothly. The teacher also provided a word list that made the kids sound more professional and
mature during the class period. I felt his instructions were clear and straight to the point.
Video 4
Title of video: TPSD First Grade, Phonics First, Lesson 13c Level 2
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Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: This is a first-grade phonics lesson. In this lesson the teacher used flash cards
and small white boards to teach the kids. One method she used that I liked a lot was switching back and forth. When she used the flash cards, she had the kids
sitting on a big rug reading them aloud, then they would “tip toe” back to their seats to see if they could spell the words they worked on. Not only did she test their
pronunciations, but she was able to test their spelling as well. This method worked because the kids didn’t have to focus on one thing too long. She would also have
them read sentences to their closest peers. Another thing I liked was how she encouraged her students.
Video 5
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: I do not know what class this was for specifically, but this was a lesson on
finding answers in text. This lesson did not stand out and while I think it would be difficult to make this lesson more exciting, I didn’t see the teacher using a lot of
interesting techniques either. At the beginning of the class, he did a great job of explaining what they would learn and why it was important but the rest of the class
he just had the kids doing the same thing over and over which was going over examples. He would have them read the text and they would have to answers the
questions he asked based on the reading. I would need to think more about how I would do things differently, but I do think it going over examples like that would
help students just not for the entire class period.
Video 6
Title of video: AP Biology Class Observation
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: This is a biology lesson about mitosis. In this lesson the teacher began with a
lecture and the students took notes. During her lecture I liked how she asked questions that got the students thinking. Her questions also prepared them later on
for the next activity. I think the best thing about this lesson was the teachers pacing. She didn’t spend too long on notes but long enough to prepare the students for
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the main part of the lesson. The next activity was making physical model of the phases of mitosis. The students used clear plastic cups and small figurines to figures
out the correct order of mitosis. While the students worked in pairs she assisted anyone who needed help.
Video 7
Title of video: 4th Grade Reading
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: This was a 4th grade reading lesson on how to identify character traits in text.
I liked how the teacher taught the students how to reflect and use what they learned in the past to build on what they’re about to learn. This was one of my
favorite observations because of the hidden curriculum. This teacher really emphasized how to identify traits, how to reflect, how to collaborate, and how to find
good quality sources. She allowed students to use technology and made sure they knew how to find appropriate information.
Video 8
Title of video: Grades 2-3 Informational Writing Lesson
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: This lesson was about teaching students how to organize what they already
know about a topic before they start writing a paper. I felt this lesson really worked for the kids because the teacher had lots of phrases and hand motions to go
with them to help them remember certain things. She worked through an example organizer with the kids and used sticks to call on students. Normally I am not a
fan of using sticks, but I did like the way this teacher used them. Instead of right or wrong answers she used them to give them choices. The student gets to choose
out of three options whatever they want.
Video 9
Title of video: Grade 4 Opinion Writing Lesson
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: This lesson was for 4th grade opinion writing and it was the same teacher in
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video 8. I think this teacher gives really clear instruction. She checks for understanding by having her students repeat things back to her. She does a great job on
walking the kids through the lesson by doing a detailed example. I liked how she emphasized the importance of using evidence to back up a claim.
Video 10
Title of video: Snapshot of a 1st grade math lesson
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: While this lesson was not the most engaging, I think the teacher did a good
job at helping students one on one when they needed it. I think I would take a more creative approach while teaching a math lesson. I notice a lot of the lessons I
liked the most have teachers who have more of an upbeat way of teaching. I think using more visuals would have enhanced the lesson or even physical models to
represent fractions.
Video 11
Title of video: Snapshot of a kindergarten reading lesson
Write a quick summary below, between 150 to 300 words (approximately) about what you noticed on this video. You are free to discuss what this teacher did well,
what they could have done differently and/or what you might do in a similar situation: In this reading lesson I felt the teacher had a very soft spoken approach that
was still engaging. She had a gentle way about how she addressed the kids which I really liked. What I liked the most about this particular lesson was how she broke
everything down into small details. I think younger children don’t notice the smaller things and it was cool how she pointed things out during the story they read.
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Task 2. Journal 1 & 2 Combined Journal Assignment
Task 1. Classroom Management
YouTube Observations
Question 1 – Do you think your teacher has successfully created a productive learning environment? Why or
why not?
A teacher I observed who went by Dr. Jay seemed to have a small classroom. I don’t think she utilized the space
the best because when she did demonstrations for her 5th grade class not every student could see what she was
doing that well. I also felt the walls were a bit busy, I couldn’t identify a spot of the wall that wasn’t covered.
With that being said, I don’t think the kids care about the wall that much and I don’t think the spacing issue was
entirely her fault as I can imagine it would be difficult to arrange the desks better. Overall, the students were
engaged so the environment didn’t cause issues.
Question 2 – What techniques does the teacher use to keep students actively involved in academic activities?
Dr. Jay did a lesson on modeling, specifically airplane models. For this lesson she had students read aloud and
help with demonstrations. She would also have them try things on their own so they would stay interested. For
example, she had the student put their papers to their mouth and make it vibrate while she was talking about air
pressure. Shortly after she used a balloon, a cardboard toilet paper tube, a ping pong ball, and a hair dryer for a
demonstration as well.
Question 3 – How is your teachers “withitness?” In other words, do they have command of the classroom? Do
they have great systems of classroom management in place?
I felt she was a well put together teacher, her pacing was spot on as well. She knew exactly when to move onto
the next thing. Because of that there was never a moment where it seemed like she needed to draw them back
or get their attention. Since I am not there every day it is difficult to tell if that’s how it is normally but based on
what I saw she had great control of the classroom. In other observations I felt like many of the teachers spent
too much time on things they shouldn’t have.
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Question 5 – How or where are the rules posted in your classroom? How were they created? By the students
or the teacher?
In many of the classrooms the rules are posted either near the classroom door or in the general area the teacher
lectures from. One set of rules that stood out was when the teacher had the students create the rules
themselves. He told the students the rules were even more important now that they made them on their own
because that means if they break a rule, they can’t say they didn’t know what they meant or what they were.
They have no excuses.
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Task 2. Curriculum
Question 1 – Give an example of when the teacher used integrated curriculum across subjects (i.e. combining
science and language arts)
While teaching about airplane models, Dr. Jay had the students reading and writing down vocabulary. She even
emphasized the importance of spelling things correctly.
Question 4 – Can you tell what kind of learner the teacher is from his/her instructional preferences?
I couldn’t really tell with any of the teachers because all of them used a variety of methods to instruct. If I was in
the classroom consistently with any of the teachers I think I could after seeing what they do on a daily basis.
Question 5 – Do you think the teacher adapts the curriculum to the types of learners in the classroom?
One teacher in particular allowed student to choose how they wanted to take notes. He gave the students the
options of handwriting them or using their laptops. I was surprised to see than many of them still chose to hand
write the notes.
Question 6 – Does your teacher like the curriculum he/she is teaching?
Dr. Jay seemed enthusiastic while teaching, she had a lot of energy and was even laughing a bit while giving her
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lesson. I would say she liked what she was teaching simply because she got a lot of joy while demonstrating
things for the class.
Question 1 – What kind of technology was used in the class(es) you observed? Was it effective?
Many teachers used projectors to show things on the board and the students often had laptops to work on. I
think the technology is incredibly effective. Of course there are times it’s not needed but most of the time it gets
the job done just as good if not better in some situations.
Question 2 – What type of technology might you use when you start your teaching career?
I really like the projector because It is an easy way to show students whatever you need to.
Question 3 – Do you think it is harder or easier to incorporate technology into your classroom?
I think it is easier to incorporate technology into the classroom because it can be used by students to turn in
homework, work on homework, take notes, research, and communicate.
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Task 4. Diversity