Formal Classroom Observation #3

Classroom Cultural Diversity

EDTE 255 requires the prospective teacher candidate to complete specific classroom
and school observations. The observations build on your prior experience in classrooms
(if you have any) and are intended to help you focus on issues of importance in
California schools. Read through the questions and prompts below. This will give you an
idea of what to look for and what kinds of information to collect.
Write a summary report in narrative format (no more than a few pages). Provide
information and address ideas in the questions and prompts below. Make sure to also
include your responses to the reflection questions.

Questions and Prompts:

Describe the students in the class. Think broadly about their differences going beyond
race and ethnicity. What appears to be the range of ability levels, socioeconomic
differences, languages spoken, personalities, etc. that are present among the students?
There are two girls in the class and in the description the teacher mentioned that one of
the girls had trouble interacting with peers. When seeing them participate you can tell
one girl was more comfortable than the other.
How does the teacher engage all students in the lesson? The teacher allows the girls to
take turns demonstrating what they have learned and to practice engaging in a
conversation.
Does instruction involve students in a variety of learning styles? Which mode of
learning seemed to be most effective? The teacher was showing the students videos
and then having them model what they saw and what they learned. This seemed to
work out because the girls seemed to engage in a conversation almost on their own.
Were different learning styles being addressed? If yes, give specific examples. If you
were a student in the class you observed, would your learning style have been
addressed? The students were given visual and audio as well as actual hands on
practicing. My learning style would have been addressed bc Waite I’m both visual and
hands in practicing.
How involved were students in learning activities? What indicators or examples did you
notice? The girls were involved one of the girls needed a little more encouragement to
participate where the teacher asked her what she thought for her to speak but overall
both girls were willing to participate and actually try when it came to modeling a
conversation.
How did the teacher work with a variety of students, such as the reluctant learner; the
shy student; the English learner? The physically, emotionally, academically challenged
student?Did it appear that the teacher had modified instruction to better serve the needs
of culturally diverse students? What evidence, if any, can you report? I think she made
the environment comfortable for the girls by working in a small group and keeping a
positive attitude and reinforcing the girls throughout the video.
Did you observe any instances of students being excluded from learning because their
needs were not being met? How was this displayed? How did it seem to impact the
student and his or her behavior during instruction? The teacher did a good job by
including both girls and making sure she maintains the same positive attitude when
interacting with both girls.
Reflection:
I think the challenge I will face would be overthinking and maybe even doubting myself.
I would probably sometimes feel like I'm not doing enough for every student and will
keep striving to do more and to do better even if I'm doing everything correctly already. I
tend to overthink situations which lead to having a hard time making decisions and with
a diverse group of students it's important to constantly be making decisions and plans
that will help each student grow. I learned that there will always be diversity in a
classroom and that it is extremely important to take into account every student's needs.
I also learned a lot of what the teachers put into their lesson planning. What they use to
make sure they create an engaging lesson for their students. I notice that many of the
teachers seem to maintain a positive and outgoing attitude when they are working with
the students. I notice them being very reassuring and showing the students positively
mentally that they can feed off of. I also noticed that when teachers guide students they
aren't punishing students for not giving them a specific answer and instead are
providing the positive and comfortable environment that will encourage students to
participate and the teachers build off of the student response.Some of the ideas I plan
on taking with me are making sure I show my students a positive attitude and making
sure that the environment in my classroom is always welcoming and accepting. I
learned how to help students participate and what it takes to be able to provide an
education that meets a variety of students' needs. I don't think I would change anything
that the teachers in these videos did. They all showed determination and showed what it
takes to provide an environment that provides support for both students academic and
personal wellbeing.