Teacher Observations

The goal of this activity is to illustrate classroom activities that are consistent with the guidelines in the NCTM Principles and Standards. As part of your field placement experience, it is important that you observe other teachers; however, you may use your cooperating teacher as one of the teachers. If possible, observe a teacher in a grade above or below one grade above and one grade below your cooperating teacher’s classroom.

Stage One You will observe two different teachers three times each, focusing on classroom activities, teaching methods, student participation, and/or classroom discourse that are consistent with the Principles in the Principles and Standards and highlight moments where you see them exemplified. This is to make you more aware of what the recommendations in the Principles and Standards look like in action.

Each time you observe you will be looking for a particular set of actions, behaviors, choices, or practices. You can choose any two of the six principles (Equity, Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, Assessment, Technology) to focus on and you will focus on those same two principles for both teachers. For example, if you choose the Equity principle you will use that as a lens when observing all three teachers the first time. You may choose the Curriculum principle for your second observation and again use that as the lens for observing all three teachers. During each observation you will take detailed notes on classroom activities, teaching methods, student participation, and/or classroom discourse in a notebook (no need to type these).

Before going into the classroom, you will state which principle you are using and write a one paragraph summary of what that principle entails. You need only write one summary per principle, but make sure you read through your summary before viewing each teacher to remind yourself of the details of that principle (e.g., technology, according to NCTM, refers only to calculators and computers, not overhead projectors nor marker board). In addition, please include the teacher you are observing, class, grade, and date at the top of your notes for each teacher.

Stage Two After reading through your notes, you will reflect on the class you observed and then describe one activity, method, etc. that was consistent with the recommendations in the Principles and Standards and how you knew it exemplified them. If you did not see such a lesson, describe how what you did see could be changed to better demonstrate the Principles and Standards’ recommendations. This description should be one paragraph to one page in length, and again, no need to type it. Simply include it after your notes from each teacher’s class.