Sarah Clemons EDUC 300 Observation Reflection

Describe the classroom(s) you observed with regard to student engagement, learning environment, and teacher-student interaction.
My observations were done inside a fourth grade classroom at Dawson Elementary. The classroom has three rows of desks which face the board at the front of the classroom. The teachers desk is in the back, and beside it sits a table with two computers that the students can use to take tests or look up research for projects. There is another table in the back with a rocking chair and several other chairs. When this table is not being used for small-group tutoring, any two students can sit there to do their work. The students sometimes work independently, practicing for the STAAR test, but usually the students actively participate in the lesson. This teacher has good relationships with her students. Being a particularly small class, with 15 students in the homeroom class and only 14 in the other, the students all have some face to face time with their teacher. She has great rapport with her class. She asks them about their basketball games, baseball games, Youth Expo, and other questions to let them know she cares and keeps up with what they do outside of class.

Describe the overall classroom management style practiced by the teacher. Did you find the management style conducive to learning? Did you observe the students being responsible for their actions? Describe how interruptions were handled by the teacher and by the students.
The discipline plan in fourth grade is a bit different from the other grades that I have seen. This teacher marches to the beat of her own drum. Her classroom management is unique and effective. The students are allowed to take off their shoes in class! In her own words, I hate wearing shoes. If I could get away with not wearing shoes at work, I would. I would like to add that she does require that they wear socks. Instead of using the color change system or a strike book, fourth grade has a mark sheet. The students get marks, which are explained, if they break the rules. On Monday, their conduct folders from the previous week are sent home for the parents to sign. Any students that do not receive any marks

Sarah Clemons EDUC 300 Observation Reflection

that week, get to eat lunch with the teacher on Friday. She told me that this reward, which seemed silly to me, had been such a great idea. She said that she has given significantly less marks than she had to before.

Describe the practices you observed that were designed to assist students who required additional instructional strategies including English Second Language, Limited English proficient, and students with learning disabilities. Did the practices appear to increase student learning and achievement? If so, how?
There are no ELL students in this fourth grade class. Only one student was in special education classes. He was not in the room for the science lessons, but he was in there for math. To accommodate him, the teacher would read questions to him, because most of his needs are for reading. She explained math questions to all of her students who needed help. There is also a tutoring period for the students who are behind their classmates in math. Rather than going to the computer lab, the lower level math students stay in the classroom with the teacher and work on math together. I observed them doing a tutoring lesson on division.

Describe strengths and weaknesses of the classroom(s) you observed along with practices you will do differently.
I saw many strengths in this classroom. I like that the students can take their shoes off and relax. If it were my classroom, I would allow the students to have a sock day when they are having a test, rather than every day. This would take some of the stress away from testing. I loved the lunch with teacher idea as well. It is a reward for good behavior and it shows the students that you like spending time with them. I liked the table in the back as well. Sometimes sitting in your seat can be stifling to students. Having a table in the back for them to take turns working at when they need a break is a good idea. I would change from the mark sheet to a strike book. In the strike book it doesnt just say what you did wrong, it tells exactly how many strikes before you go to the office or face other consequences. The only other important change I can think of is the number of

Sarah Clemons EDUC 300 Observation Reflection

rows of desks. I would change from three to four rows. I do not like an odd number of rows. I really think that this classroom set up was good for learning, despite the odd number of rows.