The following are notes from observations today:

Teachers room and coffee lounge greetings, hugs; friendly atmosphere colleagues work
closely together; large common room with computers good workspace (not too loud, still
engaging) square desks face one another; teams and groups; room filled/near empty depending
on times (breaks/beginning and end of day)
English class
Plan for the day on board write in planners/log books
1) Up to you/Free Learning students choose what subjects to work on (study hall)
2) Ireland Projects feedback and comments (corrections for
each person to focus on working on)
3) Debating Introduction (requested will try out to see if
class will use often or not)
4) Modern family (popular tv show) watch each Monday
5) Ideas for projects (open ended, student choice)
Ms. H. good teacher; student centered lessons; inquiries,
discussions, and ethics; works well with colleagues; respected;
works outside of
school/quality handouts
Ireland Projects going to Ireland in September for 1 week;
short research projects (assessed on turned in on time (y/n),
turned in complete (y/n) Language, Structure, Correct
information, Enough information, Layout)
Teacher identified common themes/mistakes that class had
with grammar, syntax, etc. Review ways to improve/correct
issues with writing in English
8 handouts main concepts/guides/explanations for texts;
sentences find mistakes and change (rewrite sentences
learning about Dublin and Ireland)
Subject, predicate, direct/indirect object
Individual sheets what topics to work on (word order,
grammar, simple present, capital letters, linking words,
people = Leute, peoples = Volker; since and for; it gives it
is/was; interested vs. interesting; bored vs. boring)
Internships what one should/should not do; responsibilities and employers
Herr E - internships
Mr. S student teacher from Hamburg
Leaving room to work not especially efficient teacher
must go farther to consult with groups
Worksheets = task to complete; students work at own
pace? Or not at all... do seem to complete work on their
own/social learning
Paper throwing things and physical horseplay more
common; bizarre tendency to shred and rip paper into little
pieces and leave on floors and tables (?)
Time management not unusual; allow time to work in
class
Other classrooms do not seem to allow as much flexibility leaving room (all in one space)
Math test on Friday
English/Social Studies (master teacher); well-planned/organized lesson

[AP] higher level course (more challenging, not easy)

Student responsibilities on chart cleaning the room (sweeping and wiping chalkboard clean)
also in other English classroom (students sweep and clean room at end of day)
efficient/interesting practice in German schools (adaptable to US classrooms)
Introduction/name on chalkboard overview (who, what, when, where, why?)
Questions why did you come to Germany and what is different about US and German schools
Avoid generalizations about diverse people
Write down questions on notes and ask during breaks or end of class, as teacher moves around
expert on American things
Email exam moved to Thursday
Homework - draw something with importance in life/ significant impact
Gallery walk leave on desks, walk around 10 minutes
Standardized testing
Problem with German schools = Unfairness, can apply to same with abitur from Hamburg vs.
Bavaria (rural)
Practice speaking in English reminders speak in English please)
Order/respect follow directions, when asked first time; high completion rate for homework
Asks students to first place backpacks/bags on floor and put away cell phones or technology out
of sight
Writes vocab terms on board in English and German; visual; bi-lingual; relevance; generated out
of discussion, teacher and students
1) What was the atmosphere in different pictures? What artistic tools were being used?
Pictures, photographs, places, sketches, people, animals, illustrations, watercolor, pencil (stick
figures on notebook paper), quality art
Discuss with partner/person beside you and take notes
2 minute warning (time management)
Geography of room long tables, facing front and sideways; all able to see/hear speaker at all
times; teacher circulates around to students ; large windows (natural lighting); writing and
drawings in pen/pencil on desks
Class dcor hanging pages/phrases in German; photographs of students; paper cranes; art
and illustrations
Laminated placards distributed to all students
printed in color on teachers personal printer
(spared no expense)
(Image/art analysis) - Allan Rohan Crite:
Schools Out (1936)
William H. Johnson: Cotton Pickers (ca. 1940)
Essential questions and quote
Discussion with peers; answers to questions
Romanticized view artistic tool; what does it
mean?
Do you understand what to do? take notes
Segregation = Rassentiennung
Freedom is indivisible (definition/background in
paragraph)
Class distraction loud noises/music from outside (older students leaving/walking around
school)
Time and context dates not always accurate
Emancipation befreiung
Wait time allow students time to complete work

What do you observe from the pictures? Inferences?

Compare/Contrast black and white (symbolism in painting)
Where are the white people in the photos?
Compare with pictures you brought in today what are they like; colors; art
What you know about slavery vs. depictions of slavery differences? How would you imagine a
picture about slavery to look like?
Clarification of terms (translation German to English you mean romanticized) can you speak a
bit louder?
Styles of art abstract/minimalist vs. realism/romanticism
Call on students by name (know students); mention one side of class not very talkative today
(conscious and paying attention to who participates, encouraging further participation) some
students whispering to selves (group of boys)
How is time period being presented? Why? What/How would you expect to be depicted in
slavery?
What is the dream of society? How should Whites and Blacks interact?
Artists intention/purpose/perspective what is his/her outlook or societal presentation?
(conditions for in/equality, tolerance or cooperation (coexistence)
Hierarchies
Inquiries and follow up questions
Shh quiet when other students are talking only ask once; compliance
Too much chatting going on Sorry Mrs. E apology accepted
What is freedom? Are people truly free (mental as well as physical conditions political, social,
economic, social-cultural)
Asked US student teacher to read out quote in native English think/consider how one
paces/delivers words in English (German students learning/practicing English to develop
proficiency) using strengths as means of teacher peers (reciprocal learning teachers and
students together)
What terms/words does one need to know
Social structures institutionalized racism/discrimination/prejudice
Social boundaries, context of past and present
What social boundaries make the world/society today unfree?
Students sexuality expression; prejudice;
conventional norms; who determines rules of
society? (LGBT rights)
Crite slavery affects everyone; whites and
blacks; societal norms and stereotypes harmful to both parties
Sociology/critical race theory Marx,
Gramsci, etc. (societal boundaries)
Freedom = difficult concept to achieve
Stop addressed student talking dont
know how many times already addressed.
several times today; if have to ask again you
will need to leave the room
Ok leave the room quietly so as not to
distract others enforcing consequences
State of Louisiana Literacy test feedback; students took test, reflecting on results
Historical context/civil rights
Literacy ability to read and write
Right and wrong arbitrary (willkuerlich)
Power and balance of power

Rights to vote why not?

North vs. South what is already known? Differences in region and perspective
Abolishment of slavery
No packing up early at end of class not done yet (still have 1.5 minutes)
Thanks to 8-10 people who spoke today; those who did not may want to think about
participating more in next lessons, looking at why the North and South regarded things and
practices differently (and what they agreed on)
Other breaking news: Returned to host family Heeren in Bergedorf (family well again, no more
influenza)
Will see Markus again in program activities and Elbe Harbor tour on Sunday (?)
Dinner - chicken nuggets, tomato salad, potato wedges/seasoning, grape juice/ and quiet
water (without carbonated gas); ice cream sandwiches (chocolate shell and vanilla wafer
coating)
After food, work at dinner table - Andrea (travel agency), Josh (journals/edTPA), Nino
(German/math homework)