Preservice Teacher Classroom Teaching Observation

PST: Becca Crook Observer: Jo Williams Date: 06092013 Year 7 Science Area Comments /Feedback

Lovely beginning, clear communication to students, image 1) Lesson starts smoothly up on the overhead. Immediately the students were focused and promptly and promotes on and interested in what you were discussing. a positive atmosphere amongst the students. You have a great energy in the classroom Becca, it is clear you want to be here, and the students respond really well to that! The students clearly know what to expect from you, and moved quickly and calmly into their groups, and began working. You effectively and positively drew responses from students, providing feedback that encouraged and appreciated student contributions - this is great! You also used students own contributions to fuel interest, e.g. "Great point, we'll come back to that!" Etc. You know the students names which also contributes to a positive classroom. The lesson was planned really well, with various tasks and activities linking well, but also ensuring that student interest was maintained. A good combination of teacher talk and conversation and student active time!

2) The management of the lesson helps to elicit and maintain students attention, interest and motivation. 3) The pace and flow of the lesson is maintained at an appropriate level and transitions between activities are well managed.

During the on-task time, you moved around the room really well, discussing the tasks with students, checking they were clear on what they had to do, following up on homework etc., all very positive and useful discussion. 4) The preservice teacher carefully monitors the progress of students so that the effectiveness of the lesson is maintained by giving individual help or making modifications and adjustments to the development of the lessons as appropriate. 5) The preservice teacher gives clear guidance and direction concerning what is expected of students during the activity and manages student time and effort, in relation to their involvement in and the sequencing of the various activities to good effect. 6) The preservice teacher makes effective use of various materials, resources and teaching aids, so that students time is not wasted waiting for equipment to be set up or materials distributed. You also used questions very well, rarely you volunteered information, rather you called on student knowledge. This is great Becca and cultivated such a great learning environment. You have such a wonderful presence in the classroom, and you filled the room very well, making sure you engaged individually with every student throughout the lesson, as a result the students are all on task and enjoying the class immensely! Good, clear explanations between each section of the lesson. You put the learning objectives up before the video, and then moved into discussion and exploration of concepts, this worked well to involve students in the learning, and focus their thinking with regards to the video. Good to put the Gilnet link up on the overhead, clarifying resources/tasks.

You had the room set up very well, with all equipment ready to go and the tables and stools as you wanted them to be. Likewise your IT was all ready to go and very effective, with slides, a terrific Prezi and the video clip all very appropriately chosen. You handled the issue with gear on Gilnet well, and seemed to sort this out quickly? I love the hoop with balloon too, a range of effective tools

and equipment to support learning! Wonderful. I do wonder about the board, it seemed far away to me and not as clear as it might have been? Could you have moved it somewhere? What do you think? You facilitated conversation very well. You speak with such authority about the subject matter and were able to bring in a range of examples to extend thinking, and you encouraged all responses, which extended and deepened discussion. You did well to pause the class and move on the students who were hovering at your door, you regained focus then! Good! The students knew where to be and what to do at all times. Wonderful resources, the video, this guy is the One Direction of science, fantastic humour and reference, the students loved it! The video was well pitched, and not too long either, well timed. Great, you are waiting and asking for quiet. Reminding students to listen, and I loved the point about "I might say the greatest thing ever", some quip about missing out on funding and a trip to mars... you are using humour beautifully. You didnt always wait for quiet, and on occasions spoke over the top of students you got away with it because you have good volume and students were mainly on task, however as a general rule, talking over students is not effective practice. You might also want to think about moving around the class a little more in the teacher talk times, as you are facilitating the class Q&A, do you have a clicker?? That could be really helpful.

7) The preservice teacher organizes and controls the logistics of classroom life, such as how students answer questions, collect equipment or form into groups, so that the order necessary for learning to occur is maintained.

8) The preservice teacher uses effective management strategies in handling You effectively called on students who werent focused, students movement and bringing them back and ensuring they were moving through the general level of noise. the tasks, however your manner and enthusiasm, well planned and resourced lesson, and consistent and respectful communication are the main reasons why the class worked so well.

9) The feedback conveyed to students about their progress is helpful and constructive in that it encourages further progress.

Wonderful positive feedback, warm and encouraging at all times. You worked hard to get the most out of students. One thing to watch is whether you are involving all students, there are always a few that answer the bulk of the questions, what strategies do you have for involving everyone, even the quiet ones? Asking students to get their diaries out, to clarify homework etc... this was excellent - and that has to be the most beautiful homework I have ever seen... Sensational.

10) The conclusion to the lesson is completed successfully in that it finishes on time, draws the lesson topic to an appropriate conclusion and there is an orderly exit by the students from the classroom. General Comments

You seemed to have a little extra time, but you managed this well by working the room, checking in on students' bookwork, checking diaries, encouraging the "homework"!! Etc.. Do always properly dismiss the students though, and ensure they are ready for the next class with you in terms of expectations.

A wonderful class Becca, very well done. I would love to be a student of yours and am really impressed at your professionalism and your commitment to your students.