October10,2013

ObservedAlexs4thhour(10thgradehonors)
Studentsworkinginliteraturecircles
Alexmovingfromgrouptogroupguidingdiscussions
studentsmakingconnectionsbetweenothertextsreadinpreviousyearsandin
thisyear
notallstudentsareparticipatingequally,butotherstudentsseektoencourageall
toparticipate

September30,3013
ObservedOwens2ndhour(8thGrade)
beganwithwarmuptobrainstormofdifferenttypesofgovernment
hasstudentslookattheUnitedStatesConstitutiononline
lookattheconstitution,lookatkeystructuralelements
studentsvolunteertoanswerthequestion
notmanyvolunteers
manyofthestudentsarelostintheircomputers
fewareactivelyengaged
highlyrecommendingthatstudentsmodeltheirconstitutionalstructureon
somethingsimilartotheUnitedStatesConstitution
notbrokendown,workingwiththefullConstitution
butaskingquestionsabouttheorderoftheConstitution
allowingflexibilitywiththeirtypesofgovernment,butasksthatstudentsbasetheir
ideasoffofhistory
strongrelianceoninternet
usethewebsiteasastartingpoint
whathappenswhenitdoesntwork?
NotafanofWikipedia,butaskingstudentstouseitasastartingpointaswell
useasasecondresource
Usestudentstoteachthethreebranchesofgovernmentaswellasteaching
ideasofdemocracy
unstructuredchangeofpaceintheclassroom
teacherstandsthroughpresentation
studentsgiveapowerpointpresentationonthestructuresofgovernment
onestudenthasspokenthroughallofthepresentation
somestudentstakingnotes,oneplayingonhisiPhone
notimelimitonpresentation?
somestudentstakingnotes,othersnot
gameattheend
Teacheraskswhatistheobjectofthegame,whatdotheyhopeto
accomplish
studentasleepinclass
Whatsthepointofwalkingaroundifyouarenotgoingtoenforceproper
behavior?

September23,2013
ObservedAndrews8thhour(7thGrade)
goingthroughslidesonpowerpoint
referencesideasthatneedtobeknownthroughhiswordwall
studiesworriedaboutgettingallthenotesontheslide,dontwanttheslide
changed
usingstudentsintheclassroomtodemonstratealliances
usingthisexampletoillustratethebeginningsofWorldWarI
Edmodogroups,identifyalliesandenemies
referenceprojectbeyondhislecture
Useofprimarysourcesinslides
studentsaskquestionsregardingslidefordepth,tolditisastoryfor
anothertime
Callsonmultiplestudentsinclasstoanswerquestions,thoughonlythosewith
theirhandsintheair
Moststudentsseemliketheyareengaged,butastheymovetotheperiphery
thereismoreattentionpaidtoeachstudentscomputers
slidesdifficulttoread,projectornotbrightenoughandalltheblindsareopen
Studentuseswallmapstodemonstrategeographicknowledgeofclass
discussion
asksstudentstoclarifyideasfromthediscussion
ObservedJulies8thhour(10thgrade)
studentsworkingindividuallyonresearch
beganclasswithafunquiztotestpriorknowledge
studentsworkingandengagedwithoneanothertosupplementoneanothers
knowledge
wikipediaisagoodstartingplace,butnotcredibleinandofitselfforstudent
research
somestudentsusingbookstohelpwithresearch,notjusttheircomputers
Ms.Berryanswersstudentsquestiononlinethroughemailaswellasinperson
asstudentsneedhelp
lotsofopenspaceintheclassroom,butstudentsareconsolidatedinthearea
closesttotheteacher
walkstostudentstomakesuretheyareworkingthattherearenotechnical
difficulties