IMB Checklist

Writting

1)Observationofawritinglessonwithobservationnotesandreflection
2)Roomimageandreflection
3)Teacherinterviewandreflection
4)Studentsconversationandreflection
5)Whatyoulearned?PoemReflection

Observation
InstructionalLesson
Classroom:MacCauley
Grade:4th
CurriculumArea:Writing

WhatInotice

Musicisplayedmoderninstrumental
Workinprogress,completedclear
organization
Girlandboyposterwithnames
Clipmovedtodone,tokeepteacher
updatedonstudentsprogress
Keepsaneyeontrendsinclip
movementtobesurestudentsare
stayingontask
Mentortextsdisplayed
journalspersonalized
Studentsweregivenassignedlaptops
Gamefromwriting,appealingtothe
group
KAHOOT*writingcluestogreekgods,
writeown1520questions
Createcluesabouttheirgreekgods(use
whattheylearnedandputitinto
action)
Cuesfortheirnextstepinwriting
labeledonthewallguidelinesfor
writing
Playaswholeclassifindividualstudent
hasdonewellincentivetofocus
Venndiagramaboutfictionvs
nonfiction
Studentsworkindependentlybutare
allowedtoconferquietly
Rememberwhattheyhavelearnedand
writtenabouttheirgreekgodto
composegamequestions

Observer:BessTeel
Date:3/5/16
Time:10am

Thoughts,Questions,ConnectionstoMethods
Classes

Classrules?Notdisplayed

Isthereconferencing?

Teachergivesremindersofwriting
projectsdue

Teacherleadslikeaconversationwith
thestudents.
Constantstudentfeedback
Knowsthingsabouttheirpersonallives

Redirectsirrelevantconversations

Obviousmutualrespect

Grabsteachablemoments

Encourageswritingatalllevels
Givesspecificpraises


ObservationReflection

Earlierintheweekthestudentsbeganstudyinggreekmythsandgods.Thestudents
spenttimereviewingpartsofamythandexploringthedifferentabilitiesoftheGreekgods.
Theywerethenaskedtocreateagodandwriteaonepagestory.Thestoryhadtogointo
detailabouttheirgodexplainingwhatthepowerwas,howtheygotitandwhattheydidwithit.

ThestudentworkIobservedhadcreatedafemalegodofhorsesnamedMadelynn.In
Madelyn'sstory,shefoundandcaredforaninjuredhorseintheforest.Madelyndidnotknow
thehorsebelongedtoagodnamedPan.Panreturnedtoearthfromthecloudshefoundthat
Madelynnhadrescuedandcaredforhishorse.PanthankedMadelynbygiftinghertheability
totalktoanimals.Shethenusedthepowerstohealothersickanimals.

Thestudentcreatedalovelymixofafairytaleandmyth.Itwasobviousthatshewas
passionateabouthorseswhichiswhatpropelledherwriting.Thesubjectofthewritinglesson
wasachievedthroughthestudent'sstoryandpushedforwardwithstudentchoice.Student
choiceseemstobeprominentinMissMcCauley'screativewritingclass.Sheencourages
studentstocreateforthemselves,askingopenendedquestionsinsteadofleadingones.Ihope
topromotethissameatmosphereinmyfuturewritersworkshop.

ClassImages


ClassImageReflection
InMissMacCauleysfourthgradeclass,thestudentsbringaplaincompositionnotebook
toschoolonthefirstday.Theyarethenencouragedtotransformthenotebookintotheir
writer'snotebook.Thestudentsaddtheirowntouchtothefrontandbacknotebookcovers.
ThestudentsnotebookItookapictureofwasdecoratedwithcolorfulpinkducttapeanda
glitterglueinitialonthecover.Thestudentthencoveredthebackwithpicturesofherselfanda
littlebitaboutherself.
Rightawaythesenotebooksareestablishedassomethingtocarefor,investinandto
love.LookingthroughtheclassnotebooksI'mremindedofwhenwestartedDr.Miller'sclass.
Sheemphasizedtheneedtoloveournotebooks.Thatitdidn'tmatterwhatwewroteinaslong
aswelovedit.Iwassoononthehunt.Iscouredthroughcolorfulnotebooksuntilmyeyes
landedonabrightpinkonewithgoldletteringsaying,AmazingGracewrittenonthecover.It
literallyhadmynamewrittenonit,wellmymiddlenameatleast.InmyheadIalreadyfilledthe
emptyjournal.Iwasexcitedtogetstartedandthat'sexactlywhatMissMcCauleycultivatedin
herwriter'sworkshop.
MissMcCauleyhashadtobeinventiveinherwriter'sworkshop,tryingoutnew
techniquestoencouragethestudents.Shesaidshehasbeenhavingaproblemwithmissing
andincompleteworksoshehadtocomeupwithasolution.Alongwithlabelinga
complete
and
inprogress
binforclasswork,MissMacCauleyintroducedastudenttrackingchart.Thechart
washungonthewallwithinstudentreachwithalloftheclassnamesonitandclothespins
attached.Studentswhoarestillcompletingclassworkleavetheirclipalone,whilestudents
whohavecompletedtheclassassignmentmovetheirclipsdownto
done
section.Thisallows
theteachertokeeptrackofwherethestudentsareinthewritingprocessandhelpsthe
teachertokeepaneyeonanytrendsthatmayrevealthemselves.

TeacherInterview
Interviewer:ElizabethTeel
Interviewee:MissMacCauley
Date:3/4/2016
Time:10am

Howdoyouwriteatypicallessonplan?
WeplanourlessonsIndependently.Westartwiththestandardsbutit'sopentochoice.I
beginwiththeoutcomeandworkbackwards.Ithenthinkabouthowtoassessthe
standardwhetherthatisthroughanassignedprojectorpaper.
Whattypesofmaterialsdoyouneedavailablewhenyouplanlessons?
Definitelytheinternet,wedon'tfolloweradirectcurriculumsoIusementortextsand
standards.
Inwhatwaysdoyouplantoaccommodateindividualdifferencesintheclassroom?

Writingandreadingbothdifferentiatesitself.Ihavedifferentexpectationsfordifferent
levels.Irequiremoredetail/depthforhighlevelwriting/reading,lowerjustbasicideafrom
thereadingorintheirwriting.
Whataresomeofyourinstructionalchallengesasateacher?
Attentionatalltimes.Inthisdayandageittakesalottoentertain,IoftenfeellikeIam
runningacircustokeepthemengaged.Ialsohavealotofreluctantreaders/writers.
Whathavebeensomeofyourinstructionalsuccessesasateacher?

Workingoffstandardsfreely,ittookawhileandwasveryoverwhelmingmyfirstyearsbut
nowIknowwhatworksandwhatdoesn't.Iamprettycreativewithmylessonplanning
now.IthinkIamgoodatformingrelationshipswithstudents.Whenissuescomeupthey
knowIcareaboutthemandIamnotjustyellingatthem.
Whatdoyouconsideressentialcharacteristicsforsuccessfulteaching?
BuildingrelationshipsisnumberonemutualrespectletthemknowIthereforthemand
theywillbethereforme.
Howoftendoyourstudentsreceivereading/writinginstruction?
Readingandwritingaretaught50minuteseveryday.
Areyousatisfiedwiththeamountoftimethatyoucurrentlyallotforsocial
studies/scienceinstruction?Explain.
No.Iwouldlike90minutesofreading.Icanaddwritingacrosstheboardinmysubjects
butifyouareapoorreaderyouwillstruggleinallsubjects.
Doyouhaveanyinstructionalresourcesthatwouldsupportthesegoals/objectives?

Smallgroupreadingpacketsfordifferentlevels.
Whatdoesreadinginstructionlooklikeinyourclassroom(e.g.readersworkshop,basals,
etc.)?
Readersworkshoporstations
Whatmotivationtacticsdoyouusetoensureadesiretolearn?
Weofferextrarecess.Wearetalkingabouteconomysostudentscanearn,dollarsfor
goodbehaviorandlosedollarsforbad.Wehaveaclassroomstoreatendofquarterthey
canshopatwiththeirdollars.
Tellmeabouttheclassroomcommunity.Whataretheclassrules?
Respectandsupporteachother.
Howisstudentbehaviormonitored?
Ihaveconferencingwithmystudentswhentheymisbehaveandputitbackintotheir
handstofix.

 Inwhatwaysispositivebehaviorreinforced?
Throughrewardingwithclassmoney.
Inwhatwaysarenegativebehaviorsprevented?

Ithinkrelationshipshelppreventbadbehavior.Theyknowwhensomethingdoesn'tmake
mehappy.
Tellmeabouttheconsequencesfornegativebehavior.
Theirclassmoneyistakenaway.Phonecallhomewhichisabigbigdeal.Theyhaveto
writeanapologyletterexplainingwhattheydidtomeortheirparentsandaslastresort
wesendthemtotheoffice.
Tellmeaboutthepacingoflessonsandinteractionintheclassroomuseoftimeand
otheraspectsoftimewaittime,andtimeusingteachertalkandstudenttalk.What
workswellwithyourstudents?
Timeishuge
,
Itrytodosmallgroupconferencingonceaweek,aswellasmeetwiththe
kidsoneononeofwehavetime.

TeacherInterviewReflection
IwasexcitedtoworkwithMrs.MacCauleybecauseshewasthewritingandreading
teacherforthefourthgradeatSocratesAcademy.HavingaspecialinterestinwritingIwas
eagertoseehowsheranherclassroom.DuringherteachersinterviewMissMacCauleyleaned
heavilyonthehowshehasbuiltrelationshipswithherstudents.Shesaidthatrelationshipsare
keywhentryingtocreateaclasscommunity.Shestatedthatthemutualrespectthatherand
herstudentshavebuilttogetherallowshertotakecontrolofherclassroomandmaintainfocus
yearround.
MissMacCauleyhasseveralwaysofdealingwithdisruptionintheclassroom.Herinitial
gotoostrategyisanindividualconference.Theconferenceallowshertoreallyfocusonthe
issueathandandgivesthestudentsachancetoselfcorrect.Shestatedthatshereallylikesto
puttheproblemsolvingbackinthehandsofthestudentbecauseitisareallifeskill.Miss
MacCauleyalsoimplementsmotivatingtacticsforherstudents.Thesheoffersclass
dollars
asa
rewardforgoodbehavior,andisretractedformisbehavior.AttheendofthequarterMiss
MacCauleywillallowthestudentstogotoaclassshopwherethestudentscancashtheir
dollarsforitemslikepencilsandswirlystraws.Shesaysifaproblemescalatesshewillinvolve
officeasalastresort.MissMacCauleybelievesthatthiscanlookpooronherpartifshecannot
controlthesituation.ForthemostpartMissMacCauleysaysthatherclassroomiswellbehaved
withonlyminorissuespoppinguphereandthere.Sheinsiststhatsincebuildingamutual
respectwithherstudentsthattheyreallydotryandpleaseher.
MissMacCauleysresponsetotheinterviewquestionaboutaweaknesswasinteresting.
FromwhatIobservedMissMacCauleyisingreatcontrolherclassandtheyrespondtoher
directionpositively.ThefactthatMissMacCauleywasonlygiventhestandardstoworkoffofin
herfirstyearandcreatedherownclassroomcurriculumissomethingtobepraised.Asafuture
teachertheideaofwalkingintotheclassroomwithnotonlyablankslateofaroombutablank
slateofacurriculumwouldbeveryintimidating.MissMacCauleysaidnowsheisgratefulfor
thefreedombecauseshecangetcreativewithherlessonplanningthoughitcanstillbe
overwhelmingattimes.IbelieveMissMacCauleyisanassettoherteamatSocratesAcademy
andwillcontinuetofosterstudentpassioninherwriter'sworkshop.

Studentinterview
Tellmewhatitsliketobeareader/writerinthisclassroom?
It'sfunbecausewedoall
differentkindsofwritingandexpress.
Doyouchooseyourownbook?
Youchoseyourreadingandwedolittleprojects.Itreallyisfun,
missMacCauleyhelpsussoyouunderstand.
Whatisyourfavoritesubjecttoread/write
Mostlyfriction.Heraismyfavoritegod.
Howdoyoubestlearnasastudent?
Doitinfunwayslikegames
,
noodleandbrainbreaks.I
likeworkingbymyselfsoIcanfocus.
Ifyouweretheteacherinthisclassroomwhatwouldyoudothesame?
Goaroundandhelp
them,sometimesifIfinishmywork,Igoaroundandaskpeopleiftheyneedanyhelp.
Whatwouldyoudodifferently?
Giveharderreading.Wedokidblogsonthecomputer,
responseaboutthebookandcharacters.
Whatmakesagoodteacher?
Teachersthathelpandexplainandactuallyconnectwiththem.
Doesyourteacherdoagoodjobofthat?
Yes.
Haveyouhadteacherinthepastthatdidn'tdoagoodjobofthis
?InKindergartenata
differentschool,shewouldassignworkandnothelp.
Whatisyourfavoritesubject?
Writing.
Whatmakesagoodlearner?
Whereverwehavebeentaughtsomethingnewsheexplainsitout
andhelpsusunderstandit.Ipayattentionalot.Sometimeswhenpeoplearedistractingit
bothersme,mostofthetimewecanhavefunanddoworkatthesametime.Yougottohave
fun!

StudentInterviewReflection
ThestudentIwasabletointerviewwasadorabletosaytheleast.Icouldtellthatshe
reallywantedtobeinthewritingclass.Atlunchshesharedastoryabouthowtheclasswas
givenaonepagewritingassignmentandtheteacherhadtostopheratpagethree.WhenI
startedtheinterviewIwassurprisedathowarticulatethisstudentwas.Astheinterview
progressedIuncoveredherloveofreadingaswell,wishingthatMissMacCauleywouldassign
moreathomereading.Whensherespondedtomyfirstinterviewquestionswiththeword
expressIsuppressedachuckle.It'softenhardasanadulttosupportachildexpressing
themselvesbutIbelieveMacCauleysclassisdoingjustthat.
Itwasobviousthestudentreallyenjoyedbeingengagedinherwork.Shementioned
morethanoncethatshelikedvarietyandgettingtododifferentactivitieswithinherworkshop.
YoucouldtellShealsoappreciatedtheinvolvementoftheteacher,statingthatshewouldrun
theclasslikeMissMacCauleywasbygoingstudenttostudent.Shesaidthatshelikeshow
thingsareexplainedindifferentwayssothattheyreallyunderstandthecontentandthatMiss
MacCauleycontinuestoassistthemalongtheway.Thestudentevensaidthatwhenshe
finishesherownclassworkshelikestohelpherfellowclassmates.
ThepersonalrelationshipsMissMacCauleyfocusedoninherinterview,wasmirroredin
mystudentinterview.Thestudentresponsesshowedtrueclasscommunityandanexcitement
tolearn.Thestudenthadaneedtofeelconnectedtobeconnectedwithherteacher,
mentioningteacherswhodidnottryandcultivatepersonalrelationshipsinpriorgrades.Miss
MacCauleysreputationiswellguardedinthehandsofherstudentsandherclasscommunity
continuestobeatstrong.

SummarizationofwhatIlearned

ToTeachistoCaptain
Thrustforwardthehullandsteadytheship,cannotsetsailwithoutthisrelationship.
Thoughwindsblowheavyandgreatwavesthunder,thecaptainskeeneyessayhewon'tlet
themgounder.
Sailorsscambletosetcaosstraight,willlooktotheircaptain,andfeedoffhisstrength.
Withawornmapinhand,thecaptainrallieshiscrew,thoughheisunsurehimself,theynever
knew.
Acaptainknowsashipinthewaterisdeadiftheunknownscreepintohiscrewsheads.
Thoughtheyshakeandshiverinthecoldofthenightthecrewdrawscouragefromtheir
captainsmight.
Theweekmayteeterontheweatherededge,butthecaptainwillalwayscoaxthemdownfrom
theledge.
Withtalkofdrylandandtreasuresunknown,thecaptainsworthisrepeatedlyshown.
Intothedawnandoutofthenight,agreatcaptainremembersthepromiseoflight.
Landho,mydearfellows,landisinsight!