Department of Teacher Education & Learning Sciences

Elementary Education Program

Pre-Observation Form

Directions: This form is to be completed prior to every lesson that will be observed by the mentor
teacher or university supervisor. It is to be submitted no later than 3 business days prior to the actual
observation along with your lesson plans.

Name: Lilly Smithdeal Date: 11/9/2017

1. What is the topic of your lesson?

The topic of my lesson is Veterans Day.
2. Why are you teaching this lesson? What is your rationale for teaching it?
I am teaching this lesson so that students will know why we celebrate Veterans
Day and what a veteran is. My rationale for teaching this is so students can see
the importance of honoring our nations veterans.
3. What is your Teaching Behavior Focus? Why did you choose this?
The teacher behavior focus I chose is paraphrasing students verbal content. I
chose this because I have found that when I am calling on students for answers,
I may change the wording when I rephrase their answers. This changes the
content of their answer and can effect if the student actually knows the answer or
not.
4. Why did you design your instruction in this lesson the way that you did? Why did
you choose this way of teaching the lesson (e.g., Was the idea from a methods
course? From your mentor teacher? Another source?)
I am assessing the students knowledge in the beginning of the lesson to see
what the students already know and then I will show a video that will further
teach the students. The students will then come back together as a class and
use that information to fill out a chart with the new information. The students will
then use the information they have learned to create different dance movements.
This will get the students out of their seats and moving around.
5. As you are thinking through this lesson, what do you believe will be the most
challenging part of this lesson for you when you teach it? Why?
I think it will be challenging to keep the students focused when they are creating
their different dance movements. I can see some of my students taking
advantage of this freedom to move around.
6. How will you know if your learning outcomes for the students are met
successfully?
I will know if my students have met the learning outcomes if they are able to tell
me why we celebrate Veterans Day and what a veteran is. Also, if they are able
to list out characteristics of a veteran.
7. How will your classroom management support the learning outcomes?
I will have the students do a turn and talk to help keep them engaged and allow
them to discuss information that will help them reach the learning outcomes. I will
also model for the students how to create a dance movement for one of the
characteristics.
8. List 1-3 areas which you would like for your observer to pay particular attention.
Why do you want your observer to focus on these areas?
I would like my observer to look at how well I am rephrasing and redirecting
students answers. I think I struggle with this during lessons. I also would like my
observer to look at how I am managing students behavior during the lesson.
Since there is a lot of movement and some freedom during the lesson, I want to
be able to keep my students focused and on task the best I can.
9. Is there anything else you would like your observer to know before the
observation?
I am looking forward to receiving feedback on my plans and how well I do while
teaching the lesson!