What areas will you need to work on so you can become an excellent teacher?

EDUC 01: Classroom Observation
Observation Guidelines and Requirements:
You are required to perform 45 hours of virtual observation/fieldwork for this class- no exceptions. For many students, this is the most important part of the class. The observations and fieldwork should be conducted virtually in TK-6 classrooms, and you must submit your notes on Canvas at the end of the semester. They do not have to be typed, but they do need to be legible. They should represent 45 hours of observation/fieldwork, with your notes for each session clearly labeled.
There are several purposes for this assignment. One is for you to see firsthand what actually goes on in a classroom today, so that if and when you become a professional educator, you will have a clear idea of how you should conduct yourself. Teaching is a tremendous responsibility, and you will need to experience it in a way you never have before. Second, you will be answering some questions about what you observe, to reflect upon what you have seen and what it means to the teacher, the students, and to you. The third purpose is for you to have the opportunity to decide if this is really the profession for you. You are not limited to observing only one teacher, one grade, or even one school. Its a chance for you to have a realistic look at education today, with all its difficulties and responsibilities.
At the end of the semester, you will be required to submit:
Typed or neatly hand-written anecdotal notes that reflect your 45 hours of observation/fieldwork. Notes must be submitted on Canvas. (60 pts)
Five classroom observation checklists (Page 2-see below). Each checklist should reflect approximately 30 minutes of observed instruction. (100 pts)
Reflection of the entire observation/fieldwork experience (questions below). (20 pts)
Signed log with a valid signature for each observation/fieldwork session. (20 points)
*Because of “safer at home orders” and virtual learning, there may be other alternatives available to fulfill the fieldwork/observation requirements. Please refer to Announcements for updates.
You will continue log in your time on your observation/fieldwork log, and you may sign in for yourself or have someone in your household sign for you to verify you watched the videos.
If you are a teacher or teacher’s assistant, you can include your own teaching, tutoring, and reflecting for 30 of these hours.
Please make sure you also indicate on your log the name(s) of the videos you watched. You can skip lines on the log if you need more space per entry.
You will write your CalTPE Reflections based on your virtual observations.

Observation Checklist
Criteria
Yes or No?
Examples or Comments
The teacher manages student behavior through clear expectations and a balance of positive reinforcement, feedback, and redirection.

The teacher uses efficient transitions, routines, and procedures to maintain instructional momentum.

The teacher interacts positively with the students.

Students interact positively with one another.

The teacher communicates learning objectives to students.

There is a clear beginning, middle, and end of the lesson.

There is a combination of direct instruction, guided practice, and independent practice.

The teacher monitors student learning during instruction (checks for comprehension).

The teacher provides opportunities for student-to-student interaction.

The teacher (or students) poses critical-thinking questions.

The teacher provides opportunity for academic discourse.

The students are engaged throughout the lesson.

Reflection
Evaluation of the entire observation/fieldwork experience. This must be completed at the end of your 45 hours, and you must answer all of the questions below to the best of your ability, and include it at the end of your journal/observation notes. Be as specific as possible.
Throughout this course as a whole, including textbook content, discussions, articles, etc. what have you learned about your own qualities that should contribute to your becoming an excellent teacher?
What have you learned about your own assumptions concerning education?
What areas will you need to work on so you can become an excellent teacher?
What were strategies you observed that you would like to implement? Why? Describe any teaching strategies you observed that, perhaps, didnt work well or need to be improved upon?
What kinds of things will you be reading, researching and studying as you continue your teaching preparation?
Will this observation/fieldwork experience affect your overall performance or attitude as a student yourself? Explain.
How do you think an in-person observation/fieldwork experience would have been different from this virtual observation/fieldwork experience?
What would make the observation/fieldwork experience more meaningful for future education students? What might have helped you?
Do you still want to be a teacher? Explain.
Any final comments?

EDUC 01 Classroom Observation/Fieldwork Log
*Your log is not valid without a signature for each observation.
Date
Video or Other Source
Grade Level
Duration
Verification Signature

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