Sarah Smith

9/15/15
UTL640E, Haug
Observation 1
Observation 1: Your Classroom
English I 5th and 8th Period
5th Period Student Composition: The Basics
1. Females: 11 Males: 12
2. All freshman, 13-14 years old
3. Seating Chart:
Sofia
Calvin

Reynald
o
Haley

Andre
a

Aliah

John

Brian

TJ

Martin

Rodrigo
p

Angel

Andrew

Erica

Marc

Cecili
a

Jonas

Samanth
a

Kawthe
r

Jonatha
n

Aaliya
h

Richard

Evely
n

8th Period Student Composition: The Basics

1. Females: 6 Males: 6
2. All freshmen, 13-14 years old
3. Seating Chart:
Angel
a

Conno
r

Righteou
s

Makayl
a
Gabe

Mika

Joaqui
n

Deayl
a

Noah

Sumer

David

Timmia

Sarah Smith
9/15/15
UTL640E, Haug
Observation 1
The Physical Environment

Sarah Smith
9/15/15
UTL640E, Haug
Observation 1

Sarah Smith
9/15/15
UTL640E, Haug
Observation 1
The Learning Environment
1. The feel of the classroom is very relaxed and low pressure; the
teacher welcomes the students into class very casually and
starts out with small, easier tasks to get the students into the
classroom mode. Even though the classroom seems relaxed,
there are clear expectations for behavior and that the teacher is
to be respected. There are also a set of procedures for coming
into class that help the students feel more in control of their
experience, they pick up their own worksheets, notebooks, etc,
at the beginning of class and are responsible for them for the
rest of class.
2. The teacher relates to the students very well, using kid-friendly
language and pop culture references and making a point to let
them express their opinions about what theyre learning, even if
their opinions may not be in complete agreement with what the
school might tell them to think. Even though she is able to joke
with the students, the teacher also watches everything and is
definitely in charge of the classroom. Some of the students talk
to each other, but most stay quiet during class and look engaged
in their work and the teachers instruction. In class discussions
the teacher is genuinely interested in what the students have to
offer and is able to draw them out into talking, even when they
dont seem to want to by relating the discussion or her questions
to the students own knowledge (ex. Talking about Meek Mills
legal battle when teaching about plagiarism).
3. Positive reinforcement in the classroom is subtle and quietly
directed towards individual students, by nodding at students
good answers or asking certain students to do more responsible
tasks for her. During class discussion, the teacher often says
yes or thats it while the students are talking. She circulates
around the classroom frequently during independent or group
work and either points out problems and helps the student or
taps on their desk to show approval for what theyre doing.
During this class the teacher also explained the Positive Behavior
Support Ticket system at Austin High and told her students she
loves to give out the tickets when she sees someone doing
something great in or out of the classroom.
4. The beginning of class is pretty quiet because the students
immediately start working on an independent warm-up in their
notebooks. Talking between students is quietly stopped by the
teacher, but most of the students dont talk while she is teaching
or while they are working. Phone use is also quietly reprimanded

Sarah Smith
9/15/15
UTL640E, Haug
Observation 1
with a quick question or just saying the students name, she also
has a great teacher look to give to students who arent doing
what theyre supposed to. The class is usually pretty quiet and
they stay in their individual seats, but the teacher gives them
mental breaks to get up and do some task (ex. Put up their
warm-up notebooks, turn in the homework into the drawer)
which seems to help them wake up during the block.