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: Madison Zimmermann Date: Week of April 3rd

1. What is the topic of your lesson?

The topic of my lesson is bullying, as well as comprehension by using the
contrasts and contradictions sign post.

2. Why are you teaching this lesson? What is your rationale for teaching it?
I am teaching this lesson to introduce students to the contrasts and
contradictions signpost. Students will be able to use this sign post to help them
build their comprehension skills.

3. What is your Teaching Behavior Focus? Why did you choose this?
My teaching behavior focus is re-voicing what my students share with the class. I
chose this because I believe that student contributions should be heard by
everyone. I think that by re-voicing student contributions everyone will be able to
not only hear what is being said, but build off their peers thoughts.

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 designed my instruction around the frame work provided by Dr. Harrington. We
were required to use the gradual response of responsibility model to teach our
re-envisioning lesson.

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 the most challenging part of this lesson will be combating inappropriate
student responses when they are asked what they would do in different
scenarios. If students respond with using violence, in appropriate language, or
rude/mean actions I will need to deflect these comments and turn them into
positives. It will be difficult to do this if students bring up things they have done in
the past, things their parents have taught them, or things that they have
witnessed.
6. How will you know if your learning outcomes for the students are met
successfully?
I will know if my students learning outcome was met successfully if they are able
to compare and find contradictions in texts that they are reading independently. I
can also formatively assess their understanding when students participate in
class discussion.

7. How will your classroom management support the learning outcomes?

My classroom management will allow for students to feel safe in the classroom
environment and share what they would do in the situations Lyla finds herself in.
Students will be able to make predictions about the text, and discuss their
reactions to the book.

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 Ms. Owens to pay attention to the facilitation of my lesson. ELA
lessons tend to be my weakest lessons. I am hoping for feedback on the
comments I make to students to affirm or alter their thinking, as well as the
lesson overall. Did she find that the lesson covered the objective and that
students will benefit from the lessons.

9. Is there anything else you would like your observer to know before the
observation?
Not at this time.