Tuesday, April 30

Today I observed class using the instructional strategies viewpoint.  I could only observe one full lesson today, which was math (we had class game day and an awards ceremony all afternoon).  Today, the main instructional strategy used was direct instruction.  The students' responses to this were pretty much the same as they were last time.  Many of the students were engaged and on task, however the energy in the room was kind of low.  The teacher did mental math at the beginning, and students got pretty excited about this.  They were itching in their seats to get called on.  There were some students who this was difficult for, yet they still seemed to be thinking and trying (for the most part).  This lesson was shortened because the students had science, which they leave for.  I began observing another lesson (which also got cut short).  This was also direct instruction.  We were looking at a song.  The students liked this, and were trying to sing along and got kind of into it.  It was good to see, but I wish we'd had time for the whole lesson.  One thing that peaked my interest during these lessons was questioning.  I haven't focused on it yet, and am hoping to spend a day observing the use of questioning.

Question of the day: When do you decide to go to a parent or to the principal concerning individual students?  Do you make contact for positive and negative reasons?

My teacher said that for most things, she goes to the principal before parents.  These things are mostly behavioral.  She did say that, after talking with the principal about one specific student, she regularly went to his mom for behavior issues.  Before I asked the second part of the question, she brought up that she tries to contact for good reasons too, and that this is one of her biggest goals each year.  She expressed disappointment with the fact that she always seems to get too busy to keep this up all year long.  She began talking about the families of her students, too, and how in many instances she has tried to contact them for something positive, and they avoid talking to her and don't respond.  She said this is disheartening, however she still thinks it's important to try to contact.  She continues to work at this.

Tomorrow I will be doing two reading groups that we didn't have time for today, and observing for management strategies.