Classroom Observations
Entering the Classroom
Find a spot where you won’t be in the children’s way. You may move about quietly. If a child approaches you and starts to talk, simply say “I came to watch you, not to talk to you.” The children have been told not to talk to visitors. When there are two people observing, there is absolutely no talking. Jot down your questions. When the teacher is free, she will come to you. Please push in your chair when you get up. Thank you.
What to observe
Choose a child and observe how he or she works, what he or she has chosen as his or her work, and how attentive he or she is to this work.
1. How the teacher interacts with the child.
2. How the child interacts with other children or another child.
3. How the adults in the classroom interact with each other, i.e. eye contact frequency, body
language, verbal comments, etc.
4. Social behavior of the children as a group and/or specific child’s behavior.
5. What are the work patterns in the class? Are all areas of the classroom being used?
6. Can you tell what the Ground Rules of the classroom are?
7. Note the balance of children working with others or alone.
8. What type of discipline is being used?
9. Are there times when the atmosphere of the class is calmer than other times?
10. Is the teacher aware of the whole class at all times?
11. What feelings do you experience in this environment?
Find a spot where you won’t be in the children’s way. You may move about quietly. If a child approaches you and starts to talk, simply say “I came to watch you, not to talk to you.” The children have been told not to talk to visitors. When there are two people observing, there is absolutely no talking. Jot down your questions. When the teacher is free, she will come to you. Please push in your chair when you get up. Thank you.
What to observe
Choose a child and observe how he or she works, what he or she has chosen as his or her work, and how attentive he or she is to this work.
1. How the teacher interacts with the child.
2. How the child interacts with other children or another child.
3. How the adults in the classroom interact with each other, i.e. eye contact frequency, body
language, verbal comments, etc.
4. Social behavior of the children as a group and/or specific child’s behavior.
5. What are the work patterns in the class? Are all areas of the classroom being used?
6. Can you tell what the Ground Rules of the classroom are?
7. Note the balance of children working with others or alone.
8. What type of discipline is being used?
9. Are there times when the atmosphere of the class is calmer than other times?
10. Is the teacher aware of the whole class at all times?
11. What feelings do you experience in this environment?