CSN Education Department,: Field Observation Activities Packet
CSN Education Department,: Field Observation Activities Packet
Packet
Introduce yourself. Since this is your first visit, ask the teacher where he/she would like you to sit
while you complete your observation hours for this CSN Introduction to Education class. Show the
teacher this Field Observation Activities Packet, your Field Observation Time Log and
Cooperating Teachers Field Observation Student Evaluation pages. Let the teacher know
that you will be asking him/her to verify your hours of attendance each time you visit, and grading
you after the observation hours are complete.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Observation 2: Please describe the student make-up of the class, including gender, ethnicity,
ELL, students with physical challenges, and any other apparent attributes that are important to
note.
The classroom was made up of seven students. There were four nonverbal students and three
verbal students. Two of these students were high-functioning, while the remaining five were
low-functioning. The class had five boys and two girls. As for the various ethnicities, the
classroom was fairly culturally diverse. There were two Caucasian boys, two Hawaiians who
were brother and sister, one African American boy and girl, and one Hispanic boy. Of the seven
students, one Caucasian boy and Hispanic boy was high-functioning.
*Observation 3: What are the posted class rules in the room? (exactly as written)
Raise hand, work quietly, hands to yourself, do your work, do not interrupt, listen to teachers.
*Observation 4: Does the teacher enforce the rules? Are rewards or consequences being
used for compliance or noncompliance?
Yes, the teacher does enforce the rules. She makes it very clear that the students should raise
their hand and work quietly. She also does not tolerate students not keeping their hands to
themselves. One of the girls would often try to play with my hair, and the teacher would tell her
to stop. If the students are on task and working quietly, they are sometimes rewarded with a toy
CSN Education Department, Las Vegas, Nevada 2013
ASSIGNMENT TWO (Classroom Layout): Use graph paper or drawing software to create an
accurate overhead view, labeled drawing, of your assigned classroom before answering the
questions below.
Classroom Layout Question 1: Describe the workflow of the room. Is the space used
efficiently?
The room is very neat and organized. Everything is laid out in its own space and used
efficiently. There is lots of space for the students to roam around and play in. The main table is
where students work and complete their worksheets. This space is also used sometimes for
speech therapy. They eat snacks during breaks there, as well. The computer station is mainly
used as a free time activity, but some students use it as a learning device. The desk in front of
the stress area is mainly for students who are in time out or are not actively participating.
Classroom Layout Question 2: In your opinion, how can the physical arrangement of the
room be improved?
There are no improvements I would recommend. I think the classroom is fine as it is.
*Instruction Question 4: Does the teacher incorporate the sensory modalities (learning
styles)? If so, give examples.
One learning style the teacher incorporates in her instruction a lot is musical/auditory learning.
She uses many songs throughout her lessons. For example, when the students learned about
colors, there was a song for each color they learned about. Another example was the calendar
song where they each said good morning and moved their body to different parts of the song
(waving hello, stomping their feet, clapping their hands, etc.)
*Instruction Question 5: Do the students seem engaged in the lesson(s) that are being
presented? Please explain.
Yes, the students seem very engaged in the lessons they are being presented. They all sing
along and all move their body to the songs. All of the students are very energetic and laugh
throughout the songs because they are having so much fun. The teacher sees this and also
makes them even happier by pulling a silly face or clapping along with them.
*Instruction Question 6: Are there any students isolated from the rest of the class for any
reason? Why?
The Hawaiian boy was the only student who was isolated from the rest of the class. He was not
disrupting the class in any way, but he was left alone to sit in the stress area. He sat on the
CSN Education Department, Las Vegas, Nevada 2013
*Instruction Question 9: List ways that the teacher attempts any attention getting
commands? (Ex: Countdown, Light flicker, Heads on Desk) How effective are they?
The teacher does not really attempt any attention getting commands.
*Instruction Question 10: What specific behavior issues does the teacher have to deal with?
How does the teacher deal with these behavior issues? Be specific.
Some behavior issues that the teacher has to deal with are students having loud outbursts,
screaming, banging on objects, and throwing tantrums. For one of the students who throws
tantrums, she puts a helmet on his head to prevent him from hurting himself. This is the same
student that is isolated from instruction. This student often hits himself and tries to slam his
head on the ground. The teacher deals with the students who scream and make loud outbursts
by telling them politely to stop. If they do not stop, she raises her voice.
*Instruction Question 11: Are there any policies or procedures in place that help or hinder
instructional time? If so, explain them and how they help or hinder use of instructional time.
CSN Education Department, Las Vegas, Nevada 2013
ASSIGNMENT FOUR (Culture): Using the information provided below, carefully observe and
evaluate the culture of the school where you are assigned to observe. Remember you are
evaluating the school for its educational culture, place of learning, sense of safety, invitation for
learning, promotion of self-actualization, development of values and socialization.
Physical Characteristics: Look at the physical areas of the school to determine atmosphere,
comfort, and feelings the school creates for students in the educational setting.
1. Consider the school property: building, grounds, fencing, equipment, landscaping, trees,
parking lot, crosswalks, gates, signs and symbols.
The school property is very nice and clean. The building is large and the grounds are smooth.
There are hardly any cracks or deteriorating parts of the school. There are fences around the
school where the students have recess and line up. The equipment is highly functioning, and
there are no broken pieces of equipment anywhere. The landscaping is pleasing to look at.
There are trees outside of the building and a park next to the school. The parking lot is big
enough. There are multiple crosswalks and signs present.
*1. Look for teacher(s) expectations for learning and success, interactions with students, and
his/her personality.
The teacher is very patient and understanding towards her students. She will raise her voice if
students disrupt the classroom and speak gently if they are behaving. She helps each student
individually and is generally very nice.
*2. Evaluate the level of student participation in the class. Who participates? Who does not?
A majority of the students participate. There are only one or two students that do not
participate from time to time. It all really depends on how they feel that day. The teacher
usually leaves them to themselves and does not bring attention to them.
*3. Evaluate the interactions between teachers and students, rapport, cohesiveness,
distribution of power, tone, frequency and reinforcements.
The teacher speaks gently and kindly to her students. She uses a lot of positive reinforcement
in her classroom. The students know that she is in power, so when she raises her voice, they
tend to stop what they are doing and behave accordingly.
CSN Education Department, Las Vegas, Nevada 2013
10
11
*Interview Question 12: What procedures or strategies do you use to maximize instructional
time?
The procedures and strategies she uses to maximize instructional time is differentiated lessons
and grouping higher functioning students with lower functioning.
*Interview Question 13: What positive reinforcement programs have you had success with?
The positive reinforcement programs she has had success with are ABA methods with autistic
students. Ignore the bad, praise the good.
*Interview Question 14: What behavioral consequences seem most effective with this age
group?
12
13
14
_______________________________________________
Interviewed school administrators name/title:
15
A) Ask permission from your cooperating teacher to accompany the students and
observe one or more of the specialist classes (Art, Music, Library, Humanities, PE) they
attend, or a different middle/high school subject the same students attend within your
cooperating teachers grade level team.
1. Do the students participate or behave differently in these classes in comparison to
their regular academic/cooperating teachers class?
2. Does any student seem to have a particular talent? Describe.
3. What is the curriculum like in comparison to the regular education(cooperating
teachers) class?
4. Describe the specialist teachers instructional style.
5. What different strategies do you notice this teacher using that are successful?
6. What are the challenges the specialist teacher has to deal with?
7. How are student needs being met?
B) Ask your cooperating teacher if you may observe part of the time in the GATE (Gifted
and Talented classroom, or another classroom that is considered Advanced Placement)
Remember some schools do not have these programs, so this assignment for some will be optional. Specialist classroom
visits are strongly encouraged IF THEY CAN BE ARRANGED.
1. Do you notice any social and academic differences between the kids in this class and
in the regular education classes?
2. What is the curriculum like in comparison to the regular education class?
3. Describe the GATE/AP teachers instructional style.
4. Would you rather be in this class or the regular education class? Why?
5. How are student needs being met?
C) Ask your teacher for permission to visit the rooms of any specialized programs at the
school: Special Education, SEC (Severely Emotionally Challenged), Autism room,
Deaf/Hard of Hearing rooms, etc. Remember some schools do not have these programs, so this assignment
for some will be optional. Specialist classroom visits are strongly encouraged IF THEY CAN BE ARRANGED. Maintain
your professionalism at all times. Do not write a students name down when you are writing observation notes.
Maintain the students right to privacy by referring to a student as Student #1, Student #2 etc.
CSN Education Department, Las Vegas, Nevada 2013
16
17
18
19