Observations

[MissC12]

Usually I'm great at planning my lessons... except for when I know I'll be observed. My mind searches for the perfect lesson to teach with creative activities and I draw a blank! I teach 4th and some 5th grade... and when the 3rd grade teacher came to me for an idea I was able to help her. Why can't I help myself?

Anyway, does anyone have any good ideas for a good lesson? Students are learning about NJ in their SS class so I wanted to play this game with them. It's like "Go Fish" but it's called "Go Hunt". Each card has a vocabulary word that they've learned w/a picture of it. They have to describe the card to the person to the left of them. If the person doesn't have the card, he says "Go Hunt". I thought it was a great idea... but I wasn't sure how to start the lesson since it's pretty much a review. Is this a bad idea for an observation?

[Chef Dave]

I was an elementary teacher for 17 years. I am now a high school chef instructor.

I have never been fond of "dog and pony shows." When administrators visit my classroom, what they see is what they get. Although I may spruce up the classroom a bit, I really don't go out of my way to put on a show.

With regards to your question, why would you have your students play a game during an observation?

My personal feeling is that administrators want to see instruction. They want to see your standards posted on the board in child friendly language i.e. what the students will learn today. They want to see you introduce the lesson using some type of advance organizer or anticipatory set, bridging what the student already knows and transferring that knowledge to new learning. They want to see direct instruction with guided practice, lesson closure, and/or independent practice assignments.

Throughout all of this, they also expect to see appropriate use of classroom management, redirection of student off task behavior, and thorough engagement of all students.

Games are nice ... but unless all of your instruction consists of playing games, a game is not a valid "snap shot" of what you actually do on a day to day basis.

So ... if you're teaching about New Jersey, why not combine instruction of state geography with a review of 4th grade map skills?

When I was a 4th grade teacher in Texas, we were required to teach latitude and longitude.

I had a large map of Texas taped to my dry erase board. Students had a class set of mini-dry erase boards with accompanying markers and erasers. I'd place a magnet at a location and have students write down the latitude and longitude. When I said, "Show me your boards," students would hold up their dry erase boards. A quick scan told me who got it and who didn't. This allowed me to identify students for reteaching and/or guided practice assistance.

Of course - I didn't teach latitude and longitude in one setting. I typically spent one class period teaching latitude, one class period teaching longitude, and a third class period teaching latitude and longitude.

[MissC12]

You're right. Thanks for the advice. The game was just an idea to incorporate differentiated instruction at the end of a lesson. Games like that usually get everyone involved which I know is important. I will save that for another day.

[MissC12]

Also, I really liked the idea of the Latitude and Longitude activity. There's a mini lesson in our social studies book about that so I will look it over and see what I can come up with. Thanks again!

[busbus]

Chef Dave is absolutely correct on this one. Your administrator is observing your teaching - not your students playing a game. As he stated, you should have a "Before," "During," and "After" lesson based on your objectives.

Doesn't New Jersey have standards for you to follow? Do you have curriculum frameworks to follow? In other words, what standards are you addressing and where are you in your teaching in regards to your frameworks? These are the things that you should be planning your lesson around.

You are very fortunate in knowing when you will be observed. Many observations are unannounced. So, since it is announced, I can imagine that your administrator is expecting to see all of your "ducks" in order.

Good luck.

[MissC12]

Chef Dave is absolutely correct on this one. Your administrator is observing your teaching - not your students playing a game. As he stated, you should have a "Before," "During," and "After" lesson based on your objectives.

Doesn't New Jersey have standards for you to follow? Do you have curriculum frameworks to follow? In other words, what standards are you addressing and where are you in your teaching in regards to your frameworks? These are the things that you should be planning your lesson around.

You are very fortunate in knowing when you will be observed. Many observations are unannounced. So, since it is announced, I can imagine that your administrator is expecting to see all of your "ducks" in order.

Good luck.

This is a private school and it's my first year teaching (doing alternate route w/no student teaching) so everything is very new to me and I'm still figuring everything out. For SS I'm actually working from 2 books at once. The NJ book and the regular SS book so I'll have to pick something and research the standards and frameworks to get some more ideas.

[busbus]

MsC12,

I truly wish that I was in a physical position to help you. I work with new teachers in my school district and I love social studies. Unfortunately, it is difficult for me to make a lesson suggestion. I would need to know about what you have been teaching and what your students know and are able to do.

What I would suggest is for you to first decide the purpose of the lesson - to introduce a new topic, to continue with a topic, or to conclude a topic.

Here is a site that might help you.
CEC Lesson Plans - http://www.col-ed.org/cur/#Soc

Again, good luck. Let us know how you make out.

[dangercat]

MsC12,

I truly wish that I was in a physical position to help you. I work with new teachers in my school district and I love social studies. Unfortunately, it is difficult for me to make a lesson suggestion. I would need to know about what you have been teaching and what your students know and are able to do.

What I would suggest is for you to first decide the purpose of the lesson - to introduce a new topic, to continue with a topic, or to conclude a topic.

Here is a site that might help you.
CEC Lesson Plans - http://www.col-ed.org/cur/#Soc

Again, good luck. Let us know how you make out.


Thank you for posting the web page. I definatly will make use of it...if only for some ideas of what I'd like to do in my class. Thank you!!!!

:) Brook