‘ . us classroom observation check/comment sheet provides is important to have your students structure to the observation activity.] interested in what you’re teaching. Oo [The teacher] joked around as she i 6th grade middle school: “The teacher taught and used examples that the was in total control throughout the students could relate to, such as food class period. It seemed as if the and games. The few students who did teacher and students had a mutual not catch on as quickly sat quietly in respect for each other (like mother and their chairs and would not look children).” directly at the teacher.” 5th grade elementary: “He... favored 7th grade (accelerated) middle school: the girls to the boys—especially those “T could tell that the students were who got most of the questions right. understanding the material, because He spoke in a soft monotone voice, the teacher made sure they under- which I feel contributed to the restless- stood. She would call on everyone, ness of the children after 25 minutes separately, of course, checking up on into the class. The children reacted to each of them. Ifa child was talking him eagerly; they appeared to like him. while she was, an ‘excuse me’ would He showed me samples of their work shut them up—that happened rarely, from September to date, and there though.” were remarkable jumps in grades.” 7th grade middle school: “The stu- 6th grade parochial: “Every student dents were complimented when they answered at least one question. The gave the right answer and were students had to explain how they got reinforced by examples when they the answer which showed that they were unsure or if they gave the wrong seemed to understand the material.” answer.” 6th grade elementary: “The game is In addition to these written comments, I was sur- — called fraction basketball. The socio- prised to learn that most of the observed teachers had economic background of the students done much more than allow a college freshman to sit was a contributing factor to the devel- silently in the rear of the classroom. Most of the opment of the game. If there was one teachers actively involved my students in the class. thing that the students knew, it was One student was asked to come forward and tell the basketball.” class about her college and this project. Others were included in small groups and actively helped students. College-aged class for the deaf (my Some teachers shared previous test scores from their student signs for the deaf): “The roll books while explaining a current test. Many of my teacher seemed to go too quickly for students were invited back to follow up on the ob- the students. She began erasing the served activity. board before some of them were Instead of waiting until near the end of a four-year finished copying. I think she should degree program to get into the elementary classroom, have used an overhead projector; then students should observe excellent teaching techniques they could read her lips as well as copy and role models in many disciplines during all four the notes.” undergraduate years. 6th grade elementary: “[The teacher] Patricia Piech, Assistant Professor, Mathematics is a very enthusiastic person; she really caught the class’s attention. She was For further information, contact the author at Burling- always moving around, or drawing on ton County College, Pemberton-Browns Mills Road, the board so the students could Pemberton, NJ 08068. visualize what she was explaining. It Suanne D. Roueche, Editor April 28, 1989, Vol. XI, No. 15 INNOVATION ABSTRACTS is a publication of the National Institute for Stat and Organizational Development (NISOD), ©The University of Texas at Austin, 1989 EDB 348, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, (512) 471-7545, Subscriptions are available to nonconsor- Further duplication is permitted by MEMBER —_—tium members for $40 per year. Funding in part by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. institutions for their own personnel, Issued weekly when classes are in session during fall and spring terms and once during the summer. ISSN 0199-106X.