Sociology/Interdisciplinary Social Science 177: Sociology of Education
School Site Fieldwork/Assignment Guidelines
The objectives of this assignment are two-fold: to provide you with experience in a K-12
classroom and to provide a service to the teacher. Arrive at a mutual agreement with the
teacher regarding your role in the classroom i.e. tutoring a student, grading papers,
preparing a lesson plan, reading a story. Throughout your fieldwork experience, filter your
observations through the theories/concepts we discuss in class. Take field notes after each
visit in preparation for the fieldwork assignments.
Use the following to guide your observations:
School/Community (Mid-term Assignment)
Provide the following information on a cover sheet/introductory slide(s):
School District, School Name, Address, City, Zip, Principal
Name of the Mentor, Grade
Student Demographics; Race/Ethnicity; free lunch; test scores
When you visit the school what is your first impression? Is it welcoming? How are you
greeted at the front office? Is student artwork displayed? Is there graffiti?
Is it a safe environment? Are you required to wear a badge? Are there security guards on
campus? Is the building well maintained? Does the building need painting; how is the
landscaping? Are the windows clean? Describe the surrounding neighborhood/what is the
SES based on your observation and research? Does the school offer AP/electives?
Does the school have a website? Is there an explicit mission statement? When was the
school established? Is it a charter school? How informative/up-to-date is it? Does it list
school programs? Is there information regarding the teachers (i.e. bios)? Does the school
have a PTA? If so what are the main activities? What is their budget?
Does the website provide demographic information regarding the student population (i.e.
race/ethnicity, test scores, % free lunch)? Is there a uniform policy?
Teacher and Classroom (Final Assignment)
Is the classroom a welcoming environment: be specific; give examples. How does the
teacher manage the classroom? What is her/his relationship with the students?
How are the desks arranged? Are ability groups assigned? If so, how is this determined?
What types of materials are on the bulleting boards? Are the bulletin boards and the
curriculum representative of the student population (i.e. race/ethnicity, gender)? Are
computers available to the students? If so; what is their condition? How are they used in the
classroom?
Teacher: Is the teacher an experienced or new teacher? Why did s/he decide to become a
teacher? Where did s/he receive their credential? Does s/he recommend the credential
program? What is her/his opinion of Common Core? Has s/he received Common Core
training? Was it helpful in terms of implementation? Ask the teacher what is the best/worst
part of the job? Ask for “words of wisdom” specific to teaching.
Your insights/conclusion: What did you learn from the fieldwork experience? What was
your “take away” from the semester? Do you plan to teach? What do you think is the most
important quality a teacher needs to have in order to be effective in the classroom?