School Visit
Jennifer Chacon
Kristin Niederecker
Laura Robles
Ashley Stephenson
Foshay Learning Center (K-12)
Located: 3751 S. Harvard Blvd
Weemes Elementary (K-5)
Located: 1260 W. 36th Pl.
South Pasadena (6-8)
Located: 1600 Oak Street
Who went where?
Jennifer
South
Pasadena
Middle School
Grade: 8
Ms. Gomez
Social Science; (20 students)
ELL Class
Ms. Martin
(12 students)
Ashley
Foshay
Learning
Center
Grade 7:
English
Ms. Dyes
(34 students)
Kristin
Foshay
Learning
Center
Grade 10: AP
World History
Mr. Brown
(20 students)
Laura
Weemes
Elementary
Grade 3: ESL
Classroom
Mr. Rumanos
(16 students)
Our Questions:
1. In the observed lessons/ lesson plans is there
actual visibility of standards and/or existence of
frameworks in the classroom?
2. What evidence of implemented and working
technology is there in the classroom?
3. How did the teacher accommodate English
Language Learners, if there were any?
4. How is the seating arranged in the classroom?
What is the effect of this arrangement? Is the
classroom visually stimulating?
5. Does the teacher promote student
involvement/participation?
What we found out…
#1 Standards & Frameworks
South Pasadena
“SPMS Core Value Word of the Month”
The week I was there, it was responsibility
Posters up on bulletin boards in all classrooms
Foshay
(7th) Reading comprehension; writing applications; Speaking strategies
(10th) Standards set in 10.2 of Social Sciences- Revolution of England &
American Revolution
*frameworks not posted in classroom
Weemes
Checklist on the board of things to accomplish daily (e.g. cursive, reading,
phonics, parts of speech)
#2 Technology
South Pasadena
• In the social studies classroom, there was one TV and
one computer
•In the ELD classroom, there are two computers and one
TV
Foshay
(7th) One computer for teacher; was not available to
students; one projector; one stereo
(10th) One computer; one overhead projector
Weemes
Eight computers (six new) with two seats
per computer
#3 English Language Learners
South Pasadena
• One class for all grades at the same level
•Mostly spoke Mandarin and Korean
Foshay
(7th) Most students proficient in English language
(10th) Upper division course; all students fluent in English
Weemes
ESL Class - bilingual teacher; repetition of English words
to help students learn
#4 Classroom Arrangement
South Pasadena
•Social Studies room was aligned in rows with all studies facing the teacher
or front of the room
•Seats in the ELD room were grouped together in groups of four. There was
no real front of the room.
•Busy walls with lots of posters, work, etc…
Foshay
(7th) Seven tables with four students per table; three tables with two
students; teacher’s desk in front right corner; English posters and classroom
rules, posted on colored paper; world map; “Foshay Gallery” with student
work
(10th) Six rows with five-six desks per row; two tables along side of
classroom; teacher’s desk in front left corner; front walls displayed four maps
of United States
Weemes
Groups of three desks; marble awards per table; student work and
newspaper clippings on the walls; alphabet with pictures; vocabulary list.
Foshay Learning Center
Ms. Dyes
Mr. Brown
C
Teacher
Whiteboards and maps
Teacher’s
Desk
Table
Table
Door
Door
Bookshelf
#5 Student Participation
South Pasadena
•Social Sciences - went over homework and discussion of newspaper
•ELD - based on student participation and immersion
Foshay
(7th) Promoted participation; involvement limited
(10th) Lots of participation, open ended questions for more elaborate
discussion; role playing (puts students in position of historical figures)
Weemes
Active teacher-moves around classroom addressing everyone & pays
close attention; asks questions about readings to promote thinking
Emotional Response
• Pasadena (Jennifer): stimulating, comfortable
• Foshay (Ashley): comfortable; good
relationship with teacher; authoritative, not
authoritarian;
• Foshay (Kristin): inviting, at ease in
environment - content to be there
• Weemes (Laura): enjoyable, entertaining
students, friendly atmosphere
Critiques & Comments
South Pasadena
• teachers understanding and patient
Foshay
(7th) Discipline; grading scale
(10th) in tuned to students
Weemes
•More things on wall
•Change seating arrangement
•standards