RUNNING head: OBSERVATION
1
Observation
Uda Sharif
Ivy Tech Community College
Observation
2
Education 101
INTASC STANDARD
INTASC Standard #2: Learning Differences
Name of Artifact: Observation
Date: February 24, 2015
Course: Education 101-4AH
Brief Description: This assignment is asking me to examining my observation of two different teachers in two
different classroom.
Rationale: To document my understanding of INTASC Standard 2, Learning Differences, including observation
of two teachers and how they manage their classrooms. To learn what different teaching qualities they both
have. To put all that I learned in to my future teaching.
Observation
3
Introduction
I have meet so many different people in my life, but these two teachers that I choose to share are those
who have made differences in many children’s lives. One has twenty-six years of teaching and the other not far
from that number.
Mrs. Thompson
Mrs. Thompson has been a teacher for twenty-six years. She has taught from first grade, to fifth and six
grades. She is not only a teacher, she is a mother of two. She has two wonderful daughters as I hear it from my
daughter who attends her class herself. She attended Ben Davis High school. Mrs. Thompson’s classroom has
twenty-nine students. Her classroom has high ability, low ability and above average students. Her teaching
strategists are small, whole and different subject area groups. She involves parents in the classroom by sending
weekly news letters home, holds conference in the fall to her struggling students’ parents. She also encourages
parents to volunteer to do small group activity with some of the students. Each teach teacher has their own way
of being effective teacher. In the book Koch we learn an effective teacher tries to activate students, prior
knowledge so that, in the course of the lesson, students can build on what they already know, challenge it,
rethink it, and refine it. (Koch, 2013, p.76) Ms. Thompson spends four to five hours after school MondayThursday in the evenings preparing for her class and four weekend average ten to twelve hours grading papers.
One thing that she surprised me is that even family nights when going to dinner she spends on the way to the
restaurant or wherever they are going grading papers. Sundays before her and her family attend church she
spends at least six-hours doing school work, weather it is reading papers or grading student tests. One thing she
really loves is watching each student’s growth, both growth in their learning especially from the beginning of
the school year and the progress they make until the end. One thing that Mrs. Thompson wishes is that there be
more time in the day. She wishes she can do more for her students but time just doesn’t allow her because there
is so many other things to get done. As a teacher who is been teaching for twenty-six years she knows she is
successful because she develops relationship aspect with her students that when they are happy she is happy too
Observation
4
and also the parents are happy too. In the other hand growth and gain by testing their reading and the
achievement tests on academic level. Also when some of her past students stop by to thank her and knowing
how much she impacted those students life’s or what impacted she had on those students. She said, she loves
each one of her students like her own and just enjoys being there for the kids.
Ms. Ladalski
Her name is Jennifer Ladalski and been teaching for six-years as a kindergarten teacher at North Wayne
Elementary School. She has Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education with a Reading License
and a Master’s degree in Response to Intervention in Reading and Behavior. Kindergarten is the only grade is
has taught so far. She has three lovely dogs named Abbey, Bailey and Kali. Her favorite foods is Mexican,
loves the color green and hobbies are drawing, crafts, movies and music. In the classroom Ms. Ladalski has
good time management and has high expectations of learning and behavior from her students. She tells her
students to do their best. As a traits of an effective teacher she is there for her students and cares about them and
respects them. As for lesson plans or design North Wayne has their own lesson plan design already and set
modeling guides. She guides her student to make sure they understand and learn what is expected from them on
achievement level. Some student need extra work time and some need independent practice. When things
become overwhelmed she turns to the principal for a support and also other teachers. She got her overall
support from the principal because she comes in to observe how she is teaching and goes over with her how
well she is doing and what things she needs to make changes on. Also there is group meeting where the teachers
share effective ideas and ways to better teach the students. Ms. Ladalski spends two-four hours after school on
weekdays to do preparing for upcoming lessons grading tests or reading the student’s reading or writings. At
home she spends online figuring out ideas for next lesson. One thing that I loved Ms. Ladalski said was that, she
tries to keep school and personal life separate as much as possible. Tries to finish all her work after school and
go home to her family. One of the most difficult challenges for teachers that she described is that she wishes she
would more time on teaching the students than doing assessments. She said the students spend more time testing
Observation
5
than learning and it makes difficult for the teachers. Especially when you have kids like kindergartens who have
hard time testing. The students get burned out sometimes they end up crying because they are tired of testing or
can’t focus anymore. Ms. Ladalski is a great teacher at North Wayne that I have happen to know her through
my daughter. She was my daughter’s first teacher and my daughter loved her. I can tell Ms. Ladalski has
passion for teaching.
Conclusion
Not are these two individuals only have degrees in teaching. They love their students with no limitation.
They care for their students with all their hearts and nature each of their students like their students like own. I
did not only observe these two teachers but they have been great teachers to my first born and made tremendous
difference in my Aaliyah’s life. I don’t have enough words to thank them. They have love in their eyes and
hearts for each one of their students. I one day wish to have the qualities they have as teachers.
Observation
Reference
Koch, J (2013) Teach. Student edition
Page (76)
6
Observation
7
EDUCATION 101
6.2 Teacher Interview Project
In order to learn about your potential career choice, you will observe and interview two educators who are currently
employed as school teachers. These educators cannot be relatives or people living in your household. They must also be
currently teaching in a public or private K - 12 school system, not retired. Spending extended time with two teachers will
allow you to gain first-hand knowledge of their teaching style, their beliefs about the students, classroom, school,
community and the field of education in general.
To complete this project, you will need to do the following:
1) Decide if you will work with a partner for this assignment or work alone.
2) Identify two teachers you have selected to observe and interview. (3.3 Teacher Identification forms submitted in
Session # 3)
3) Schedule a Face to Face observation and interview time with each teacher. Schedule a time as soon as possible in
case it becomes necessary to reschedule the appointment and so you have ample time to create a Paper, PowerPoint
Presentation or Panel, etc.
4) Be sure to have both teachers sign the Consent Form, which must be submitted with this project.
5) Select ten (10) interview questions from the attached question pool to use in your interview.
6)
Record both teachers’ responses to the questions as you conduct the interviews. (This information along with class
notes, discussions and the textbook will be used later to create your end product.)
7) Two In-text Citations from the textbook must be included in this assignment.
8)
Be sure to cover these Comparison/Contrast Areas in your paper/presentation using APA Format:
a. Title Page
Observation
8
b. INTASC Standards Description and Rationale Page
c. Introduction/Background Information
d. Traits of an effective teacher
e. Philosophies, values and beliefs of these teachers
f.
The most important quality of a good teacher
g. Traits, quality or behaviors I possess
h. Final Remarks Summary/Conclusion
i.
Two In-Text Citations
j.
Reference Page
9) Be sure to include subtitles for each section of your project.
10.) This paper/presentation must be a minimum of 1000 words or 15 slides. Paper, Panel and PowerPoint Presentation
must be presented to the class. Panel presentations must be arranged in advance and conducted in front of the class. The
Paper, PowerPoint Presentation or Panel will be awarded points only if it is presented to the class.
Observation
9
Teacher Interview Pool of Questions
Select the ten questions to be included in your interview. You must include questions number one through five in your
selection. Print one set of the selected questions for each teacher to be interviewed and take these questions to your
scheduled appointment. Information gained from this experience will be used to create the final product to be submitted
in Blackboard.
1. Tell me about yourself as a teacher.
a. Why did you decide to enter teaching?
b. How many years have you been teaching?
c. What grade levels and/or subject areas have you taught?
2. What are the traits of an effective teacher?
3. What is the single most important quality a good teacher possesses?
4. What are your values, beliefs or philosophy about the teaching profession? Have they changed over the years,
how?
5. Tell me about your classroom and teaching strategies.
a. How is your classroom arranged to optimize learning?
b. What are your strategies for effective classroom management?
c. What types of lesson plans do you create? How do you incorporate state standards in the curriculum?
6. For you, what are the most exciting aspects of teaching and your work?
Observation
7. Who has given you the most support in learning to be an effective teacher?
8. How do you encourage involvement of parents and families in the school and your classroom?
9. How much time do you spend outside of the work day on preparation and grading?
10. What do you think are the most difficult challenges for teachers?
11. What do you see as the pros and cons of ISTEP? In what ways, if any, has ISTEP affected your teaching?
12. How do you continue your professional development? What is required to maintain your teaching license?
13. How do you know you are successful?
14. What advice would you give to a future teacher?
10
Observation
11
Teacher Interview Project
Grading Score Rubric
Be sure each of these sections are include in your final presentation
Points are awarded based on thoroughness and attention to detail
Possible
Earned
Points
Points
Cover/Title Page
2
INTASC Standard, Description and Rationale
3
Comparison/Contrast Content
24
Demonstrates critical expressions in each section using all resources
available - teacher responses, class notes/discussions, textbook, and
personal reflections.
Subtitles must be included with in each section of the
paper/Presentation.
a. Introduction/Background Information (4)
b. Traits of an Effective Teacher (4)
Observation
12
c. Philosophies, Values and Beliefs of these teachers (4)
d. Most Important Quality of a Good Teacher (4)
e. Trait, Quality and/or Behavior I Possess (4)
f.
Final Remarks Summary/Conclusion (4)
Two In-Text Citations
4
Reference Page
2
APA Format/Mechanics
4
Titled and saved properly
-3
Total Points
40