Classroom Observation - Essay Example

While determining how the teacher controls the behavior in the classroom the observer was informed that the code of conduct in each class of the school was created in the beginning of the year. As an example the observer found that the punishment for talking when the teacher is teaching has four stages. If the student is caught talking for the first time the teacher gives him verbal reminder. If the student is caught talking after the first reminder then the second time the teacher not only gives him verbal reminder but also reminds him of the class's code of conduct.

If despite the two reminders the student does not stop then the teacher gives him the third and final warning verbally. If these three stages have not worked and the teacher finds him talking continuously then the teacher asks him and his other classmates if involved, to immediately leave the classroom and return only when they have controlled themselves completely. The teacher does not lay down the code of conduct alone but students are also involved in it. This approach helps the teacher in controlling the behavior in the classroom as current research shows that rules made together are usually more successful than teacher made rules.

It gives the students a chance to voice their opinions and take ownership for the code of conduct. According to Cole et al. "Activities cannot be seen or planned in isolation. The way all the adults who are involved with the children share their strategies and the child's response is vital. This is not a one way or single channeled process." (2) Therefore when the students are sent out as a punishment they do not have any option but to obey the teacher as they too were involved in formulating this rule.

They do not hold any grudges against the teacher later also due to this fact. Does the teacher integrate the content areas The observer witnessed that the teacher very skillfully integrated the content areas. It was not much difficult for her to do so because with science as a subject, it becomes easy to integrate many of the content areas. Social Studies- map skills; math- formulas for speed, time, reading charts and graphs; ELA- writing conclusions and coming up with hypothesis were all integrated by her.

This made her teaching very interesting to the students. Cole et.al rightly pointed out that " children need to be challenged, the activities exciting and dynamic." (2) It has been found that students perform better when skills overlap in each area of their curriculum. The school that the observer visited believes in team teaching where policies and procedures remain constant for all content area classes. How does the teacher influence the classroom atmosphere In order to promote a congenial classroom atmosphere it is not enough to just lecture students on what to do and what not to.

The students scrutinize teachers and try to find out whether teachers themselves are practicing what they are preaching. Teachers should be the role models of appropriate behavior. Only then can she influence the classroom atmosphere in a positive way. The observer found that the teacher of the classroom that he visited is an excellent model of appropriate behavior, language and decent dressing. She carried herself well and thus