One Week - Eight Middle School Classroom Observations

The strength of any school can and should be found in the classroom. This is why one of my all-time favorite job responsibilities is to observe each classroom instructor formally. In the fall of 2013, our faculty set forth on examining what should go into a lesson at Sumner Academy. It was specific to our mission, students, and gifted instructors. What came from that meeting was a lesson design with five components; introduction, presentation, checking for understanding, independent practice and closure. Also, eight teaching characteristics which should be present for every lesson. They include; classroom management, compassion, effective communication, enthusiastic/encouraging, expertise, flexibility, high expectations, organized.

So, during an observation I look for the five components of the lesson design as well as the eight teaching characteristics and keep a running narrative on what is occurring in class as well as thoughts on significant points on the lesson and possible changes for improvement.

From my week of observing and learning, I now know the following: (1) the origins of the discovery of DNA and how to find the DNA of a strawberry and a human; (2) the controversial role of Brutus in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar;” (3) factoring trinomials forward and backward using the smiley face method; (4) the proper usage of quotation marks; (5) various Spanish ocean related vocabulary; (6) using complements such as predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives; (7) writing traditional and modern haiku poetry; and (8) the culture and history of civil disobedience and activism.

Whew, I’m glad I just observed and did not have to complete the homework assignments!

Here are a couple of commonalities I saw in our instructors during the week. The first was how passionate they each are about the discipline they teach. Without this passion, it would just be reading the textbook, answering the questions, then completing the homework. Our instructors go far beyond the classroom and bring technology to our students to enhance their learning. I saw video clips, articles from magazines, web based research, fun cooperative learning activities, hands-on learning and much more. Another commonality came when I met with each instructor individually. To a person, they were eager to hear what I had to say and observed…even when I made a few suggestions. They each are willing to change and adapt to make even more difference in the learning process for our students.

One instructor told her class I would be observing the following week. They were concerned with some of her "techniques" and "props" she used during instruction. Each subsequent lesson, the students would tell her, "uh, that might not be a good idea when Mr. J. comes in to observe." They even collected many things from the room and placed them in a "Tools of the Trade: DO NOT USE DURING OBSERVATION." You just got to love middle schoolers!

While my role of headmaster has many duties and responsibilities which keep me from the classrooms, this truly is my favorite time of the school year.