School administrators often use classroom observation as a tool to help evaluate the effectiveness of teachers and curriculum programs. For a new teacher, the thought of having someone observe a day of instruction can be daunting.
If you are preparing for your first classroom observation, here are three things that you can do to help the process go as smoothly as possible.
1. Make sure your students are comfortable with visitors.
In the weeks leading up to your scheduled classroom observation day, it can be helpful to teach your students how to handle visitors in the classroom. You want your kids to pay attention to your lesson, not the observer. This will help the observer gather accurate information to provide you with constructive feedback on your teaching and curriculum choices.
You should let your students know how to behave properly when a visitor is in the classroom, then have several visitors come sit in the classroom prior to the day of your observation. By exposing your students to a series of visitors before the observer enters your classroom, your kids will be able to ignore the observer and focus on their studies.
2. Get organized before classroom observation occurs.
In order to maximize the amount of benefit that you receive from having your teaching evaluated by an observer, it can be helpful to get organized before the actual observation occurs. You should ensure that your lesson plans are organized and easy to read, and that your classroom is neat and orderly.
By being organized yourself, you give the observer easy access to any information that may be needed for him or her to make an accurate and helpful assessment of your teaching methods and curriculum.
3. Don't be tempted to try something new.
Many new teachers might feel that classroom observation provides them with the opportunity to test out a new teaching method or introduce a new concept. While it can be tempting to change up your normal routine in order to present the type of instruction you think an observer wants to see, it's important to recognize that the purpose of a classroom observation is to gather information on what happens regularly within your classroom.
By engaging in a typical day of teaching while your observer is in the classroom you will not only provide accurate information for the observer, but you will allow yourself to feel more comfortable and confident throughout the observation period as well.
Being prepared for your first classroom observation is important. Ensure that you are ready to maximize the benefits classroom observation can provide by teaching your students how to handle visitors, organizing your lesson plans and classroom, and sticking to your normal teaching routine during the observation.
Share26 June 2017
Do you have a little one at home who will be starting kindergarten in a couple of years? Perhaps, you want to do everything in your power to get your kid ready for his or her first year of formal education. To help you accomplish this vital task, consider investing in educational resources including workbooks, flash cards, and computer software. You might also wish to enroll your child in pre-school. Some pre-schools teach kids for several hours each day while others only educate children for a couple of hours a few days a week. On this blog, I hope you will discover ingenious, easy ways to successfully prepare your child to succeed in kindergarten. Enjoy!