Teacher Training Resources
Preservice Teacher Resources: A Checklist for Observing a Lesson
As an observer during group and individual school visits, a pre-service teacher learns how to be a shadow to what is going on the classroom. She or he learns on a general basis how schools operate and what to somewhat expect when s/he will be in charge of a class.
The School
What is the general physical environment of the school. Is it hard or easy to get around? Is it physically clean? Are the classrooms small? What is the student-teacher ratio?
The Classroom
Are there a lot of visuals and decorations? What are your general impressions?
The Lesson
Materials and equipment . What is used in the lesson and how are they used? Materials include: worksheets, textbooks, computers, stereo and audio supplies, tape recorder, maps, paper-scissors, materials for experimentating, dictionaries, readers, etc.
The Way the lesson is taught: Educational Climate
- Is the relationship between teachers and students formal and distancing or open and friendly? Is it too friendly?
- Is the learning atmosphere relaxed?
- Were any uses of positive reinforcement used at all?
- Are lessons taught on a whole group frontal format? Is there any group work? Pair work?
- How is new material presented? What kinds of classroom and teacher procedures are used? How are the rules reviewed if at all?
- How does the lesson begin and end? Is there a closure?
- How is homework reviewed and checked?
Teachers – Pupils: Who does what?
- What are the teacher’s classroom management techniques?
- How does the teacher motivate the student to learn?
- Who asks the questions?
Other Points to Consider
Student Body
- Is there a student body? How is it organized? Does they set the laws of discipline or other administrative affairs which affect students and teachers?
- Are decisions made democratically?
The School’s Belief
What is the school’s belief and attitude regarding learning?
Role of Parents
- Do parents take part in the committees?
- Is there cooperation between the school and the parent?
- Are there common interest between the teachers and the student which further extends the relationship in respect to the function of the school?
Over to You
After visiting schools and seeing teachers in practice, what knowledge and/or skills do you think you must gain towards becoming a teacher? Here is a sample list of qualities. It is by no means complete.
- Level of patience
- Utilize creativity skills
- Use voice effectively to manage a classroom
- Correcting students
