Recommendations for Observation of Classroom Procedures, instruction and management

These questions are designed to help you focus on important classroom procedures and utilize your observation time wisely.

Starting Procedures
- What does the teacher do as students arrive in the classroom?
- Does the teacher have instructions on the board or activities for engagement?
- How are class roll, lunch count, etc. conducted?
Material Distribution
- Are instructional materials ready for use?
- What are the student responsibilities regarding materials?
Restroom Procedures
- May students leave for the restroom freely?
- Are passes available to use under certain guidelines?
- Must the teacher give permission before a student may be excused?
Lunch Procedures
- How are students dismissed at the end of each period, for lunch, for special circumstances, etc.?
- How are the elementary students taken to the cafeteria and picked up?

Attendance
- Are the students allowed to assist?
Grading
- Does the teacher use different types of evaluation symbols?
- How is the grade book set up? (electronic, paper copy, etc.)
Referrals
- How are disciplinary actions and follow-up procedures handled?
- How are other referrals handled? (speech, SPED, counselor, etc.)

Discipline Plan
- What are the rules?
- How were they chosen?
- How are they enforced? (praise, consequence)
Tardy Policy
- How is the policy enforced?
- What is the school policy for acceptable excuses for tardies?
Seating Arrangements
- How does the teacher determine seating? (alphabetical, discipline, ability levels)
- Can students move at different times or do they need to stay in their seat for the entire period?
Grouping
- Are students grouped for projects, reading, etc.?
- How does the teacher determine this grouping?

Lesson
- Introduction and teaching
  - How is the purpose of the lesson set?
  - How does the teacher motivate students’ interest?
  - How does the teacher relate lesson content to the students’ prior knowledge?
  - What type of questioning is used to determine student understanding?
- Student activities
  - How are students monitored for degree of understanding?
  - How does the teacher produce a smooth transition from teaching procedures to student practice?
  - How are students kept on task?
- Enrich/Re-teach activities
  - What creative opportunities are provided to extend the understanding of those who successfully complete the lesson?
  - What modifications and re-teach opportunities are provided for those who have not mastered the objective?
- Closure
  - How does the teacher involve the students in a brief review of the lesson objective?
Homework/Make-up work/Late work/Tutorials
- How does the teacher grade homework?
- What is the policy for late work?
- What is the policy for students who have been absent?
- What is the policy for helping students before, during, and after school?
Transition techniques/Fillers
- What special devices or techniques does the teacher use to connect the subjects and move into the next learning activity?
- If the teacher has time, how does he/she keep students involved, motivated, and keep them on task?

How are students recognized during classroom discussion?
How do students gain the teacher’s attention?
How does the teacher bring all students into the learning environment and keep them on-task?
How does the teacher redirect off-task behaviors?
How is the classroom discipline plan implemented?
How are appropriate behaviors reinforced?
How are students moved from whole group to small group and vice-versa?
What non-verbal signals are used?

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