Methods of Teaching

Today in class (15 minutes)
Examine the list of teacher actions that was compiled after the last class. Have that list 
pinned to a wall or on the board so that everyone can see it.
Remind Student Teachers that these are the actions they will look for from the teacher 
during next week’s observations. Ensure that Student Teachers understand everything 
on the list, and elicit and answer any questions they may have. Their observations 
can only be as accurate as their understanding of the actions they are supposed to 
observe. As questions are raised by the class, turn to the rest of the class and ask if 
another Student Teacher can provide the answer. Having Student Teachers answer 
each other’s questions may foster understanding more easily than if you answer, 
though you will probably have to answer some questions. Tell the class that you will 
enter the list on the observation form, make copies, and give each of them two forms 
in the next class.
Small-group work: studying the observation procedures (20 minutes)
Have Student Teachers sit in their observation group to discuss the procedures for 
next week’s observations. Check that they know how to use the observation form. 
They should describe its use one at a time to each other and the two listeners in each 
cycle should pay very close attention to their partner’s description. It is important to 
know that the observation interval is five minutes and that during that interval the 
observer needs to be mindful of the full list of actions. If any of those actions is seen 
within a five-minute interval, the appropriate box should be ticked on the same line 
as the action. No action should be ticked more than once in a five-minute interval. 
Remind Student Teachers that if the teachers engage in very few actions on the list, 
they should note their observations on the back of their form (or a separate piece of 
paper) and describe what the teacher’s actions during the lesson. The partners should 
also present each other with any questions about the observation they may have. 
Stop the group work after 15 minutes and tell each class member to write the list of 
procedures for conducting this observation in chronological order.