Top 10 Classroom Observation Tips

[@pattersonteach]

A few more tips I use regularly is Chunking my lessons. Break up your lesson is small parts. For example: Bellringer, bellringer share, introduction to lesson, mini lesson, question and answer, etc. Observers like to see variety. Don't spend the whole lesson doing a lecture or independent practice. Vary your instruction.

[@pattersonteach]

I teach middle school.

[@savannahodeneal5823]

You should make a video about things that you do/put in the classroom that helps kids with special needs like with ADHD, Autism, etc..

[@carolyncross4853]

I have a class ambassador, but I must say I probably went though 6 kids before I found one that wasn't a) shy enough to approach an adult and b) paid enough attention to realize someone has entered a room. TIP #11 have a class questioner. I have a student who's job is to ask, "How do you know?" This also helps kids pay attention bc they love to do the teacher's job of challenging others.

[@thenomadiceducator745]

Mrs.C's Lovelycatastrophe I like the class questioner tip! 👍

[@jackelinelopez-sangiorgio8864]

I love your vibe I want that bubbly cheery spirit. I panic and hate observations.

[@Carmeinification]

Good morning. We’re on The Lightning Thief. My struggle is reading, there are way too many pages to read and get through the handouts (notecatcher and exit ticket) in one day.

[@camillevielle1937]

I am a teacher in France and I'll be observed on Monday. Your advice are enriching and fortifying ! Thank you so much ! Have a nice day :)

[@KyleThain]

I make sure to be open with my students about what is being observed and why. I usually tell them that the principal is coming in to see if I am doing a good job teaching and to see if they are getting ready for first grade. I also am not above bribing students with treats and so forth for those certain students who like to act different when an administrator comes in :)

[@christinec112]

Mr. Thain I usually tell the students that the principal is coming in to observe THEM.

[@KyleThain]

I have done that too. Sometimes I say our principal doesn't believe that you guys can (insert skill) and challenge them to show our principal what they can do lol

[@xkatieo29]

I was actually observed by my principal and assistant superintendent this morning. I just watched your tips yesterday! When they came in I remained calm and kept doing what I always do. That even meant doing a dance brain break (I teach K). It went really well! Thank you.

[@ShakeelKhan-wl4xw]

I always become confused whenever anyone enter in classroom for observation. Please guide me to get over this problem 😢

[@lianaayres6952]

My hubby is a principal and he's a big guy. He has had some awkward moments trying to figure out where to sit in classrooms. As a result, I've created a guest area. It's actually a small table and chair. They often have to document observations and need a place to set their iPads etc...

[@GirlwholuvsCODMWF2]

Grabs notebook starts writing! I am a junior in college majoring in secondary education!! You are so helpful.

[@macmacroosa]

Shelby Lotre Is it hard?! I'm in high school but I want to major in secondary education and become a teacher!

[@tinascott7496]

What evaluation system do you use? We use Marzano, and it always turns out to be a dog and pony show because what is expected to be seen aren't things we can realistically incorporate into EVERY LESSON!

[@nicolelamoureux164]

I post my learning targets as questions (Marzano) that the students answer at the end of class. Also check out Making Thinking Visible (Ritchart, Churchill and Morrison, 2011) these thinking routines are structured to support thinking and understanding in the classroom to encourage engagement with concepts across subject areas and questions coming from students to further deepen their understanding.

[@thenomadiceducator745]

Nicole Lamoureux I second the routines and strategies in 'Making Thinking Visible.' They're easy to adapt to your lessons and the students deepen their understanding and questioning the more you use them.

[@stacyamsden]

Nicole Lamoureux thank you for sharing, I started to post my learning targets as questions after I read your post!

[@asteobaa4786]

I would love to see a video of how to set learning targets!

[@24567423ify]

Excellent tips. In New Mexico our observations count for 35% of our teacher evaluations. They have to see all of the components in the 1 or 2 lessons that they observe. My principal has actually used those words that he wants to see our horse and pony show. Bring it all. Just ups the stress level. The more that each of the components are included in our daily routines, the more natural it will be when observation time comes.

[@christinecraig7435]

Classroom greeter is a great idea and is two fold, helps you out but also makes youth feel important and valuable.

[@sierrapainter2858]

Love your videos!! I'm a freshman in college majoring in early childhood and special education. You are always lots of help! Also, I grew up in PA and I had no idea you were teaching in this state! So cool!

[@anacastro8880]

Thank you for this video. I will create the ambassador job straight away! I will NOT lock eyes with my administration...promise. I needed this yesterday and I didn't think to look up these types of videos. You rock!

[@pamsteckman698]

I totally do #3 every time. It makes me less nervous.

[@blessingpromise-jeremiah2368]

I appreciate you for your vlog. Can you do a vlog on guided maths and learning targets for both guided maths and literature cycle.

[@natalie3104]

I would love a video about learning targets!

[@blessingpromise-jeremiah2368]

I will like you to do a video on how to write nicely on the white board cos I'm having a hard time managing my white board. Thanks

[@coraimasantos4916]

I'm glad I found this video! I'm getting observed Friday morning- I'm a student teacher. All your other videos are so helpful as well

[@kaiseranowar]

What does a student teacher mean?

[@KafoopleLand]

Beforehand, I like to tell my administration what I want them to focus on. A quick run down of my activities and what I'm hoping to achieve lets them give me specific and useful feedback. Also I encourage them to talk to the kids and look through their books.

[@rosainig]

Great video...yes I agree... don't look at the administrator... focus on the lesson and kids...ja....but I would love to see how you come up with your objectives video and how you introduce/display them...thank you! Blessings! ☺

[@astarisborn9820]

Loved this video I feel very encouraged. We use the Danielson rubric in my school district. Thankfully my last evaluation went very well. My AP is a person who is very dishonest/unethical. Thankfully there were other teachers in the room as well so she couldn't lie on me!

[@SeasideHavenCandleCo]

I'm waiting on my final informal observation and this video was extremely helpful and uplifting! Thanks for sharing! :)

[@BridgingLiteracy]

+Misherrific - Yay!!! Good Luck!

[@cmartnez1]

Yes to learning targets!

[@britniw5427]

Learning targets video please 😊

[@pinarose]

I agree! I would love to see how the CCSS are translated into learning targets.

[@AlysFaves]

Love your top/dress. Great tips by the way!

[@BLANSTAR21]

Very GOOD TIPS!

[@talesofafifthgradeteacher7371]

Thanks for the tips. I've all had of my observations for the year thankfully, but I will still use these tips to help improve my daily teaching plus for next year. One thing I want to try more of is using higher level questions. I do with some things, but not with every single lesson so I know I can incorporate that more. I also want to have the kids talking more. I do turn and talks and we do like 4 corners like walk around the room go to the corner you think is the answer and talk with the group why, etc and then we share, but I just think my class could benefit more from talking and more whole brain type things so that's going to be a focus of mine.

[@berenicemartinez9238]

I had mine yesterday and still waiting for my follow up ... wish I had watched this ... although I was relaxed

[@2beli2]

Great tips!!!!! Thx for sharing! Looking forward to more videos. I love your videos. I discovered you by chance and I'm starting to watch all of your amazing videos!

[@atlass8331]

Observations are a joke, at least in my experience. I told my Vice Principal that I couldn't care less about his observation or review. None of the administrators have any idea what it is I teach, and they came in for 10 minutes and judged me? I told him it was like he wrote a full review of a movie, but he only watched the teaser trailer. I also love how they have to give you advice, and when you tell them you already do it, they won't take it off of your review because they need to look like they know something about teaching. I love it when they give advice that absolutely won't work for your class. Once I get the copy, I immediately throw it in the trash because the review is meaningless, and it doesn't affect my pay anyways.

[@LadyBird6575]

Great video! Thanks for those tips. Your videos are always very good.

[@evelynbegay2495]

Thank you so much.

[@alisonkitchin7581]

Thank you for your videos :) they are inspiring to me and have helped to energize me as I am in my 13th year, 6th school & 3rd state. I am in a happy place now and I would love to start vlogging too!

[@Jessica25710]

I love that shirt!!

[@BridgingLiteracy]

+Jessica25710 - ❤️❤️❤️

[@shantegause5067]

Thanks, for the information.

[@SarahWheeleeTravels]

Tip 1 is so powerful!

[@brielynn]

I LOVE your Top!

[@scarlet1515]

Great tips but I'm a bit stuck on #9. If I don't know when the Administration is coming to observe me, that means I'll have to stick to a routine for an undetermined period of time. Wouldn't this become a stale procedure for the kids?

[@socksumi]

How would you like being watched ALL the time via surveillance cameras while you are teaching? Where everything you say and every move you make is being monitored and scrutinized from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. There are some people who advocate for this kind of thing. Reminds one of what it's like living in North Korea.

[@charlesperez9976]

You are wonderful!😊

[@StarryNightxx]

Ive never been this early to one of your videos I feel like a successful future teacher XD

[@kindnessandconfetti6339]

Another great video! Thanks for the awesome tips! :)

[@nickyikes]

Could you do a video on strategies you use to scaffold your lessons? I'm an art teacher and I really love your channel!

[@BridgingLiteracy]

+Nicole Amber Miller thank you! Yes, I am talking about targets soon.

[@danteguerero5915]

thank you very much. tips r so helpful. God bless

[@stacyamsden]

Another great video!!! Are you going to share a part two of RCA? Yes, please do a video on learning targets and success criteria!

[@BridgingLiteracy]

+Stacy Amsden - Yes. It's a bit shorter than the first one, but they are still more difficult to edit. I'll probably post it on Tuesday. I have a surprise built into the first one! 🎁

[@lauragracefaith]

I would love to see a learning target video. Thank you.

[@torij4869]

I would love to learn more about learning targets.

[@marscastillo-alvarez5250]

I love your blouse!!!!!

[@mishies2672]

I would love for you to do a video on learning targets.

[@jsmooth2057]

In addition to "how" and "why", you should consider "describe", " explain", and "tell me...".

[@budgetrebelgoals]

Yes,tell us about learning targets!?

[@KafoopleLand]

Great tips!

[@madisonlongi]

How do you differentiate the time when students SHOULD/NOT greet guests? For example, the guest has time to stay or they are just there to hand something to the teacher?

[@BridgingLiteracy]

We are always notified when we will have visitors in the classroom. We always tell our students when they are coming, but we encourage students to always greet someone at the door.

[@imanhegazy1648]

I want to know more about learning target and I can use in classroom. please how can we plan it for different ages from birth to 7 years old?

[@freddyram1969]

Thank you so much !!

[@avholland]

yes! please some learning targets! im a lateral entry teacher

[@henryprokop9170]

Learning Target video please!! Also any ideas on best way to teacher 4th graders writing and literature(Need help!!!!)

[@lcadez]

Omg no kidding about technology. Seriously, the only 2 times my Smart Board and Elmo have conked out this entire year was during an observation lol

[@BridgingLiteracy]

+pinkinthecity - Exactly 😳🍎😂

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

The administrators could have set it up that way to see how you would react.

[@arshiaarsh55]

I would definitely like to learn more about learning targets. :)

[@analuavl9]

A different video in your channel! But I was really useful 👌🏻

[@JazminOchoa08]

oh, please! Make a video for learning targets

[@Delilahriveras]

ohhhh helpful tips !!! im going to put them in practice from now on until the days they will observe me

[@lcadez]

Where's your necklace from by the way?

[@SuperUnicohijo]

impressive ill do this

[@Rosane18]

14:15 yup 😅🤦🏼‍♀️😊

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

Our observations are the entire day

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

Nikki Jones exactly, lol ! I much prefer the informal observations :)

[@KafoopleLand]

Kate The Sleepy Teacher you poor darlin' !

[@KateTheSleepyTeacher]

Life in Kafoople Land it's actually not so bad. Our principal is pretty amazing and there is no dog and pony show needed. She actually only does it for each teacher ever couple years. I'm sure I'm up next year, since I haven't had one in three years. Still though after ten years at this school and 13 years teaching as an fte, I much prefer the informal observations :)

[@LaurensDesigns]

Awe, thanks! So cute! A greeter! Thanks so awesome great idea! XOXO L

[@ongeziwecebisa5795]

Why can't I download it

[@tammiebowers1893]

What tips would you have for a student in college who has to go to classrooms and observe?

[@dalacosta2336]

My principal comes in but does not provide constructive feedback she is a bad observer. She is going on a hunt and giving teachers ineffective.

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

ineffective what?

[@sumi_btsarmy_forever7166]

Give me some learning

[@averylawson611]

my goal is actually to become a teacher and I am a vlogger also and to day is my birthday

[@BridgingLiteracy]

+Matthew Nichols - Yay!! Happy Birthday and Good Luck!

[@jeetsingh3096]

Good morning god vilen

[@cuty295]

Plzz .will you explain it in tamil ?plzz mam

[@Trailer_gamer_Productions]

AYO

[@alexanderpadalka5708]

🗽

[@mishies2672]

I teach kindergarten and I am not sure how to implement them so that students will understand them at that age.

[@alisonkitchin7581]

I've taught PK-6 and when I am in lower grades (I am in 1st now) I use "I can" or "we will" kind of statements for the kids to understand. They help keep me focused and the kids who can read can refer back!

[@aburayhanmisbah7841]

You should make a video about things that you do/put in the classroom that helps kids with special needs like with ADHD, Autism, etc..