Teacher: Baker, Scott

Date: 10-8-14

Class Per: 5 (On-level Physics)

Lesson Objective: Free fall lab; review measurement

Observations by Mrs. Tricia N. Aguas (Science Instructional Practice Coach)
Time
1:05

Teacher
Conducting pre-lab on the free fall lab

Students
Many students were conversing with
each other while the teacher was
conducting pre-lab.
Some students were eating

1:10

Took 3 time measurements of a book

dropped from the 2nd floor A building
balcony.

3 students watched below to make sure

no one was passing through while the
book was being dropped. Most students
were crowded around the balcony.

1:18

Returned to classroom; reviewed the

parts of a lab report; modeled what a
good purpose of the lab looks like.

Three students were texting on their

phones. One had his earphones in
listening to music. The group close to
the whiteboard on the side were
carrying on an unrelated conversation.
One student was eating candy. Group of
4 in the corner close to the window in
the back were not listening to the
discussion. Three students were
interacting with the teacher.

1:29

Worked through the pertinent

equations for the lab

Ten students were watching Mr. Baker

do the calculations for the lab.
Two students did the calculations on
their phones and shared the answers
for Mr. Baker to write on the board.

Comments/ Suggestions/ Questions:

Seating charts are necessary for this class to minimize conversation and off-task behavior.
Off-task behavior needs to be addressed immediately and students should be expected to
maintain behavior that will keep the classroom conducive to learning.
Have a handout to keep students engaged while you are walking them through the
calculations for the lab. The handout could even have questions or directions to guide them
through the calculations.
Objectives need to be clearly written with what the students are expected to do and learn.
Free fall lab is insufficient. What is the student expected to learn from this? What is the
related TEKS? If there is no TEKS, have specific objectives for the day written with a verb.
For example: The student will be able to derive the formula for ______ using data from the
free-fall lab.

Post-Observation Conference

Action Items: Seating charts for 5th and 6th period; Names on popsicle sticks for cold
calling to keep students alert and engaged
Scaffold the lab write-up especially when a handout is not available.