Elementary Observation Form

Observer (Cadet): Jack Tanklefsky Date: 9/27/18

Site: Kohl Elementary Teacher’s Name(s) Taylor

Approximate Age (Or Age Range) of Students: 7-8

What impressions do you have of the overall environment?

It is obvious that the kids value what the teachers say tremendously. They follow the rules,
regardless of what they are, they care deeply about what the teacher says. They have various
desks that they sit at with alternating seating schedules including a large swivel chair that
dedicates that occupant the “Table Leader.” They transition often like moving to the rug in the
front of the room.

What are the students learning?

They are learning spelling and how they are germane to what they are reading. Words like
“because,” “make,” “take,” “time,” “live,” “give,” are hard for students to learn, but are vastly
abundant when reading.

What stage(s) of physical development do you observe? Give evidence.

I see the kids in their middle child development. They are getting much taller and growing
larger every day. They move often which encourages this muscle development.

What stage(s) of cognitive development do you observe? Give evidence.

Preoperational and concrete development stages. They are having to learn about others
feelings -- As kids, they are egocentric. This is something that has to be adapted, so that kids
can understand the wants and needs of other kids, as well.

What student-to-student interactions do you observe?

Students are helping and working with each other often. They ask each other for utensils or
help on assignments. The table leaders are responsible for helping everyone that they can,
that is the first person the children asked for help.

What teacher-to-student interactions do you observe?

The teachers encourage students, such as table leaders, to demonstrate their responsibility in
the classroom like pushing in the chairs, picking up astray utensils. Teachers make sure that
students are quiet when it is necessary. They make sure students are getting often movement
breaks and are participating.

What technology is being utilized, if any?

The students have swivel chairs and boxes of markers and pencils that they use for
classroom assignments

What are the strengths and/or challenges of this classroom?

Students are smart enough to participate in class and say what is on their minds, but these
ideas may not be relevant to what is going on in the classroom at the time. There is social
constructs that are also evident, the students acted differently when “older kids,” (observers)
entered the room, and this is a possible struggle, because observers would want to see the
kids at their natural state, rather than acting differently because there are unfamiliar faces in
the room.