Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Anna Kingsbury
ENG 308
Classroom Observations 1 & 2
All observations were made during the classroom independent reading times
Anna Kingsbury
ENG 308
Classroom Observations 1 & 2
Only some students are really focused on reading throughout the entire half
hour
Some of the students have exercise balls instead of chairs at their desks so
that they can move around
Mrs. Bush goes around to misbehaving students and quietly discusses and
corrects their behavior and tries to ensure that all students are focused and
on task
Students are around the classroom, reading independently but are working
in pairs
o Some students do not have a partner and were reading individually
o Students in pairs were reading the same book, and taking turns
reading the book aloud
o Social reading experience
o Different pairs were reading at different reading levels. For example,
one pair was reading The Hunger Games and another was reading
Junie B Jones
Students were going in and out of the classroom because they were being
fitted for instruments in band class
o Perhaps that was why they were reading in pairs?
There are 3 book cases at the back of the classroom
o Alphabetized to make it easier for students to find the book they were
looking for
Mrs. McVey was walking around the classroom to make sure the students
were staying on track
o She would pause to listen to the pair read, ask them questions about
what they were reading, perhaps take a turn reading with herself
o She would also correct students if they read a word incorrectly or
pronounced it incorrectly
o She made it a point to try and get to each pair of students
o Asking students about the title of the book they were reading, what
they thought the title might mean, predict what the story will be about
or asking what it is about so far
There isnt a specifically designated reading area in the classroom, but
students are allowed to sit wherever they please to read during this
independent reading time.
Class has a separate attached room much like Mrs. Bushs classroom that can
be used for individual instruction
o Contains a table and chairs, other materials
o Called the Opportunity Room
This classroom also has exercise balls for students to sit on instead of chairs
at their desks in case they need or want them
There are posters and papers up around the classroom to encourage reading
and writing
o The parts of a story, how to write a paragraph, etc.
Anna Kingsbury
ENG 308
Classroom Observations 1 & 2
Pictures drawn by students and student work is on display in the classroom
Mrs. McVey occasionally encouraged the class to quiet down, but not to be
silent (as they are reading aloud to each other)
o Ensured that rowdy kids calmed down by quietly correcting their
behavior
There are dictionaries and encyclopedias available to the students on display
in the classroom
Each student has their own cubby in which they keep the books they are
currently working on reading
Students were occasionally off topic and talking when Mrs. McVey was not
paying attention or when she was on the other side of the room
Mrs. McVey helped student pick out books form the shelves that they would
find interesting if they had trouble finding a book to read
o Wants students to enjoy the book they are reading
If students were not paying attention or reading, she would threaten to make
them stay in and read during recess the next day
o (this was crazy to me reading should not be a punishment!)
Subjective Understanding
She is at or above reading level
briefly
Anna Kingsbury
ENG 308
Classroom Observations 1 & 2
think he was showing her
something in his book
Has interest in others books
Might take her a while to get
interest in her book, or to get
settled
May need encouragement to be
focused
Is not completely grabbed by the
book or entertained it, may need
a different book
Resources are available to
students!
Subjective Understanding
Unfocused, distracted by all
other students around her
May need encouragement to
become focused on her book
Anna Kingsbury
ENG 308
Classroom Observations 1 & 2
(still cant believe she is
threatening reading as a
punishment!)
Perhaps that helps her to focus
Perhaps she wants to be noticed
by other students since she
seems to be so social
Finally begins taking interest in
her book
Took her a bit to begin reading,
but once she did she found it an
interesting one
The interactive parts of the book
really grab her attention
She is more focused on the
pictures than on the text
Reflection:
From these observations I conclude that both girls are reading at least at grade
level, if not higher. They also both seem to have trouble concentrating on the
material they are reading, and might need more encouragement to focus on the
text they are currently reading.