Formal Observations

Here in the UK there are a lot more, and intense, than in Ontario.  As OFSTED comes around to evaluate the teachers and schools, it is important that all of the teachers are up to par.  I have had two formal observations so far, both of which went well, and I have learned a lot from them, which I figured I would share to all of you:

1) Make "Extension Sheets" for your G&T, FSM and students who complete the work quickly or easily.  These extension sheets take what you have taught in the lesson and extend it to either the up-coming lesson or knowledge outside the scope of the course.  These sheets will show your observer that you are encouraging your students to go up and beyond the course requirements.  This is a simple method that you could use to gain great marks on your observation.

2) State when you are going off your prepared lesson plan.  Everyone knows that lessons and student behaviour may not always go as planned, and it is okay if you deviate from your plan, but you need to let your observer know.  By stating that you are deviating from your lesson plan, you are acknowledging that your students require a different teaching method or strategy. 

3) Plan a started for before you take attendance/register!  Having a list of "to-do's" on the board for students to complete as soon as they come into the class will begin the learning process right at entry of the classroom.  Observers love this as most students will begin to complete the learning activities with little prompt for you as their teacher.  Independent and interdependent learning are always bonuses in an observation.

4) Have a good exit strategy.  Just like any good plan, have an exit strategy.  At my school they says "control the exit" of the students.  Tie the lesson together with discussion questions or a final culminating activity that will demonstrate all of the learning by the students in that lesson.  Not only is this for the observers to see the student's learning, but it is also for you as the teacher to gauge how much learning had been accomplished!   I have begun to use this and will continue to use it in the majority of my lessons, not just my observations.

Hope this checklist assists you in rocking your observations!