September 17, 27, 28, 2001

Early in your 401/2 your practicum are set up to give you an opportunity to get acquainted with the life of your school, meet your school associate and other members of the staff, learn about the rhythms and patterns of the school day, and observe students as they "experience school." You should be available before, during and after school hours to assist the classroom teacher in any task assigned, including the preparation of materials, helping with classroom routines, working individually with students, helping with supervision, or any other task that may be relevant to the particular circumstances of your placement.

To help shape some of your time in the school we want you to include the following observation task along with the other activities mentioned above. We designed these observation tasks to have you look at the "stuff" that will be happening around you (some of which may involve you as a participant-observer).

Our intent is for you to record your observations discreetly and unobtrusively; please do not abandon the role and tasks you arrange with your school associate to become a clipboard-packing reporter. Being discreet and unobtrusive may mean locating yourself so the subject of your observation is not aware of your observation, and that others in the room are also unaware of your task.

Being discreet and unobtrusive may mean recording your observations well after an event, maybe after school or in the evening. The more concrete specific detail you can include, the more you "push" your observation skills. These observations are important as they will become the grist for discussions and activities at the September 27th and 28th School Associate Inservice and campus activities through the semester.

Please have your "Stepping Into Schools Assignment"
handed in by: October 4th, 2000
Here's what to look for:

A. Classroom Routines:

For each of the routines and strategies appropriate and relevant to your grade level and interview your school associate, observe its effect, and record data on the following:

1) How was this routine established by the school associate?
2) How is this routine reinforced in the classroom?
3) How does this routine work with the students?

Ask:

How arethe routines established?
How are the routines reinforced? How do the routines work with the students?

Be sure to explore:
... Arrival in class
... Seating plan
... Lates
... Choices when finished work early
... Leaving at end of class, period, lunch, recess
... Drinking Fountain
... Bathroom
... Pencil Sharpening
... Desks/Lockers
... Travel in halls
... Distributing materials
... Collecting/handing in homework/assignments
... Helpers
... Organizing notebook/binder
... Note taking
... Attendance
... Absence policy re: assignments/tests
... Keeping track of completed assignments
... Taking tests/rewrites
...and more...
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