Rebecca_CO #1

Classroom Observation #1 (15.01.12)

09:00 – 09:50 RM314

Today I observed Felicia Ciappetta’s Foundations grammar class. The class was actually rather small – all the male students fit at the table in the front, and the two female students sat at the back table where I was sitting.

Ms. Ciappetta had music playing while students entered the room (“Apache” by the Sugarhill Gang in particular). Students seemed familiar with this song, and chatted with her about it before class. She also wrote out the agenda on the board at this time.

Agenda:

·         Bell Ringer

·         Attendance

·         Grammar Practice

Bell Ringer (5min)

Answer the questions on the white board:

·         What is your name?

·         Where are you from?

·         Phone number?

·         Address?

·         How many in family?

Ø  There are _____ in my family.

·         How many brothers do you have?

·         How many sisters do you have?

Ms. Ciappetta engaged myself and another guest from the College of Education in these questions as models. All of the students were very enthusiastic about conversing with each other about the questions. As they converse, Ms. Ciappetta walked around the room to survey and engage with students. She answered questions about the grammar and aided performed error corrections.

After pair discussions, the class answered the questions in a round robin style, and performed error correction as a group.

In particular, I noticed the speed at which the instructor spoke. It was a bit difficult to slow my speech the way she did when answering questions.

After this activity, we moved on to a textbook exercise to learn vocabulary used to describe family members. Students worked in pairs, and then there was another full class discussion. Some students answered questions before they were called on.

The class ended after Ms. Ciappetta presented a few more examples using the students in the room as models for a family.