Department of Teacher Education & Learning Sciences
Elementary Education Program
Pre-Observation Form
Directions: This form is to be completed prior to every lesson that will be observed by the mentor
teacher or university supervisor. It is to be submitted no later than 3 business days prior to the actual
observation along with your lesson plans.
Name: Rebecca Pridgen Date: November 16, 2017
1. What is the topic of your lesson?
My lesson is about the diversity that can be seen within the family structures of a
community. The students will learn about different family structures, how our
families contribute to our identities, and how families help to make our community
diverse.
2. Why are you teaching this lesson? What is your rationale for teaching it?
I am teaching this lesson to meet social studies standards around the diversity
within our community through the use of literature. I think that it is important for
students to understand that not everyone has a mom and a dad, some families
have just grandparents or even two moms. It is important for students to perceive
these differences with respect and value the fact that differences in family
structures make our community more unique!
3. What is your Teaching Behavior Focus? Why did you choose this?
My teaching focus is classroom management that is appropriate and positive. My
mentor does an excellent job at consistently remaining positive with students,
even while discussing their behavior with them. I would like to grow in this area
so that I can have a positive classroom management style in the future.
4. Why did you design your instruction in this lesson the way that you did? Why did
you choose this way of teaching the lesson (e.g., Was the idea from a methods
course? From your mentor teacher? Another source?)
I have noticed that many culturally relevant pedagogies involve reading a piece
of literature to students about a cultural topic and then having class discussions.
Many of these lessons follow the I do, We do, You do model. I planned my
lesson to have a piece of literature read aloud as the I do, a class discussion
about the book and our family structures as the we do, and the you do to be a
drawing activity for the students about their families.
5. As you are thinking through this lesson, what do you believe will be the most
challenging part of this lesson for you when you teach it? Why?
I think one of the most challenging parts of teaching this lesson will be allowing
wait time for students to think and respond during our class discussion. Often
times I see hands go up and call on students automatically or if a student is
struggling I call on someone else without giving them more time to think. I would
like to try my best to allow for wait time during discussions as well as during
their drawing activity. Most of our class can finish drawing assignments very
quickly whereas other students take longer. I think being positive and patient with
these students who work slower might also be a challenge given the time
constraint of the lesson. I would like to be patient and considerate with students
while they finish their work.
6. How will you know if your learning outcomes for the students are met
successfully?
I will know that my outcomes for students are met if they can correctly identify the
main idea and answer questions about the text, draw a picture of their family
structure, and compare their family structure to someone else in the room. This
will show me that students understood the language arts and social studies
components of this lesson.
7. How will your classroom management support the learning outcomes?
I plan to use transition methods such as counting down as well as attention
grabbers like class, class to help students move from one activity to another
within the lesson while following directions. I think that if I use these classroom
management strategies effectively, the classroom environment will be optimal for
student learning and the learning outcomes will be met.
8. List 1-3 areas which you would like for your observer to pay particular attention.
Why do you want your observer to focus on these areas?
I would like my observer to focus on my positive classroom management style,
my wait time, and my ability to anticipate behavior situations. I feel that these are
the areas that I want to grow in as a teacher and would love for my observer to
notice my efforts and give me feedback on how to improve.
9. Is there anything else you would like your observer to know before the
observation?
I have worked really hard to plan this lesson so that it will match ELA and Social
Studies standards. Our previous meetings together have informed me that I have
a great teacher voice and classroom management style but I would love to
continue to grow in these areas. Please be honest with me about what I am
doing well and what I can do better so that I can improve.
