Episode 3: Classroom Management and Learning

Observation Report for Learner’s Characteristics

            As I observed the Grade 11 students, I can see that the learners sometimes need additional motivation to keep their attention focused and avoid doing something in their seats. The students’ ages range from 17-18 years old. They are all in proper uniform and walked quietly to their respective classroom. They can manage their own behavior but they will just settle down if the teacher already warns them. In quizzes, I can see some students who can’t work independently but I know that they’re trying to answer and understand the quiz. They were doing some activities such as seat works. 

                               

            When it comes to discipline and good manners they are very polite and cooperative in class. I also noticed that even though they’re having little conversation to their other classmates they can still focus on their assigned tasks and they can manage their behavior by finishing their assigned works. On their listening, I noticed that they are mature enough to follow the instructions given to them on their ability to concentrate, even their destructed to some ideas such as doing their own discussion to their peer group they can still manage to finish their assigned task.

            These students are well-behaved and they worked independently during class. They are all very focused in class. Generally, the students of this class are fast learners.

                        Observation Notes on Classroom Management     

           The teaching materials are kept in a cabinet. The room’s cleaning materials are located at the back right corner of the room besides in the fitting room. There are rules and procedures posted in the room, the walls of the classroom are the class officers, certificates of recognition, cleaners, shorten and regular period schedules and the announcement of upcoming school activities.

           The teacher will ask everyone to pick up pieces of papers or trash if there is any, then they proceed with the teacher leading the prayer. Leading the prayer can build a habit of standing in front of the class with confidence. Before they start with their lesson they have a short review by oral recitation. Then we would conduct recitations as a form of review or checking of assignments if any. This is done so they will remember to do their homework. 

           

            The seating arrangement is in height. It divided by three rows, each row are divided in three which on the left and right part of the desks are the girls are seated while the boys are on the center. The teacher disciplines his class without embarrassment and threat. Using genuine verbal praises, appreciation thru acknowledgement and encouraging them to do better next time are the teacher’s way to reinforce positive behavior. I can say that the teacher I observed has a very good skill in classroom management.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT MATRIX

Aspect of Classroom Management	Description	Effect on the Learners (to be filled up after you answer the analysis questions)
1. Specific Areas in the Classroom	In front of the class is the teacher’s table. The back right corner of the room is where the cleaning materials	Provides freedom to move easily within the class; maximizes the students’ interaction with their teacher and classmates.
2. Classroom Rules	Rules and procedures are posted properly in a specific area in the classroom.	These aid the students to learn how to follow instruction or rules in the classroom.
3. Classroom Procedures	The teacher always gives motivations to the learners, warm up or any	This will make the learners to become lively and enthusiastic.
4. Daily Routines	The teacher starts the class with a prayer then a review of the discussion they discussed last time.	The effect on the learners is that their last discussion will be refreshed in the mind of the learners.
5. Seating Arrangement	The seating arrangement is arranged alternately from boy to girl.	The effect on the learners is that they will be able to socialize with the opposite sex role.
6. Handling misbehavior/off- task  behavior	Correcting error without embarrassment; calmly calling attention; reminding the student the consequences of one’s actions in a serene way	Does not embarrass the learner; the teacher does not discourage participation in class; the learners are not being threaten but disciplined; makes the learners know that the teacher is not upset but only concerned with them.
7. Reinforcement of Positive Behavior	The teacher gives acknowledgment to every student that will do positive behavior and excellence in the class.	The effect on the students is that they will be able to strive hard to be excellent in class.

ANALYSIS

            An excellent classroom organization helps the learners and teacher to gain easy access to teaching materials, provides freedom to move easily within the class and maximize the students’ interaction with their teacher and classmates. When a routine designed by the teacher becomes the students’ habit, the students would know what is expected of them in class. I observed, the checking of attendance does not take a lot of the period’s time because the teacher doesn’t need to do a roll call every meeting. 

          
               The teacher should have in mind time management and teaching materials. I’ve learned that a place must have favorable learning conditions, smooth transitions during class, and excellent management skills. Pavlov’s Higher-Order Conditioning, and B.F. Skinner’s S-R theory. When routines are designed to be a habit in class then the Law of Exercise should be practiced combined with Pavlov’s Higher Order Conditioning, where the teacher can use different kinds of neutral stimulus to become the conditioned stimulus for the students. Added the positive reinforcement, such as feedback or verbal praises, from the findings of Skinner then the routine the teacher designs will be a very effective one.

            In the class I observed, the teacher used positive reinforcement in conditioning the class for their new lesson and expected exam in the next period. When it comes to their daily routine, the class already turned it into a habit. The teacher made use of positive reinforcement in forms of verbal praises and encouragement to the students to do better next time. I think that the teacher’s strategies are very effective because the students are all actively participating and focused in class.

REFLECTIONS

         I see myself teaching a senior high school class. The classroom must contain teaching materials that are accessible for use. The furniture must be positioned in areas where the contents could be easily seen. The seating arrangement should be in alphabetical order. The position of the desks could be in the traditional rows in columns or facing center, depending on the class activity for that day. I would like everyone to be seated in alphabetical order so it would be fast and easy to check for absentees in class. There would be an opening prayer where a different student leads every day this is also in alphabetical order. Leading the prayer can build a habit of standing in front of the class with confidence. This can help them improve their speaking skill too. Then we would conduct recitations as a form of review or checking of assignments if any.

       The rule would be maintaining cleanliness in the room. It’s a real shame but the some of the first year Education students seem that they don’t have a habit of keeping their classroom clean. So I want to put into practice the maintaining of order and cleanliness in class. This is a part of the conditions for a classroom to be conducive to learning. And lastly I will give grade incentives to those students who have perfect attendance in the whole school year. This is to motivate the students to come to class every day.

       On the first day of class, I will divide the students into 4 groups, then I will ask them to come up with their group name and their classroom rule that they want to implement. We will use the rules they come up with and add them to my own rules to let the students see that they are a part of this class and all their suggestions and opinions are taken seriously.