Today I had my first formal lesson observation. I am very pleased with how the lesson went and I am very grateful for the encouragement and feedback I received afterwards.
The lesson was my year eight class who are developing Ideas for our poly print pattern project. I introudced students to some advanced language, helped every student to finalise their ideas for their emojis and most students went on to creating their poly tiles.
As I was also teaching another class that day, who are developing their design ideas for their clay projects, the teacher for that lesson also offered to perform an informal observation on that class. I was very pleased to have another lesson that day observed and further encouraging and constructive feedback.
I will write-up and discuss the feedback I recieved from each of these lessons here in this post.
Lesson One, Formal Observation:
Postmodern Polyprints
(First page of notes from my Subject Mentor. Full notes will be typed up in this post, and the presentation, lesson plan & photos of feedback will be added to my ADP.)
Feedback:
[My own comments will be added in italics in square brackets. Further refelction will be added underneath also.]
Year eight, Period One, Pattern project. 17th November 2023
Students standing quietly at the front - Great to follow school policy and set the tone for the lesson.
TARGET - Ensure students take off their outdoor coats.
[I didn't realise that one student had not yet removed their jacket, while I have all students standing for the lesson to begin, I should check each student to make sure they are adhering to the uniform policy.]
Clear about warnings from low level disruption.
TARGET - Become acquainted with techology. (Computer on Extend mode) so you are more confident . Fel free to practice when the room is empty.
Emoji Quiz - Love this!
[To get students to understand the concept of using visual language to communicate ideas, I made an 'emoji quiz' of three films which I described using emoji. The intention was for students to think about the way that they can use visual ideas to say something and apply those ideas to the design of their own emoji.]
Your slides encourage students curiosity.
"Does anyone know what extraordinary means?"
You celebrate when students express that they don't know as its an opportunity for another student to share what it means. This creates a fantastic environment for learning.
You set out your expectations well and in a positive way.
"Your voice is very important in this classroom."
[My Subject Mentor later expanded this point, saying that in the continuing lesssons I can dilute these expectations as they grow more familiar with them.]
Vocabulary... You express that these are A-level words and you will support them in using them.
VERY ENGAGING PRESENTATION!
"Elementary my dear Watson." Detective hats.
Oh my goodness this is awesome - I love how you engage KS3, especially the boys.
Warning 2: Separated on the next warning.
Quick pace to the lesson.
Hands up when finished.
TARGET - EAL: Maybe a little quick?
[My SM spoke to me after this also to say that this target was met within the lesson as her thoughts she later added demonstrate.]
But walking around they all seem to have written the definition.
(You show the slide again and support on Google Classroom.)
Superflat and Postmodernism
"Confuses, surprises and delights us."
Art that breaks the rules of art.
You say that you will share the slides on google classroom to support literacy.
Hold up homework - You celebrate with Positive Language and thank students for sharing.
TARGET - Could you note down names for housepoints?
This is a very precious resource for the school.
It is sensitive -> This is fab... Encourages respect for the materials -> Brilliant.
"Move here please, don't distract anymore."
Swift and he moved quickly as he knew that would be the consequence.
TARGET - Should this be reflected in the seating plan of future lessons?
Getting designs onto polytiles.
You share domstrations at different stages, responding to the varying abilities in the group.
-You reiterate how sensitive the material is.
You explain the process of polyprinting well so students can grasp how it will work.
You encourage studenst to feel the tile now to understand how they can complete theirs.
[I did this to encourage and stimulate more senses within the classroom. Any opportunity to make the lesson more sensory engaging will help engagement.]
Students are excited to get their designs drawn.
Wow: They respond so well to your countdown!
H/W: "You're my lovely year eights and none of your work is on the walls!" What a great way to introduce the homework. It would definitely encourage them to work hard on it.
You have responded so well to feedback about sharing guidance with the group when you receive the same questions multiple times.
Summary:
PR: Your manner is very calm and you demonstrate and encourage respect in every interaction. (Positive Relationships)
You use inclusive and celebratory language. (Positive Relationships)
A thoroughly planned lesson with engaging and well targeted/pitched presentation to spark curiosity. (Knowledge and Curriculum, Pedagogy & Planning).
Target/Areas for development:
Become acquainted with technology so you are confident when presenting (Pedagogy & Planning.)
Consider use of language when addressing students "Girls" and "boys". Why might this not be appropriate? (professional values and wellbeing) (Inclusive teaching)*
Seating plan to avoid low level disruption (Positive relationships)
Praise - Housepoints (Pedagogy and planning)
[I understand that using nongendered language is more inclusive when talking to students. I will try harder to learn names so that I can better avoid this habit.]
Amazing Lesson!
Feedback from one student: "He's a good teacher. I like the detective slide".
Lesson Two, Informal Observation:
Fish Observaitonal studies/ Ceramic designs
Year seven, Period Four, Clay project. 17th November 2023
Nice Starter - Discussion with partner about their favourite fish.
Lovely manner when doing register
Good reinforcements about hands up - when they want to contribute.
Nice surprise with pufferfish picture.
[In the previous lesson, this class had been set and completed artist research for three artists that make clay works about the ocean. And so for a creative spark at the start for this lesson, I showed the class the picture below and asked them to tell me what this is. They gave great answers, describing how it is a sculpture on the sea floor and how the artist is likely someone that cares a lot about the ocean. I was very pleased to surpirse them with the fact that the artist is a male pufferfish and animated a transition where a picture of a pufferfish appears.]
Behaviour expectations - went about this in a nice way.
(Getting them involved in this and explaining why you're doing them the way that you are.)
Lesson slides - really nicely put together - This helps to set the tone.
Very encouraging, great guidance for students. (lots of praise throughout.)
Excellent AFL (assessment for learning) - Stopping class when needing to, to update.
e.g. about how to add colour. [Using texture to convery colour as we may not get on to painting these works.]
Behaviour for learning - excellent.
All on task and focussed.
Students are keen to impress. Very calm atmosphere.
Truly delightful lesson to observe.
'Exit ticket' - Question - to think back to starter.
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Overall I am so over-the-moon with the positive feedback. It's so encouraging to have successful lessons and to be able to see explicitly where applying the feedback I am recieving is helping to devleop my teaching style and make lessons more productive.
I will work hard on all of these targets that I have been given to achieve more success and develop myself further.
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