Lesson Observations - Guidelines

[Matthew Savage]

To ALL MLB CONSULTANTS

I have attached:
a) a copy of the blank LESSON OBSERVATION FORM;
b) a copy of the school's T4L policy (which you should try to read and make sense of a.s.a.p.).

Here are some guidelines for your lesson observations, whenever you are scheduled to do them. Please read them carefully:

1. Make sure you have a blank copy of the Lesson Observation form. Either print out your own (see attached) or go and get one from Charlie Bushell in the photocopying room.
2. Decide in advance which parts of the lesson observation form you are going to try to complete. It might be you aim to fill it ALL in (as long as you understand it all); but it might also be that you choose the things you feel strongest about.
3. Arrive on time, and make sure you behave perfectly throughout the lesson. You must not distract any of the students in the class, and must try to blend into the background.
4. Find a convenient space to sit (or stand), and probably something to rest your paper on too. You will need to be able to make lots of notes whilst you are in there.
5. Perhaps the most important part of the form is the section at the end: STRENGTHS and AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT. So make sure you leave yourself time to fill this in before you finish.
6. At the end of the lesson, THANK the teacher for letting you observe, and ASK them when would be convenient to feed back. It might be they suggest you do so straight away, or it might be that they ask you back at break or lunch another time.
7. When you feed back, start by talking through what you liked most about the lesson (be POSITIVE!); then go through some of the things you think could have been improved. Be POLITE and RESPECTFUL at all times when you are feeding back.
8. After you have fed back to the teacher, please make sure that you bring the FORM to the next Friday meeting, and we will discuss your opinions then. Our Friday meetings are where we will raise any issues or concerns which arise about T4L (Teaching for Learning).
9. Please remember at ALL times that you are LUCKY to be allowed to observe lessons, and therefore you must show RESPECT both for the teacher and for your position as an MLB consultant at all times.
10. If you have any questions or concerns, please ask me. I am here to help. Only by working together can we REALLY start to make learning better.

Thanks

Mr Savage



--
Matthew Savage
Assistant Headteacher
Curriculum Leader for English and Media

GEORGE MITCHELL SCHOOL
Farmer Road, Leyton, London E10 5DN
Tel: 020 8539 6198
Email: savage....@gmail.com
Website: www.gmschool.co.uk
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Find out more about Student Voice @ George Mitchell:
* www.muslimyouth.net/guidance.php?a_id=485&id_fk=6&id_fkis=65&id_fkt=149
* www.thenewspaper.co.uk/home/pg000639.php
* news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4785538.stm
* www.teachers.tv/strandProgramme.do?strandId=6&transmissionProgrammeId=189417
* education.independent.co.uk/schools/article345645.ece
* www.bteducation.org/awards/casestudy05.ikml?id=1352
* www.sec-ed.co.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/features/article.html?uid=474
* www.ldr-magazine.co.uk/viewstory.php?id=328
* www.guardian-series.co.uk/search/display.var.530744.0.a_quiet_revolution.php
* www.tes.co.uk/search/story/?story_id=2148170
* www.telegraph.co.uk/education/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=P8&xml=/education/2005/11/09/edclare09.xml