Click+here

Literacy Observations – 10 hours

Example of Literacy Observation write-up format:


 * Please see your email regarding new information to register for observations at Metcalf. You will have more time to get in all of the observations you need. You have until __November 9th__ to observe and the write-up will be due __November 13th__. **

To register for the 10 hour Literacy Observation component to this class, please visit the following link below. Under "Student Observations," click on the "Directions for Observation Reservations" and following the instructions and log-in to sign up for convenient times. Aim to view more than one content area and grade level, primarly 5th-8th grades so you can see a variety of literacy practices. []

This process allows you to look for literacy strategies in action in an actual classroom. While you are looking at the teaching, be sure to pay particular attention to literacy skills and strategies being used, as well as other learning strategies. How you keep track of your observations is up to you. You may use a spiral notebook with handwritten notes, but please keep in mind that you will need to type up your observations to submit the assignment via Dropbox. You will be assessed on the thoroughness and thought put forth in your responses to each prompt.

Follow the guidelines below for structuring your notes. Label each hour so finding specific tasks will be easy during the assessment process. **This new write-up due date is November 13th.**

**Hour 1:** What are your general observations of the classroom(s)? What do you notice? Does anything stand out to you? **Hours 2-4:** Take notes of literacy practices observed. You may list them in bullets.

The remaining hours should be focused on the specific question/content for that hour. Make sure you thoroughly answer the questions in paragraph form.

**Hour 5:** What is the apparent instructional framework for the lesson? What do you notice about the use of strategies to support literacy learners? **Hour 6:** What do you notice about the texts that students use in the classroom? (Keep a broad definition of text in mind. This should not be constructed as only a textbook or even written words on a page.) What are the “texts” students engage in? What makes them “texts”? In other words, explain how the “texts” organizer and represent knowledge. **Hour 7:** Keep your focus on texts. How do these “texts” support or direct the literacy practices within the class? **Hour 8:** Still focusing on texts: What literacy strategies does the teacher employ to support the students in the use of these “texts”? **Hour 9:** What, if any, role does technology play in literacy instruction? How effective is it? What other approaches could the teacher use to incorporate the literacy goals and technology? **Hour 10:** What are your final thoughts about everything you’ve seen?