Classroom Observation

Teacher Name:

Lance Holly

Class Name:

US Government

Class Size:

25

Objective
Posted:

To investigate the population of Congress and draft speeches for CO elections

Time
8:00am

Date:
Period:

Students

Teacher

Opened Notebook and completed

the warm up activity

Directed students to open notebooks

and begin warm up activity; took
attendance 95% attendance in class

09.22.2014
2

Questions/Comments
Like the essential question posted:
How does the Legislative Branch
affect us in our daily lives?

Warm Up: WHat do you remember

about the population of Congress?
Think about both the Senate and
House of Representatives . . .
Called on students to share their
answers - cut short by the
announcements

8:03am

8:05am

Student shared his answer

Restated objectives
C = P + 7A + 27a
Talked about the essential question

8:08am

8:10am

Students

Reminder to check grades and

feedback in Canvas; check 3D game
lab - earned XP; explained the XP and
leveling up in the class
Legislative Branch Information

Like the visual of the formula for the

Constitution!

8:11am

Went to different locations in the

room to indicate numbers of
representatives
Students moved to other areas and
explained why they moved to in
different locations
Followed along with the Direct
Instruction component - did not
observe them taking notes

Directed students to stand up - Be

the USA How would Representation change if
the price of rent tripled; cold
temperatures; shift to the oceans to
demonstrate how changes in
population change the makeup of the
House of Representatives
Evaluated population data and
districts from Colorado and compared
with data from California

Like getting the students up and

moving - critical thinking questions
and sharing explanations - good
visuals
Student involvement - frequently
asking the students to call out key
terms/ideas
Is there an expectation for the
students to take notes while you are
providing direct instruction?

Two Colorado US Senators

Called upon students - not just ones
with hands up (but asked for hands to
go up)

8:27am

8:35am

Followed along on their computers

Talked with neighbors about

important issues for Colorado

Great websites - ballotpedia.org &

www.ontheissues.org

Instructed students to go to Step 7 checked all students in the class were

on the Canvas page

Quickly answered several questions

when asked - without missing a beat

Directed students to work with a

neighbor to brainstorm issues
important to Colorado

Good way to use collaboration

Called upon students to share the

issues determined by the student
groups

8:36am

8:38am

Directed students to go to Canvas and

find the assignment information

Students began working on the

projects

Presented task - collaborative activity

- create speech that motivates, is
powerful, and get people to vote for
you
While working - checked with
individual students on how they
would like to spend the XP
Pointed out specific behaviors he
wanted to see replicated - I see a lot
of people researching senators. Thats
good.

8:54am

Students indicated on hand how

well they were able to meet the
objective

Reviewed objectives to see if they

were met.

Wonderful and very instructionally

sound technique!

Assigned homework - complete the

speeches

8:55am

Students began picking up their

items and left the class

Anticipatory Set/Opening Activity

Dismissed class

Warm up activity - answered a question connected to the topic covered in class today
(review question)

Classroom Environment/Organization

Lots of energy; moving around

Classroom procedures evident

Students sat down at beginning of class, opened computers and began working on warm
up activity

Management of student behavior

Redirected class when volume became too loud;

Differentiation Techniques

Information presented on board; assignments posted in Canvas

Student/Teacher Interactions

Positive interactions between Mr. Holly and the students - they seem to enjoy his class and
style

Student/Student Interactions

Respectful - did not observe any negative interactions

Circulation of room

Constantly moving through the classroom

Canvas Review

Fully utilized Canvas for assignments, grading and feedback; using as a means to increase
engagement by giving XP (Experience Points) for students completing various tasks
(Quests)

Closure Activity

Checked in with the students using the objectives stated at the beginning of the class
period - students self reported their knowledge of the content using Fist or five strategy