Each of these brief observations highlights something I try to do in class daily.  Provided students with clear expectations about what they should be doing in the classroom while maintaining a positive and lighthearted tone.

John: “Derin is loud. At one point he had a burst of laughter and you approached him and simply whispered his name, to which he acknowledged that he should tone it down. Two students in another group exchanged a smile, suggesting that they found Derin’s laughter somewhat inappropriate, and I imagine they appreciated your redirection.”

Karen: “Activities on the board; kids seemed to know what to do without having to be told specifics, so expectations must have been expressed in earlier classes. After introduction to the work, Keedy stated, “Work, write, talk with a partner.” Subtle reminders about expectations: checking in with students who are off task, asking about their progress, setting goals for them for the “next time I check in with you” “.

Malcolm: “If we don’t get into groups in 90 seconds its gonna be a problem”. He’s joking, but he did put a timer and it took less than a minute

Detailed observations notes can be found here: PDP Team Feedback on Classroom Culture