FIU

Off-Campus Observation Map

Your

Name

Name of School

David Cardona

E-Mail: dcard059@fiu.edu

Zelda Glades middle school

Town

Name of Teacher Observed Mr. De Jesus

Observation Date October/6/2014

Describe the teaching

environment. Who are the
children? Who is the teacher?
How might the school environment
impact what happens in the
classroom?

What teaching/rehearsal
strategies did you see? What was
the learning sequence?

Sweetwater

State Fl

Class Concert band

Time 9:30a.m.

Grade(s) 11-12

Date Submitted

The students are students in both the advanced band and the intermediate band. Students are well behaved and
are used to practicing for periods on their own. The band director, De Jesus, Is very patient and observant of what
the students are doing when practicing in sectionals.

The teacher uses a method that is very reactive rather than proactive. Instead of telling all the students what to do
and how to do it, he observes them and then comes to them with the best solution he can give them to their
challenges. The students develop a habit of using critical thinking to figure out techniques on their own. Sometimes
the individuals get very unfocused and is normal in an environment where the teacher is varying instruction
between three different rooms.

The lesson was missing a lot more hands on help. While I am against spoon feeding students, they really did not

What would you do differently?

have much to work with. When working with them for a bit, I noticed how they asked a lot of questions and were
What was missing from the lesson?

very doubtful about what they were doing and what their approach was. I would give them a little more and once
they have the fundamentals down, give them the challenge of figuring out a piece on their own.

What evidence did you observe

that would indicate that the
learning goals were met?

The learning goals were partially met. The main goal on that day was to learn two songs. Since the students had yet
to internalize the fundamentals of playing these instruments, sitting down for two hours trying to play the same
thing over and over is not a way to get them to reach those goals. Because of aided instruction the students were
able to get through one of the songs.

What evidence of critical thinking,

critical feeling and/or critical action
did you see?

I taught them briefly about transfer of learning and how important it is to graps these concepts so that everytime
they receive a new piece of music, they dont have to sit there for hours figuring it out. They can use what they
know to tackle something different.

What National Standards did you

see?

Students are able to take in the professors words and use their critical thinking skills to resolve the problem.
Students are exposed to a variety of repertoire.

How did students engage in the

classroom? What was happening
at the time when students were
really focused?

The students easily were unfocused. When I was able to get them to all think about what they needed to think
about every time they play their instrument, a light bulb went off inside them and they realized why I had them do
this.

Describe a "teachable moment"

that you might have witnessed.

The students eventually learned how to break down rhythms and were able to rhythmically break down the entire
piece of music.

What constructive comments might you make about this lesson/rehearsal?

The students need a little more maturity as musicians before they are left alone for such long periods of time.
The students ended up being unfocused and bored. Give them a little less challenging music. Theres not point
in playing something hard when they cant already apply the necessary fundamentals to perform it correctly.

What is your overall assessment of this teacher, the students and the lesson/rehearsal?
The teacher is very relaxed and her goes with the flow. I wish I could observe his other classes but based on
his single performance I would rate him as a good professor. The students were very intelligent and have a lot
of potential as an ensemble. The lesson needs a little more revision to fully engage all or most of the students.