I.

Observation 1:
Setting

II.

Grade:
First Grade

III.

Students:
13 girls, 10 boys

IV.

Setting:
First Grade Classroom at Saint Matthias School
Multi-Age (6-7 years old) classroom, 23 students and 1 head teacher

V.

Pre-Observation:
The purpose of this observation was to examine the classroom setting and
verify that the placement of furniture is positioned to optimize space and
student learning. I will also offer feedback on new methods and ideas to
improve the learning environment for the class. To prepare for this
observation I reviewed my notes from my Foundations of Education class and
researched the Internet. I found an interesting article titled, Flexible
Classrooms: Providing the Learning Environment That Kids Need (Edutopia,
2015). I will offer some of the ideas from this article as possible inspiration to
making the classroom a more contemporary learning space.

VI.

Data:
Observations were conducted September 14th and 16th 2016

VII.

Analysis:
This 1st grade classroom is setup in a very traditional style that seems to work
for the students. To the rear of the room is a long closet that the children hang
their belongings. There are no assigned areas for the students. It basically a
first come first serve area. There are four groups of tables consisting of eight
individual student tables, set parallel to each other, set two groups in front of
the other with a clear path down the center of the room and in between each
set of tables. The Smart-Board is mounted in the front center of the
classroom. There are two entrances to the classroom located in the front and
rear. To the immediate left of the front doorway are the classroom calendar
and a very large Word Wall that stretches to the rear doorway. There are a
variety of learning materials decorating the walls as well as some student
crafts. The teachers desk is located on the far left of the room in, opposite the
front doorway and the classroom PC is located to the right of the SmartBoard. The wall opposite the entranceways is lined with shelves containing

library books, classroom supplies, games and there is a small lounging area in
the rear corner. There are two sets of shelves containing textbooks in both
rear corners of the room. Lastly there is an independent workstation in the
rear parallel to the closet.
VIII. Recommendations:
There are a number of recommendations I can make to improve the
classroom. First would be the mounting of the Smart-Board. It is mounted
too low and needs to be raised so that the children to the rear can se it better.
They are constantly looking to the side of the classmates in front of them to
get a clear look. It could easily be raised a foot or two. I would also swap the
teachers desk with the rear lounge area. Teachers vary greatly on their
preferred arrangements, but most agree that the days of 30 desks lined in neat
rows and facing the teacher's desk up front are long gone.(Shalaway & Dillon
1989) The tables should be moved forward once the teachers desk is moved,
to help see the Smart-Board better. The independent workstation in the rear
can be moved forward as well. This will create more room for the kids to
access the closet. There is an occasional traffic jam around the area at snack
time and at the start and end of the day. The closet has a number of large
storage bins in the closet stacked on the shelves above the kids clothes hooks.
These bins seem very heavy and could be a hazard; the teacher should look to
purging what she can from these bins or the finding a storage area in the
school. There are four extra tables and chairs that are taking up space as well.
Removing these extra tables will enable the rear set of tables to be moved
closer to the front of the room. There is potential to add another lounging area
and add a Reading Radio Station near the word wall to listen to audio books.

IX.

Post Observation:
The co-operating teacher is very friendly, has offered her support, and
knowledge. This is the beginning of the school year and the class is already
very familiar with each other. It was great to meet the co-operating teacher
and the class. The teacher gave me the opportunity to introduce myself and let
me assist her and the students during lessons right away. It was a good start
and I feel confident that it will be a meaningful experience. I look forward to
my next visit and the contributing to the class.

X.

Citations:
Flexible Classrooms: Providing the Learning Environment That Kids Need |
Edutopia. (2014, August 14). Retrieved from
http://www.edutopia.org/practice/flexible-classrooms-providing-learningenvironment-kids-need
Shalaway, L., & Beech, L. (1998). Learning to teach: -- not just for beginners
: the essential guide for all teachers. New York, OH: Scholastic Professional
Books.