Abygail Martinez-Arreguin

ASSIGNMENT 6 (Observing a student): Discretely observe one student in your assigned classroom
during an extended period of direct instruction.

Detail what was going on in the environment, and what you observed the student doing while the lesson
was being given. Make sure to document ALL behavior in relationship to what was being presented by
the classroom teacher. Please describe the setting, the lesson that was given, if the student was on task
and engaged in the lesson, and what you uncovered about putting yourself in a lesson from the student’s
point of view. >>>

During my observation, I discreetly observed a second-grade student named Naomi during an

extended period of direct instruction. The lesson being taught was on 3-digit subtraction with
regrouping. The setting was in a typical classroom environment with 4 desks arranged into
table groups, 5 table groups, all facing the smart board where Mr. Hufford teaches whole
group lessons.

Naomi was seated at her desk, and she faced the front of the classroom, with her math
textbook open in front of her to the page Mr. Hufford had asked everyone to be on. As the
teacher began the lesson, Naomi appeared to be paying attention and was actively engaged
in the discussion when Mr. Hufford asked all the students to discuss a question. Naomi
followed along with the teacher's instructions, participated in the whole group lesson
discussions, and from my perspective understood the material being taught. She even
decided to ask questions when Mr. Hufford was teaching to clarify why she had messed up on
one of the 3-digit subtraction problems.

Throughout the lesson, Naomi was on task and actively engaged in the learning process. She
made sure to talk to her tablemates, asked questions when she needed help, and worked
through the problems assigned to her and her partner when they were placed into groups to
work on practice problems. Overall, she seemed to be confident in her abilities and afraid to
but was a more timid to share her thoughts and ideas with the class. Yet with her tablemates
she was more comfortable conversing with them.

As I observed Naomi during the lesson, I really tried to put myself in her shoes and tried to
see things from her mindset. I realized that the material being presented could be challenging
many second graders who are barely 7 years old. However, Naomi appeared to be able to
grasp the concept fairly quickly. This is not to say she is a master at the content quite yet but
her positive attitude and willingness to learn was evident throughout the lesson and
observation.