Wing Yan Hui

Professor Jessica Shackil

EDU-111-86514

5th December 2023

Observation Assignment

This paper is about the kindergarten observation in Franklin School which is in

Roxbury Township. The observation goals will be attached, as well as the observation

location intake form and the observation log.

Classroom / Learning Environment

There are 9 centers in the classroom. They are Block center, Home Living Center,

Math center, Puppet theater, Dramatic Play, Science Center, iPad Center, Library, Writing

Center. Positive vibes fill the air, thanks to the teachers' belief in the power of kind words

and their unwavering support for each student. Safety is a priority, with first aid supplies

readily available, fire exits clearly marked, and an emergency procedure floor plan guiding

everyone's steps. Monthly fire and emergency drills keep everyone prepared. Three tables

placed strategically in the center ensure clear views of the whiteboard and Smartboard,

perfect for interactive learning. And to personalize the space, students own their designated

seats and stationary boxes, labelled with their names. Here is the classroom floorplan.
Students Engagement / Behavior

Students don’t have homework at home. All they have to do is reading at home. They

will bring a book from school to read with their parents. When they get familiar with the

book, they will try to re-tell the story. The books are divided into different level. Teacher

would test their level to acknowledge what level they are in and give the appropriate level

book to them. They have book reading partners at school. They have individual reading

and partner reading so that they can have practice at school. There are not much conflicts

in the classroom as they are very respectful. Teacher gave clear instructions. Also, teacher

can quickly notice student’s disruptive behavior and remind the student to behave well.

Students can express their needs and opinion in class. Also, there is a greeting time that

they can share their own thought in the morning. When one student is holding the speaking
ball, they can have turn to speak.

Teaching Instruction / Assessment

There are different assessments in different domain. When students are learning

reading, there is an assessment form for teacher to assess students’ level so as to let students

have an appropriate level to read. Teachers have to rate how student retell a story as well.

Mrs. M also has a checklist to check how students preformed on rhyming and phonics.

These are formal assessment. The informal assessment will be observing students in class.

For example, students have writing workshop, although they are kindergarten grade. They

will use whiteboard pen and write on lined whiteboard, while singing the letter song.

Teacher can observe if students know how the letter looks like. Teacher likes letting

students to have self-assessment by asking thumbs up or down. Teacher would give

assistance if needed. In the lesson, teacher usually ask WH question such as why, how, and

what, and let students brainstorm with their peers. Also, teacher would use Smartboard

when needed to assist with the teaching. Teacher would give extra help to English Learners

by body language, or point to some keywords in the book. Also, there is a translator for

teacher to communicate with students speaking in Spanish so that teacher can know what

he needs and let student know what he has to do.

Classroom Management Strategies and Initiatives

There is a classroom rules poster which is “Be kind, be safe and listening” on the wall

with every student signature. Mrs. M goes through the classroom rules every day before

dismissal and pick one student who performs well to get a special prize. The students are

very excited about it. They can choose wear pajama on the next day, bring a toy back to

school on the next day show and tell, have a privilege to choose station first, etc. These

rewards are not only extrinsic rewards, but also encourage them to learn and have intrinsic

motivation. Also, students take turn to have different classroom duty, such as line leader,

light helper, projector helper, and so on and students can engage more in the classroom.

Mrs. M gives students clear instructions during lesson. She gives chance if students didn’t

behave well. If it happens again, they will have the natural consequence. For example,

student M played her necklace and it made her distract from the lesson. Mrs. M gave her

chance to wear it nicely and told her if the necklace will be her distraction again, she will

have to put it into her backpack. She played again and Mrs. M asked her to put it away

even she begged she wouldn’t do it again.

There is a transition which is brain break that Mrs. M uses a lot. It allows students to

have music and movement by watching a three to four minutes video. They can dance with

their peers as well.

Professionalism / Professional Duties

There are some training programs for teachers in each subject. When school has to

operate a new program, teachers need to have training program before it starts. Teachers

usually communicate with parents through e-mails and phone calls as lots of students take

school-bus. Most of the students know teacher’s expectation and they know how to behave.

When teacher found that they have conflicts or disagreements, teacher would state the rules

and ask what he/she did. Then, teacher asked the student what he/she think and think of

other ways to fix it. They usually have natural consequence when they didn’t behave well.

For example, Student K wrote “I hate student name.” on the whiteboard during dismissal

time. Other students imitate his writing. Mrs. M asked him no more writing on whiteboard

anymore on that day. However, he went to another seat to keep writing. Then Mrs. M

emailed his parents about this behavior. He got really upset. Mrs. M often checks on the

email during students come or students having gym class so that she can get updates from

the parents like what happened to the child that morning so that Mrs. M can know more

about it. In every lesson, teacher would observe students’ performance by asking question

to check their acknowledge. Students have fire drill and emergency drill once a month so

that teachers and students can practice it every month and can follow the safety and

emergency procedures.
Attachment 1
Observation Assignment
1. Classroom Environment / Learning Environment
i. How many learning centers are in the classroom? What are they?
ii. How should a positive classroom environment be?
iii. Is the classroom accessible to all students, including those with disabilities?
iv. How can you observe the classroom is safe for students? Eg. First aid supplies,
fire exits, and emergency procedure.
v. How the desk or seating are arranged?

2. Student Engagement / Behavior

i. How do students engage with learning tasks and assignments? (Including their
level of effort and concentration)
ii. How conflicts or disagreements among students are managed and resolved?
iii. How do students share their ideas, opinions, and insights with the class?
iv. Is there disruptive behavior that may hinder the learning process?
v. How do students interact with their peers? (collaborative work and social
relationships)

3. Teaching Instruction / Assessment

i. What are some assessments that teachers are using?
ii. What are some questioning techniques that teachers used?
iii. How do teachers use technology to help students learning?
iv. How do students do self-assessment?
v. How do teachers give instruction to English learners?

4. Classroom Management Strategies and Initiatives

i. What are some behavioral expectations?
ii. What are the aids to have students’ attention?
iii. What are some transitions between activities?
iv. Do students know the classroom rules?
v. What are some positive reinforcement teachers use?

5. Professionalism / Professional Duties

i. Are there some training programs to teachers?
ii. How do teachers handle conflicts or disagreements with students in a
professional and respectful manner?
iii. Do teachers know about and follow the safety and emergency procedures?
iv. How do teachers communicate with parents?
v. How teachers manage the class time to ensure that instructional goals are met?
Attachment 2

Observation Location Intake Form

School Name: Franklin Elementary School
School District: Roxbury Township (Morris county)
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Geographic Location: 8 Meeker Street, Succasunna, NJ
Accessibility: Is the school easily accessible by public transportation, and if so, which
modes of transportation are available? Does the school appear to have accessibility
accommodations for those with special needs? (Handicapped ramps, Braille, elevator,
etc.)
Yes, there is a bus route 875 and there are handicapped ramps and elevator.
Community Demographics: What are the predominant demographics of the
surrounding community? (e.g., urban, suburban, rural, diverse, predominantly one
ethnicity)
It is more like suburban.
Neighborhood Characteristics: Describe the characteristics of the neighborhood where
the school is located (e.g., safety, socioeconomic status, cultural diversity).
The neighborhood where the school is located is a family-friendly neighborhood with a
strong sense of community. There are also a number of parks and playgrounds in the
neighborhood, making it a great place for kids to grow up.

Student Population: The total number of students: 305

Female 49%, Male 51%, Non-binary/ undesignated gender <1%
White 57.6%; Hispanic 28.9%; Black/African American 2.9%; Asian 3.5%; Native
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.6%; American Indian/Alaska Native 0.3%; Two Or More
Races6.1%
Students with Disabilities 17.4%
Economically disadvantaged students 18.6%
English learners 7.1%
Homeless students 0.3%
Students in Foster Care 0%
Military-connected students 0.3%
Migrant students 0%
Languages Spoken: English 81.7%; Spanish 12.2%; Arabic 1%; Other 5.1%

School Facilities: Briefly describe the school's facilities, such as classrooms, gymnasium,
library, and any unique features.
Classrooms equipped with SMART Boards, laptops, and iPads, gymnasium which has a
full-size basketball court, a wrestling mat, and a variety of exercise equipment, library,
music room, STEM lab, and cafeteria.
Special Programs: Are there any special programs or initiatives at the school (e.g.,
bilingual education, STEM programs)?
There is Bilingual Education Program for Spanish-speaking students. The school has a
dedicated STEM lab equipped with computers, robots, and other technology. Garden-to-
Table program allows students to learn about gardening, nutrition, and healthy eating.
School has a strong focus on character education. There are special character education
assemblies and events throughout the year.

School Culture: What is the overall school culture like? Describe any unique traditions,
values, or educational philosophies.
Franklin School R.U.L.E.S. Respectful, Unique, Learners, Encouraging, Supportive.

School Resources: Are there any specific resources available to students or teachers
(e.g., technology, extracurricular activities, support services)?
There are some sports, clubs and activities, field trips for students to join. Also, there is a
school counselor and psychologist at school. On-site medical care for minor injuries and
illnesses, ensuring students health and well-being.

Student-Teacher Ratio: What is the average student-teacher ratio in the classrooms you
observed?
2:17

Safety Measures: Are there notable safety measures or protocols in place at the school
(e.g., security personnel, emergency procedures)?
Monthly fire drill and emergency drill.
Community Involvement: How does the school engage with the local community and
parents/guardians? Website? Announcement Board? Social Media accounts?
There is a PTA which would hold some events, such as Bingo night, Halloween costume
parade, and music and snack. Also, there is a parent-teacher conference held in October
and April.
Transportation: Are there any transportation services provided to students, such as
buses?
Most of the students are using school bus service and only few of them are walkers.

Additional Comments: Please provide any additional comments or observations about

the school's location that you think may be relevant.
N/A
Attachment 3