Classroom Observation Day is a crucial moment for every educator. This is the time to summarize and showcase our overall teaching ability. As for experienced teachers, observation day is just another typical teaching day, with the addition of panel admin. But for first-timers observation day can be nerve-wreaking.
Disclaimer: This post is for entertainment purposes only. I am writing base on my overall experience as a teacher. This post is intended for teachers that could relate to the subject matter. Please do not come for me.
So here are some helpful tips I recommend you consider doing:
1. Prepare and Plan
At this point, it is crucial to make plans and preparations. Double-checking your lesson plan, materials, activities, and others will not hurt. Also ensuring that printable activities are in good condition, PowerPoint presentations are done, and more. I suggest making a checklist of things you need for the observation day and start preparing early.
2. Focus on student-teacher interactions
As mentioned in my previous post, observation day is all about the teacher, but students interaction also matters. So for your lesson on observation day include students' interaction, open more floors for students' participation. Doing a mock class with your students is normal, set expectations so that goals are clear.
3. Manage Classroom Time
No matter what happens, start the class on time and end it on time. Typically the panel of observers will stay for fifteen to thirty minutes of your class time so ensure at that crucial time mastery, instruction and management has been dealt with. Avoid dead air time, and utilize every second class time.
4. Observe school practices, traditions, and standards
So for first-time teachers, it is important to incorporate standard teaching practices and traditions done by your school. It is normal to pick up and adapt certain details and practices everybody doing in school. For example, when I was teaching in a Catholic School, starting the class with an opening prayer is important. So if your school have those types of practices or tradition oblige and do it.
5. Be Calm and Be Honest
In all of this nerve-wracking and palpitating situation. I recommend you step out for a moment and calm yourself. Do not overthink and believe that you will do well. As they say "Your ultimate challenger is yourself." So work on how much you can work on, and present your best on the observation day. Exercise honesty to yourself, do what is needed to be done.
Classroom Observation Day in my opinion is an opportunity. This will allow us teachers' to aim for improvement. Nobody in this world is a perfect teacher, we should always open our minds a hearts to different possibilities. For possibilities are windows for more opportunities in life.
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