The Science Classroom Visit

I had the opportunity in the very first week to observe Ms. Rhoades, a biology teacher. The visit was actually spread over 2 days. I visited 2 different periods of Biology, the first one was Biology 2 with the second being a Biology team taught class.

Biology 2

• The students had just gone through a pig dissection. This was a review day for them before their exam the next day. For the most part, the students cared about what was happening (some because of the exam others because of actual interest).
• She asked a lot of questions during a slideshow of many pictures. They were specifically reviewing pig dissection pictures.
• The students first went through the pictures individually first then went over as a class.

• She related the pig parts to humans and had the students answer with the part name after she described it.
• If a student had a question where the answer was in their notes/packet then they were directed to look there instead of getting an answer in front of the whole class.
• Ms. Rhoades was very clear with her answers and what she expected out of them. She had great business like behavior

Biology-team taught

• Most students have IEPs and 405s. Ms. Rhoades team teaches this with one of the Special Education Teachers.
• These students are hyperactive and SUPER talkative. 
• The 2 teachers specifically said what the day's quiz was on and then gave them time to study their notes.
• Other things noticed: Each mitosis phase was said by a different student, student didn't want to sit for class and wasn't forced to (still completed class work)
• For tests for students with IEPs and 405s: less options per question, less questions total, a given word bank, everything at a lower reading level

Overall

• During my visits, I really enjoyed being there and seeing a general science class in action. I heard that they do pig dissections and I became really excited. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that I could go on one of those last dissection days.
• Ms. Rhoades did a great job of keeping her classes under control and on task.
• She also talks to every student that walks through her door. This is something that I am trying to make sure happens every day. When a student has headphones in, she would go to the student privately and talk to them instead of in front of the class.
• I was also able to learn more about teacher unions from Ms. Rhoades as she is heavily involved in the union.
• If I would have been able to do my udder dissection lab, I would have been able to borrow dissection kits off of Ms. Rhoades. We talked about what materials she has and what she uses when. There is also a storage room connected to Ms. Rhoades room where she keeps a few supplies along with other teachers.