Part 1: Communicating the Learning Objectives Chart

Observe a grade level K-8 classroom during classroom instruction. During your observations, take detailed notes and identify the learning objectives and academic standards:

• The method the teacher uses to communicate the learning objectives.
• How the teacher creates engagement.
• How the students are motivated to take ownership of the identified objectives.
• The layout of the classroom.
• Student engagement in the environment.

After classroom instruction and observation, engage in a dialogue about the learning objective with three students to determine, in their own words, the:

• What (what the students are learning).
• Why (why they are learning this).
• How (how they are going to know if they have learned it).

Using the “Communicating the Learning Objectives” chart, analyze the effectiveness of communicating the learning objectives and creating an environment of learning by your mentor teacher. Base this analysis on your observations and dialogue with students.  

Use any remaining field experience hours to speak with your mentor teacher and, provided permission, seek out opportunities to observe and/or assist your mentor teacher and/or work with a small group of students on instruction in the classroom.

Part 2: Learning Objectives Summary

Following your observations, write a 250-500 word reflection identifying how your mentor teacher used best practices to communicate learning objectives to students and encourage student independence. Include a summary of the dialogue with the students in the class about their understanding of the learning objective.

Your reflection should include:

• Why the correlation between how the teacher communicates the learning objectives establishes a climate of learning for students.
• Evidence from observations that the teacher created an environment of learning through an effective way of communicating the learning objectives, and if not, why this component is important.
• Why it is important to create engagement and motivation during instruction.
• Why engagement in the lesson fosters ownership of learning.

Support your findings with a minimum of three scholarly resources.