8/3/2019 JGough Observes BCaldwell Aug 24 2011

1/6

The Westminster Schools

Peer Classroom Visit

Visited Teacher:

BCaldwell

Visiting Teacher:

Jill Gough

Date Visited:

Aug. 24, 2011

Focus of the observation (if any) and class context:

Algebra I teams lesson study on Phases of the Moon.

Teaching methods and practices observed (strength-based)/Indicators of student learning.

Integrated Studies

Project-based Learning

Learning Spaces

Teachers working in teams

Assessment and feedback

Content that connects us to the larger world and the world to us.

Assessment and feedback, Teachers working in team, Project-based learning

BC uses inquiry to engage our learners in the context of the lesson. He solicits prior

knowledge to have learners take an active role in driving the lesson.

Integrated studies, Teachers working in teams, Content that connects us

BC used multi-media, a video from the History Channel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=nXseTWTZlks), to confirm the students prior knowledge and introduce necessary

vocabulary not discussed by the students.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXseTWTZlkshttp://jplgough.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/phases-of-the-moon-middle-school-connections/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXseTWTZlkshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXseTWTZlkshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXseTWTZlkshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXseTWTZlkshttp://jplgough.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/phases-of-the-moon-middle-school-connections/http://jplgough.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/phases-of-the-moon-middle-school-connections/

8/3/2019 JGough Observes BCaldwell Aug 24 2011

2/6

Teachers working in teams

In the face of no network access, BC calmly transitioned to the teams Plan B. Rather than

using the resources for Phases of the Moon on our Google Site, he used a Keynote

presentation. This modeled for our learners that we continue to learn; we do not stop

because we have no Internet.

Teachers working in teams, Content that connects us, Learning spaces

While the students did not leave the classroom, they definitely utilized spaces. The students

used their MaBCooks to find answers and questions concerning the moon. BC addressed

visual and kinesthetic learning styles by having the learners graph the illumination of the

moon over the days of a month.

Some questions to consider:

Did you like teaching graph interpretation this way?

How can we have more classes like this?

Where do we turn for more resources to find integrate lessons that engage our studentsand connect their learning to many disciplines?

What did I observe that I would like to incorporate into my own teaching/Other notes:

This is an awkward question since we built the lesson together. We observed each other;

we all went to DDs class as a team. DD and I went to BCs class while WB was teaching

Algebra II. It is difficult to say what I would like to incorporate since we observed, learned,

and tweaked the lesson as it was delivered to all Algebra I learners.

8/3/2019 JGough Observes BCaldwell Aug 24 2011

3/6

Jills raw notes taken during class:

PhasesoftheMoonBCaldwell,August24,2011

PhasesoftheMoon

BC:Getoutcomputer,notes,andpencil.BCbeginsclasswithinquiry.Whatcanyoutellmeaboutthemoon?Listenstokids

responses.Askshowmanymoonsarethere?

BCasksaboutfullmoonandnewmoongetsthekidstotalkabouttheshadowandthe

sun.Getsthekidstotalkaboutcrescent,waxing,andwaning.

Usesthevideotohelpintroducethemissingvocabulary

KidsconnectOirstquarterandlastquartertohalfmoons.Reinforcesthatcrescentisless

thanhalfilluminated;gibbousismorethanhalfilluminated.Kidscontributetothelesson

frompreviousknowledge.

8/3/2019 JGough Observes BCaldwell Aug 24 2011

4/6

NoInternetconnection.BCtransitionstothePhasesoftheMoonkeynotetomakevisual

conOirmationofmoonvocabulary.

Mooniswaxingwhenthemoonsilluminationisincreasing.Mooniswaningwhenthe

moonsilluminationisdecreasing.

EachlearnerhastwomoonsfromNovember.Theyaretoestimatethefractionof

illuminationandthenplotontheposted(big)graphpaper.

BCthenconnectsthevocabularyandnumeracy.Howmuchofthemoonisilluminated

whenthemoonisfull?new?Oirstquarter?gibbous?

BClabelsandscalesthegraphpaper.Asksstudentswhichaxesshouldbethedayofthe

month.Askforwhichvariabledependsontheother.Phaseofthemoondependsonthe

day.Whichoneshouldbetheindependent?

Inscienceitisnotalwaysgoingtobecalledthex-axis...letscallitthehorizontalaxis.The

dependentaxisshouldbeontheverticalaxis.

BCquestionsthelearnsonhowtolabelandscaletheaxes...

8/3/2019 JGough Observes BCaldwell Aug 24 2011

5/6

Learnersplotthedata,reOlectandrevise:

ShowstheUSNavalbservatorydataandconnectstokidsgraph:

8/3/2019 JGough Observes BCaldwell Aug 24 2011

6/6

BCsummarizedbyconnectingphysicaleventswithgraphingwithpredictions.Heasks

abouthurricaneandweatherforecasting.