Observation Record and Notes

MTTC Mentor: Sherry Brott

Cognitive Coach: Jenni Keith

Source: Face-to-Face, Present During Mentoring Session at Rockenbaugh Elementary.

Asked to look for: 1) pace of mentoring session, 2) mentee performing actions, rather than mentor, 3) questioning skills, specifically wait time and clarifying questions.

Observations: MTTC mentor with teacher mentee, Melody Turner.

Question/Statement	Higher Order	Wait Time
What would you say your main goal for this unit is?		X
Have you made any changes to it? When you give your lesson using that presentation, what do you think the class is going to look like?
Do kids like to write in the fourth grade? The girls really do, but the boys have a lot of trouble. Writing just seems to come easier for the girls.
What can you do to make writing more interesting for the boys?	X	X
Do you give them the topics to write about or do you let them choose?
So you allow your reluctant readers to choose topics that interest them?	Clarifying
I guess you don’t know who your students for next year are, do you? Or do they tell you if you are going to have any students with disabilities? I do know that I am going to have a student with disgraphia.
Have you thought about how you can help him be successful in this lesson?	X	X
Do you think there will be other disabilities we need to talk about?
How are you going to show them how to use it? I’ll show them the one that I make and give them step-by-step instructions. Can you help me with them?
Have you thought about giving the students the option of using either of the two? No, I hadn’t thought about that, but I guess I could do that. Be thinking about it.	X
How about the role of the students? How do you see them during this lessons or unit? Let’s say they are Willing Writers.		X
Melody, if I remember correctly, your Essential question for this unit had to do with words and individuality, didn’t it? Let’s see. I’ve got it right here. My essential question is “Do words create individuality?” Can that question be answered with a yes or no?I guess it could. How about if I asked “How do words create individuality?” That would work. There’s no one right or wrong answer.	X
How else can I help you with this unit? Can you be there when the students are working on their brochures and newsletters? I’m kind of nervous about that. Sure, I can.		X

Comments:

The pacing of your session was very comfortable and relaxed. Since you have a relationship with Melody, it was apparent that she trusts you and respects what you have to offer her.

There wasn’t an opportunity to observe you teaching skills during this session. I know that will come later.

You did an excellent job asking higher order questions and practicing appropriate wait time. When possible, you might consider asking one question and getting the answer before asking a second question. This way you will be sure to get the answers to all of your questions.