Laura Ferrin (3): Assessment

Quote: Effective teachers are "kid watchers"... teachers write brief notes in notebooks or on self-stick notes as they observe student.... These records monitor and document students' growth and pinpoint problem areas to address in future minilessons or conferences. (Tompkins, pg. 81-82)

Comment: During as busy day as teachers, we need to be aware of the progress and learning styles of our students. To be effective teachers who are able to cater to the individual needs of our students, we are to be observant of their learning progress and styles. I can see the benefits of observation, teachers become more in tune with the abilities and struggles of each student. The books suggests we have a notebook or sticky notes available for our use as we observe. However, I'm struggling to see how I'll be able to remember to observe, remember what the students are doing, write down my notes, all while maintaining the classroom.

Question: Where can I implement observation in my teaching? How can I use observation as a tool in my classroom, yet keep it as a quiet part of my teaching, without drawing the students' attention to what I am doing?