[Intentional Focused Observation] IFO4 (Made 2024 Fall Semester)

Mr. Earle engages his students in discussion after showing them videos, explaining primary sources, etc. These discussions take many forms, and this week the most interesting discussion took the form of a vote on whether the British were guilty of the murder of those killed at the Boston Massacre. Afterwards they were asked why they voted guilty or not guilty, they got to use the information they had learned, and attach it to their own personal beliefs.

I sadly do not know how Mr. Earle has gone about setting up the norms for discussion and discourse within his classroom as it likely happened earlier in the semester, so I am curious as to how that went or if he took a more holistic approach. I also am interested in where he finds his lesson plans, as they routinely are quite interesting and engage his students well through clear rules and expectations as well as incredible primary sources.

Mr. Earle regularly interacts with his students and asks them questions regarding what he has taught, often finding new ways to do so and creative ways to keep them engaged. In the future I want to follow his example and try to hold discussions with my students on a daily basis. His idea of having students vote on a case of great legal importance is something I intend to utilize in my own classroom one day. I also will begin taking steps to put together a clear list of expectations for my students regarding in class discussions and discourse.

HERE’S WHAT? What did I notice in the classroom?	SO WHAT? Implications for my teaching practice and the learning of my students?	NOW WHAT? What are my next steps? Next Day / Next Week / Next Month
I noticed that Mr. Earle engaged his students and educated them in civics through having them vote regarding the guilt or lack thereof of the British who fired during the Boston Massacre.	Students are engaged by creative exercises that have clear ties to real life and their own future civic duties. I should seek to emulate such ideas within my own classes in the future to keep my students engaged and make them understand the importance of the subjects they are being taught.	In the coming days I intend to figure out which topics I could do something like this voting, so that I may be prepared for my future as a teacher. I will also think through similar and contrasting discussions and discourses to engage my students with.