In this activity, you will either observe teachers in action in their classrooms, or observe science teaching video tapes. In either case, you will be looking into these classrooms to find out about how these teachers manage the classroom and apply the principles of group management behavior.

Materials

Video tape of science teacher

Visit to a science classroom

Procedure

1. Secure permission from a science teacher to visit his or her classroom. Explain that you are interested in observing the way they manage their classroom. Tell the teacher that you will be using a form to look for certain examples of classroom behavior.

2. Observe the science teacher for at least one complete lesson. Keep a narrative record of the verbal behavior of the teacher. That is, keep a running record of what the teacher does and says. This will help you discuss the management behavior of the teacher, and enable you to ask better questions.

3. Use the Windows Observation form to record examples of the management behaviors.

Management Behavior	What the Teacher Did or Said	How the Students Responded
With-it-ness
Overlapping
Smoothness
Momentum
Group focus and accountability

Minds On Strategies

1. To what extent did the teacher show evidence of each management behavior? What was the teacher's strength in management?

2. How did the teacher handle small group activities?

3. How did the teacher handle laboratory activities?

4. Did the students show evidence of being engaged in high level thinking tasks?

How did the teacher encourage and manage high level thinking tasks?

5. How did the teacher manage misbehaviors?