Before the class begins sit down with your mentor teacher and get a feel for how the class will be conducted. Ask the teacher what the format for the class will be, and what the teacher specifically wants you to be observing. Also, ask the teacher how she generally handles disciplinary issues. Knowing the answers to these questions will put you in a better position to observe the scenarios in action. Ask the teacher where she would like for you to sit during your observation.
Your observation will begin before the students enter the room. Observe how the teacher prepares for her class, and where she is situated as the students enter the room. Take note of the students' body language as they enter the class as well as their behavior. How long does it take the teacher to get the class quiet and on task? Does the teacher begin by taking attendance, or does she do that task while the students are working quietly?
Observe the order in which the teach conducts her class, as well as her tone, volume and the response of her students to her voice. Are the students on task, or are they distracted? If a student becomes a distraction, how quickly does the teacher react? What is the teacher's and student's reaction? Does the teacher have her students break off into groups? If so, does this activity cause distraction, or do the students stay on task?
When class time is over, approach the teacher again. Ask questions regarding how the class went. Ask about any disciplinary issues that arose. Were they typical? If you were confused during any point of the class, ask the teacher to explain why she did or said what she did. Ask her to give you wisdom she has gained through years of teaching. Ask the teacher about different scenarios that did not occur in the classroom, and how she would handle them.