Watch how the teacher handles timekeeping. The teacher should have allocated a time period to every part of a lesson. For example, he might leave 20 minutes for students to complete a worksheet they’re given. Check whether the teacher adheres to these estimates. Also, note whether the teacher communicates effectively the time allocated to do a task or assignment. Poor communication of time could result in students not being aware of how long they have to complete something.
The classroom itself is important to the lessons that take place within it. Look around the classroom environment and note whether it is being used effectively. Check how space is used. For example, if the desks are too clustered together, it could indicate poor management of space. Examine whether the classroom feels like a place that is comfortable and conducive to learning.
Observe the overall way in which the teacher runs her classroom. Examine her daily routine, including the taking of the class register and the handing out of such resources as textbooks. Check how well the teacher explains the rules of the classroom and how diligently these are followed. Examine how the teacher handles her predetermined agenda for each lesson. If the lesson begins to stray from this agenda, watch whether the teacher retains control.
How and when teachers and students talk in a classroom can be a fascinating topic to observe. Examine whether students have healthy interactions with teachers and each other. For example, do they listen to one another effectively. It could be that some students are overpowering in their desire to contribute while others get away with not contributing at all. In other classrooms, students may not always be polite to one another. Watch how such interactions are handled by the teacher.
Occasionally lessons get out of hand and behavior that is not conducive to learning appears. Observe how the teacher handles such behavior and whether he is effective in maintaining control of the class or whether the class overwhelms him. Examine the tone of the environment, too, and whether this affects the chance of such interruptions occurring.
Examine the classroom resources used and whether each is effective. Classroom resources include everything from the handouts given to students to the overhead projectors used in displaying information. Check to see if these resources are visible and viable, and if their presence contributes to learning.