The document provides ways for teachers to understand their classroom better which includes watching themselves and students through observation and recordings, taking notes on lesson plans, class activities, and individual students, and reflecting on lesson plans and classes through both unstructured free writing and answering structured reflective questions to analyze strengths, weaknesses, and ways to improve for the future. Teachers are also encouraged to keep ongoing reflective teaching journals to document their learning and development over time.

1. Ways to understand your classroom
Watch
watch: observe yourself and make notes
observe your students
record yourself / record your students

2. observe yourself and make short notes

3. make notes about your class
Lesson Plans Comments Reflections
(before class) (in class) (after class)
1.
2.
3.

4. observe your students

5. observe some students only …

6. … or observe the whole class

7. make notes about your class and students
Lesson Plans / Tasks Notes about the Class Notes about Student 1 Notes about Student 2
1.
2.
3.

8. make audio or visual recordings

9. take pictures of your white board

10. take pictures of your white board

11. take pictures of your class

12. take pictures of your class activities

13. keep a teaching portfolio

14. Ways to understand your classroom
Reflect
reflect: reflect about your lesson plans
reflect about your class – unstructured and structured
keep a teaching journal

15. reflect about your lesson plans
Lesson Plans Comments Reflections
(before class) (in class) (after class)
1.
2.
3.

16. reflect about your class –unstructured reflection
Note: Just write generally about how your feel the class
went, and note any ideas that you have. You could look at
your class notes as you do this.
Example:
Today’s class went well. I was feeling relaxed,
and fully prepared. All of the students had
done their homework, so we could start the
speaking activity immediately …..

17. reflect about your class –structured reflection
Note: You could write your answers to a list of questions.
Example questions:
What went well in the class today?
What didn’t go well?
What will I do differently next time?
What did I learn about my students?
What did I learn about my teaching?

18. reflect about your class –structured reflection

19. keep a reflective journal