Observation Hours Record Form
03 Observed School Basic Information
04
Classroom Floor Plan
02 Abstract From Class Presentation Thank You Letter
Observation Images
Field Observation Notes
11.24.2024
MS 331 —— The Bronx School of Young Leaders
Located: 40 West Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10453
Performance:
66% of students passed core courses
69% of students feel safe in the hallways, bathrooms, locker room, and cafeteria
Observation Grades: 06, 08
Class Duration: Once a week/ 45 minutes
My Observation:
In my observations, I focused on a 6th-grade visual arts class and an 8th-grade special education class.
The 6th-grade visual arts class primarily focused on drawing, using materials such as pencils, fine liners, colored pencils, and crayons. Before the class began, the students were escorted by their previous teacher to line up outside the classroom Once inside, they were assigned to sit either individually or in pairs as directed by the teacher, and then the lesson commenced. The themes of the lessons were often tied to seasonal or holiday topics. For instance, in October, the class worked on drawings related to zombies, while in November, the theme revolved around Thanksgiving ingredients. The teacher used a projection screen and live demonstrations to guide students step-by-step in their drawing process, with the students following along to complete their artwork.
In the 8th-grade special education class, the projects began with students focusing on urban landscapes, architectural views, or notable landmarks within a city. The teacher encouraged them to share their experiences of cityscapes they had encountered before, then combine those memories with their own experiences to create a personal "landmark" using clay At the end of the project, all the students' models were combined into a collective memorial park model. During this process, students learned about urban history and architecture, shared their personal stories, and created their own unique works. Throughout the lessons, the teacher periodically conducted surveys to assess the students' understanding of the material and adjusted teaching strategies accordingly. In both grades, the teachers encouraged students to express their stories and ideas, explore the use of new materials, and choose between working independently or in groups to develop their social skills. The overall classroom atmosphere was positive and supportive, fostering creativity and engagement.
The school was established in 2004.
MS 331 Bronx Young Leader school is a community school that prides itself on developing the whole child and fulfills the mission to “educate people to enjoy and improve the world”
The school offers many arts and sports clubs after school and on Saturday. Also, students who are behind grade level receive additional instruction.
The door and hallways outside the art classroom are thoughtfully decorated and adorned with many positive and encouraging messages, helping students enter the classroom with a positive mindset. Also there’s a common & suggestion box outside the classroom to give students chance to say something. The projector is one of the most useful visual aid tools in the teaching process. Teacher always set up a notes in front of the classroom with clear tasks process or information notes.
There’re a lot of handmade characters, drawings, art sculptures, books and art posters hanging on the wall. The storage of art supplies are clear and easy to get.
(Including observed & class presentation notes)
Thank You Letter
