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Jennifer Stanley
Practicum
Dr. Sherry Rankins-Robertson
16 October 2012
Peer Observation Report of Bethany May
Bethany May teaches two sections of Composition I, and I
observed her
Monday/Wednesday/Friday 8:00 a.m. class. Prior to the
observation, I had a chance to
discuss Bethanys teaching plans for the week, specifically her
plans for the observation
day. Her students read the chapter inJoining the Conversation on
evaluative writing
earlier in the week and spent some time that week narrowing down
their assignments.
On the evaluation day, her students brought in what they
perceived to be their
final topics, and they also brought in a review of anything of
their choice. Bethany had a
great rapport with her students. She greeted each of them by
name, and she had a
calming presence in the classroom. She began class by having
each student talk about
their topic; however, they did not simply state their topic, as
she provided ample
commentary and suggestions for each student. It translated that
she cared about her
students success and really wanted to ensure their topic would
work for the
assignment.
Next, each member of the class shared the review they brought.
Most of them
were tech reviews a significant amount of iPhones, Androids,
laptops, and operating
systems, for example. One student brought in a music review of a
band that he said was
horribly written. Bethany inquired as to why and engaged in a
discussion with the
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we see in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing. You can tell
her students are
comfortable with rhetorical knowledge, genre, and audience, for
example.
The overall takeaway from my observation of Bethanys classroom
is that she is
an excellent instructor who is very engaged with her students.
She seems to have
clearly-defined goals and assignments, and her class does well
with participation. There
is an effective mix of lecture and interaction. Bethany will do
well as a composition
instructor, if she so chooses. The department is very lucky to
have her!
