Best Practice

Just one pupil: Classroom observation and the perception-reality gap

What is really going on in the classroom? Sometimes a 10-minute observation using a ‘just one pupil’ approach can reveal much more than hours of monitoring and learning walks. Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith explains
Image: Adobe Stock

Next time you are with a school colleague, ask them to tell you about their last lesson. Chances are, they will give you some headline details about the class, cohort, and particular pupil characteristics.

They will probably also give you some key information about content covered and perhaps some insights into a sample of activities or tasks carried out during the lesson.

They may also tell you some kind of comparative reflection – comparing what their intentions for that lesson were with how they feel the lesson went in practice. They might share some stories or reflections about a particular child or group of pupils.

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