Observing Teachers, Minute X Minute

I observe a lot of teachers teaching. Over time, I’ve developed a tool that helps me stay focused while being open to the unexpected moments that are so important to pedagogy. I call my method a Minute x Minute Log. It’s a spreadsheet that has four columns (entitled Time, Teacher Activity, Student Activity, Ideas) and every row is a minute of classroom time. It is by far the best way I have found to be alert and focused during a class, organized but also not so prescribed that it limits one’s perspective. Here it is, for classroom use: