At about 9:20 am the students trickle in and the teacher stands in the hall to supervise the going to and from of classes throughout the day. This particular Ninth grade Honors English Class is the first one in the morning. Once the students are settled in their seats they chat amongst them selves and get their class materials out to start the days work. The bell rings and attendants is taken, the students become quite and focused.

As the teacher finishes up the accountability and start pulling up the lesson plan I realize that the lights are only half way turned on. The room was clear and the paper in front of me on my desk is still easy to see but the front half of the room is darker with the only light coming from the window behind me and the light which is creeping from the lamp and lights in the back of the class room. I notice this as this is my favorite type of lighting. It is calming and easy to focus with. On the walls I see encouraging messages along the lines of how “I matter” and how “I am capable of success. ” I see books shelves with a good number of books. There where to many to take note of all of them but I recall seeing The Great Gatsby, The Hunger Games series, and other books that one might expect to be on a high school English class’ book shelf. On the other wall farthest away from me I see pamphlets which contain information on how to be a better writer in a technical regard. This is the environment.  

The teacher opens the days lesson with some activities and short lecturing on the prologue of Romeo and Juliet. The first works to understand the text as Shakespearian English is different from modern American English. Once the comprehension/translation is complete they go over the meaning of the prologue, both literally, and figuratively. The activities here are done in groups and partners with the teacher walking around aiding them in understanding of the tasks and materials. The first portion of the class consists of actives like this. By the end of these activates my partner and I where nearing the end of our visit. As we left the students had just finished watching a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet’s prologue found in movie form.  

The class seemed engaged and focused the whole class period, or at least when I was there. The material and lesson flowed well and seemed to have enough application to stay interesting. That being said this is a Ninth Grade Honors English class. Other classes may to respond the same way to this style.