Transcript AMITY WALK-THROUGH PROTOCOL

AMITY REGION # 5
COMPLEMENTARY
OBSERVERS
Dr. E. Marie McPadden
Ms. Helly Potter
Ms. Jen Bshara
February 26, 2015
Seinfeld History Lesson
http://www.teachertube.com/video/seinfeldhistory-lesson-241598
COMPLEMENTARY
OBSERVERS
EDUCATOR
DISTRICT
STUDENT
LEARNING
THE LOGISTICS OF COMPLEMENTARY
OBSERVERS IN AMITY REGIONAL SCHOOL
DISTRICT NO. 5
HISTORY - Began in 2013-14 academic year
as part of the development of the Amity
Evaluation and Development Model
VISION - Create a culture of collaboration and
to promote best teaching practices while
providing teachers opportunities to demonstrate
leadership
Amity Regional District # 5 Teacher
Evaluation Plan
TEACHER CATEGORY
Non-Tenured Teachers
(Years 1-4)
Tenured - Proficient
and Exemplary
Teachers
2014-15 Observation Cycle
Flexibility Option
OBSERVATION REQUIREMENTS

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Minimum 3 formal observations2 of the 3 will be announced and include a pre-conference
1 of the 3 will be unannounced
all include post-conference (verbal and written feedback)

Minimum of 3 informal observations. Include post conference (verbal and written
feedback)

non-classroom review of practice
Year One, Cycle A

Minimum 1 formal announced or unannounced observation per teacher decision. Formal announced will
include a pre and post conference; Unannounced formal will include a post conference
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Minimum 5 informal to include post conference (verbal and written feedback)

non-classroom review of practice
Year One, Cycle B

Minimum of 5 informal to include post conference (verbal and written feedback)

non-classroom review of practice
Year One, Cycle C
Tenured – Below
Standard or Developing
Teachers

Minimum of 5 informal to include post conference (verbal and written feedback)

non-classroom review of practice

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
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
Minimum 3 formal observations –
2 of the 3 will be announced and include a pre-conference
1 of the 3 will be unannounced
all include post conference (verbal and written feedback)
Minimum 5 informal observations all include post conference (written and verbal feedback)
non-classroom review of practice
Complementary Observer Details
Must be employed in Amity for five years
Written application followed by an interview
Total of 19 teachers selected for 2014-15
9 at the High School; 5 at each Middle School
Approximately 15 observations/Complementary Observer
Walk-Throughs conducted October - April
$30.00 per Walk-Through (Total payment in June)
COMPLEMENTARY OBSERVER
TRAINING INCLUDES:
MODELED PRACTICE
• REVIEWING WALK-THROUGH SCRIPTS 1& 2
• TAGGING EVIDENCE TO THE APPROPRIATE
DOMAIN/INDICATORS
• DISCUSSING/CALIBRATING FINDINGS
• DEVELOPING A REFLECTION QUESTION
COMPLEMENTARY OBSERVERS
LEARN THAT EFFECTIVE
WALK-THROUGHS SHARE
COMMON ELEMENTS:
•BREVITY
•FOCUS
•DIALOGUE
CCT Rubric for Effective Teaching
Elements of Complementary Observer
Walk-Throughs:
• Walk-throughs are 10-15 minute brief visits
• Walk-throughs do not replace longer formal
observations
• Walk-throughs are supplemental to formal
observations providing “snapshots” over time
• Walk-throughs can reveal school-wide patterns and
instructional trends
• Walk-throughs provide a structure for improvement
COMPLEMENTARY OBSERVER
WALK-THROUGH PROTOCOL
• Review Domains 1 & 3 of the 2014 CCT Rubric
before conducting the walk-through
• Enter the classroom and record the course, time (B-ME), teacher, classroom, and number of students
• Balance taking objective notes, i.e., exactly what you
observe the teacher and students saying or doing
• Note the end-time of the walk-through
• Upload your notes into Bloom Board and tag the
evidence to the appropriate domain/indicators (You do
not have to tag every single line of your notes)
• Review your tags and develop a reflective question
related to the lesson observation. Arrange for a brief
post-conference facilitating discussion based on your
reflective question(s)
What Does a Complementary Observer Do?
https://docs.google.com/a/amityschools.org/file/d/0B6Z6-46e06SeEszVXh2WmZ1MTQ/edit
COMPLEMENTARY OBSERVERS
Provide Explicit Meaningful Feedback
• Provide brief one-to-one focused feedback
• Facilitate Reflective Questioning
Think about what you observedThink about the lesson designThink about effective teaching strategiesThink about the curriculum observed• Develop a reflective question(s) to serve as the basis
for discussion
• Engage in explicit meaningful feedback
Things we have learned from
Complementary Observers, Teachers, and
Administrators…
• Complementary Observers have supported building a
culture of trust as well as an appreciation of practice;
• Post conversations with specific feedback have provided an
opportunity for reflection, collaboration, and growth;
• Teaching has become visible instead of isolated;
• Being able to observe a variety of content area teachers has
opened the lens on teaching and learning;
• There will always be a “time element.”
ANECDOTAL REFLECTIONS from TEACHERS
• I enjoy the conversations after the observation by teachers who are
in various concentrations. For example, I had a social studies
teacher observe me and she was amazed at the classroom
management involved in physical education as well as the
information that students retain from previous lessons.
• I found it to be enlightening to see my classroom instruction from
the viewpoint of someone who is writing down what I say and do,
as well as what the students say and do. It reaffirmed and
impressed upon me the fact that my class is a very dynamic and
fluid kind of learning experience.
• By the CO scripting the teacher, it's amazing to later read over
how much is said and going on in the classroom. The CO comes
into the classroom and is quickly forgotten by me as I work with
students. The CO experience is not threatening at all.
• I don't mind complementary observers coming in my room at all.
It's nice to have other teachers in the building aware of what I do,
and they are merely there to observe, not judge, so it's comfortable.
ANECDOTAL REFLECTIONS from
ADMINISTRATORS
• The benefit of the complementary observers is two-fold. First, having peers
observe each other has created a culture of shared practice where teachers are
more comfortable inviting other teachers in to their classrooms. Second, it
allows for a culture of fostered leadership where teachers and administrators
can work together to discuss effective classroom behaviors and best practice.
High School Associate Principal
• I think it has helped enhanced opportunities for teacher leadership, with our
goal to improve collegiality, and it has provided some administrative relief from
the burdens of the new teacher evaluation process.
Middle School Principal
• I have one teacher in my department that is a Complementary Observer. She
has enjoyed the experience and stated that it has been a great professional
experience to observe the teaching strategies of her colleagues. Several
members of my department have stated that they have often felt that other staff
members do not fully understand the scope of their positions as special
educators. Having Complementary Observers has allowed for my staff to
highlight their unique roles in the building.
Special Education Supervisor
IN SUMMARY – Complementary
Observers …
• Conduct purposeful and focused walkthroughs;
• Facilitate according to protocol with fidelity;
• Promote reflective dialogue related to
teaching and learning;
• Collaborate with teachers and administrators
to increase student achievement; and
• Are an effective addition to the Amity Teacher
Evaluation Plan!
LESSON VIDEOS
Discipline in the 1950’s (Great for a faculty meeting)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQZcXCDr4Wc
Eighth Grade Literature Study Lesson
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4rWZrgyCbs
Close Reading in HS Science
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQc1q3qq7wU
Ninth/Tenth Grade English
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFclkvumORE
Close Reading in Chemistry
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SDIpwVwviI
Please Feel Free to Contact Us:
Dr. E. Marie McPadden
Amity Regional School District No. 5 Central Office
[email protected]
Ms. Helly Potter: Amity Regional High School
[email protected]
Ms. Jen Bshara: Amity Middle School Orange Campus
[email protected]