Observation Best Practices

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Changes associated with tenure and educator effectiveness have increased the stakes for teachers and administrators as it relates to teacher evaluation. Regardless of evaluation framework, there are a set of observational and feedback best practices that administrators should employ to ensure a fair, transparent and meaningful evaluation system. Participants in these training sessions will learn, develop and/or apply an inquiry-based process for collecting evidence and providing feedback to teachers that will grow their professional practice.  Though these learning opportunities participants further develop critical stances in instructional leadership: strengths-based stance, inquiry stance, equity stance, and working from evidence.

Clinicals (2-6 SECHs) 
Clinicals: Building Capacity to Lead Learning Administrators hone their observation and feedback skills within an applied setting – a “clinic.” During a clinical session, a group of administrators and/or teacher leaders visit a host school and observe teacher(s) who have agreed to participate in the clinic. Participants collect evidence during a live 15-minute observation, code evidence to their instructional framework/rubric, develop a set of noticings and wonderings around the teacher’s area of focus/performance goals, plan and/or observe a post-observation conversation between the facilitator and teacher, and analyze the evidence to draft formative feedback.

  • Cost of Webinar: $50/person, Half Day: $1800/in district , Full Day: $3000/in district

Formative Feedback for Educator Growth (6-18 SCECHs)
Learning the skills for giving feedback and creating a culture that centers on growth of teacher practice and improvement of student learning is a complex task. In this workshop, participants learn content, processes and communication strategies that are necessary to promote and sustain professional growth and shared learning, through the use of both written and oral feedback.

  • Cost: $3000/day in-district

Observation and Feedback (30 SCECHs)
Facilitated OnlineThroughout this 6-week course, participants explore both state requirements and best practices in the areas of observation, supervision, and evaluation. Participants engage in reading content related to formative feedback, exploring feedback structures, examining authentic case-studies, and working to refine their skillsets in the area of supporting teachers with their instructional growth. This course is focused on skill refinement, will require interaction, and reflection.

  • Cost of Module: $200/participant

Observation Practices that Build Capacity (6 SCECHs)
Regardless of evaluation framework, a set of observational and formative feedback best practices exist that administrators should employ to ensure a rigorous, fair, transparent and meaningful evaluation system. This workshop is focused on training and supporting building level administrators in fully implementing annual evaluations ethically and with fidelity. Participants learn and apply an inquiry based growth process for collecting, analyzing and using evidence of classroom practice to support teachers in meeting the needs of their students.

  • Cost for Full Day: $3000/in-district