Good morning everyone,
I just wanted to take a minute and clarify something that has come up as I have started visiting classrooms more regularly over the past couple of weeks. Now that we are all settled in and teaching away, this is something that I will continue to do on a regular basis.
The first thing that I need to point out is that I do not observe classes through an evaluative lens. My role for Instructional Services and as a Literacy Coach is to observe instructional practice generally, or language arts classes specifically, and help teachers make adjustments to their practice to help them be more effective in helping their students learn.
As part of my observation procedure, which I have outlined previously in this blog, is to provide teachers with specific feedback on what I observed when I was in the class through the use of an Excel Spreadsheet. Even though the spreadsheet, in the form of a checklist on instructional practice, is in a written form and could therefore be perceived as formal, the spreadsheet checklist is not formal - it is simply to provide you with specific feedback for reflective purposes.
If I haven't been in your classroom yet, or if you haven't read the previous post or don't remember it, here is an image of the spreadsheet checklist again.
I just wanted to take a minute and clarify something that has come up as I have started visiting classrooms more regularly over the past couple of weeks. Now that we are all settled in and teaching away, this is something that I will continue to do on a regular basis.
The first thing that I need to point out is that I do not observe classes through an evaluative lens. My role for Instructional Services and as a Literacy Coach is to observe instructional practice generally, or language arts classes specifically, and help teachers make adjustments to their practice to help them be more effective in helping their students learn.
As part of my observation procedure, which I have outlined previously in this blog, is to provide teachers with specific feedback on what I observed when I was in the class through the use of an Excel Spreadsheet. Even though the spreadsheet, in the form of a checklist on instructional practice, is in a written form and could therefore be perceived as formal, the spreadsheet checklist is not formal - it is simply to provide you with specific feedback for reflective purposes.
If I haven't been in your classroom yet, or if you haven't read the previous post or don't remember it, here is an image of the spreadsheet checklist again.
Please note that the checklist simply outlines basic things that teachers would be expected to do during any typical lesson. Rarely, however, based on the nature of a specific lesson, there is the possibility that a few of these items will not apply. When that happens during an observation, I simply include an N/A so as to indicate that it didn't apply to the lesson.
The purpose of the checklist is to help teachers reflect on the basic components of a lesson and the extent to which they are effectively working with their students. So as I am out visiting classrooms and providing observations on lessons, please do not be threatened. I am simply here to be a support to you by providing feedback on what I see and help you in areas that you may feel you need help with. That said, please do not hesitate to contact me if there is something you feel I could help you with.
Have a great day everyone :D
Ryan
The purpose of the checklist is to help teachers reflect on the basic components of a lesson and the extent to which they are effectively working with their students. So as I am out visiting classrooms and providing observations on lessons, please do not be threatened. I am simply here to be a support to you by providing feedback on what I see and help you in areas that you may feel you need help with. That said, please do not hesitate to contact me if there is something you feel I could help you with.
Have a great day everyone :D
Ryan