Friday, October 10, 2008

Ready, Set, OBSERVE!

Hard to believe it's that time of year again! Beginning Monday I start a hectic, jam packed two month long schedule of pre-conferencing on Mondays, observing in hour long increments on Tuesdays through Thursdays and then post conferencing on Fridays. My schedule will certainly be a little crazy up until Winter Break but honestly, I am soooo excited! I love the 5 minute walk throughs of classrooms all during the year but these annual observations are where I really get to savor the masterful teaching that goes on in each lesson. I get to be part of the planning, watch the whole delivery (from opening to closing and everything in between), and then reflect on the lesson with my teachers. I really enjoy watching teachers craft and deliver instruction to students who are eager and excited about learning.

At this point in our journey I should see all of the components to the Workshop model and so I am really focusing on the Guided Reading and/or Strategy Groups that teachers are holding during the work period. I am also looking to see how technology is being used to deepen learning experiences for students. There are also so many things about the work that I don't get to see in an hour so I ask teachers to leave out the following things for me to review:
  • the lesson plan (we don't have a specific form for this - it is whatever the teacher needs to teach from - the plan has to work for them)

  • data/safety net notebook (this looks different in everybody's room but houses any diagnostic screening and/or FCAT data as well as some evidence of assistance being provided to at risk students - sometimes a copy of the PMP, etc...)

  • parent communication tool (newsletter, blog site, website, etc...)

  • 3 sample assessments (could be formative or summative work for one student or several)

  • grades (record of student progress)

  • a list of professional growth activities (in a school this size it is hard to keep track of all the things teachers are doing - this really helps)

  • an example of how instruction is being differentiated (this looks different based on teacher preference - sometimes it is a conference log, anecdotal notes, record of group work, etc...)

  • 3-5 student planners (i love being able to write to parents about what their kids are learning in class, it also helps me see if there is someway I could support the teacher with a student or parent)
I get so excited I fill up the official form with compliments, comments, ideas and suggestions. Half the time I am not sure I can read it when I'm done, so this year I am bringing my laptop with me and I am going to try and type my feedback. Hopefully the technology will make this easier on all of us.

So starting Monday, if you can't find me, I'm in a classroom. I'm watching the finest teachers in the world implement their craft at superior levels to the most wonderful students a principal could ask for. I can't wait!!!

Risk... Care... Dream... Expect...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the list of what you want to see. It helps us know what to expect when you come in!
-Karen Morris

Anonymous said...

We are very excited to have you come and visit our classroom in December. We will have everything ready for you to see!

Laurie and Julia :)

Toni Chant said...

I can't wait to show off my very bright and talented students, I am very blessed. By the way, I loved your book selection, Grace for President, for this month's Book of the Month.

Wanda Lankford said...

Get some rest this weekend another journey begins next week. Good Luck with observations! I am excited to showcase what I do with my students.

Wanda Lankford :)

Anonymous said...

This leaves me with two major thoughts.

One, I am glad that you are you, because I cannot imagine that there is another skipper anywhere that would voluntarily go through all of this each year in order to help out the crew. We really are lucky.

Two, I am so glad that I am NOT you. I would crack, and I am a pretty hard worker.

"Thanks" really does not cover it...

T-Cubed