MASSP ConferenceMASSP ConferenceTraverse City, MITraverse City, MI

October 1, 2007October 1, 2007

withwith

Pat Wilson O-LearyPat Wilson O-Leary

Vicksburg Community SchoolsVicksburg Community Schools

patwo@vicksburg.k12.mi.uspatwo@vicksburg.k12.mi.us

Welcome to Welcome to Walk – Through Walk – Through

Observations That WorkObservations That Work

Principals often drop into classrooms. This awareness session will focus on the practical decisions and strategies that make the drop-in a more valuable walk-through observation. What to do in preparation, observation, and follow-up will be included.

Purposes of this session:Purposes of this session:

FIGURE 1 Seven Core Functions of Leadership in Schools

Function Action

Instructional leadership Ensuring quality of instruction, modeling teaching practices, supervising curriculum, and ensuring quality of teaching resources.

Cultural leadership Tending to the symbolic resources of the school (its traditions, climate, and history).

Managerial leadership Overseeing the operations of the school (its budget, schedule, facilities, safety and security, and transportation).

Human resources leadership Recruiting, hiring, firing, inducting, and mentoring teachers and administrators; developing leadership capacity and professional development opportunities.

Strategic leadership Promoting vision, mission, and goals – and developing a means to reach them.

External development leadership

Representing the school in the community, developing capital, tending to public relations, recruiting students, buffering and mediating external interests, and advocating for the school’s interests.

Micropolitical leadership Buffering and mediating internal interests while maximizing resources (financial and human).

The Roles That Principals Play, Educational Leadership, April 2004.

The Walk-Through The Walk-Through ObservationObservation

WhatWhat

A walk-through observation is an A walk-through observation is an

unannounced, yet focused, visit made by an unannounced, yet focused, visit made by an

administrator (possibly with a teacher) to a administrator (possibly with a teacher) to a

classroom for only 5 - 10 minutes. The classroom for only 5 - 10 minutes. The

expectation is that you will visit every teacher expectation is that you will visit every teacher

in your building consistently, in your building consistently,

during this school year.during this school year.

The Walk-Through ObservationThe Walk-Through Observation

Walk-Throughs

SIPs

SIP Review

Why: School Improvement PlanWhy: School Improvement Plan

Why: Open Door Culture; fun!Why: Open Door Culture; fun!

Why: Know and See PracticeWhy: Know and See Practice

Michigan Curriculum FrameworksMichigan Curriculum Frameworks

The Walk-Through ObservationThe Walk-Through ObservationWhy: VisibilityWhy: Visibility

William Sommers, The Reflective School

Why: Encourage Teacher GrowthWhy: Encourage Teacher Growth

William Sommers, The Reflective School

Why: Analyze InstructionWhy: Analyze Instruction

Suggestions for Walk-ThroughsSuggestions for Walk-Throughs

Goal:Goal:

Every ClassroomEvery Classroom Every week/monthEvery week/month Different times of dayDifferent times of day Different times of weekDifferent times of week

Suggestions for Walk-ThroughsSuggestions for Walk-Throughs

Schedule informal walk-through observations as you would any other important item on your calendar.

John Skretta

Suggestions for Walk-ThroughsSuggestions for Walk-Throughs

With your staff, establish clear and consistent expectations for the administrator’s presence in classrooms. Communicate these procedures to all stakeholders.

Suggestions for Walk-ThroughsSuggestions for Walk-Throughs

Use walk-throughs to promote dialogue with teachers.

Suggestions for Walk-ThroughsSuggestions for Walk-Throughs

Share anecdotal feedback from walk-throughs with your faculty.

John Skretta

Suggestions for Walk-ThroughsSuggestions for Walk-Throughs

Learn and practice coaching skills for:

Reflection

Feedback

Pat Wilson O’Leary Vicksburg Community Schools 301 S. Kalamazoo Ave. Vicksburg, MI 49097

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A walk- through (WT) observation is an unannounced, yet focused, visit by an administrator to a classnly 5- 10 minutes. The expectation is that you will visit every teacher in your building consistently during the school year.

Talk with teachers about WTs – what and why.

Conduct consistent walk-throughs and keep track.

Consistently provide feedback: positive notes, coaching questions, or conversations about

teaching.

Note patterns (positive and other).

Continue to talk with teachers about WT patterns noticed, plan staff development, resources needed, etc.

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I . Classroom Walk-Through A. Visit each classroom for 5-10 minutes on a consistent

basis, using the form to which we all agree. B. Look f or data to record in areas of :

student orientation to work curricular decision points walls that teach safety and health issues

I I . Af ter The Visit – Analysis of Data A. Review data B. Check f or alignment with state/ district goals,

curriculum, anticipated student results, instructional models.

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I I I . Feedback and/ or Reflection with Teacher

A. Form returned to teacher with thank you/ statement/ question (one-way).

B. Brief reflective conversation with teacher (two-way).

I V. Building Analysis A. Patterns noticed. B. Feedback at staff meetings. C. Staff development to suggest.

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What do you want to look f or when you observe? Select one or more f or a building or district. CCuurrrr iiccuulluumm What are students learning? AAsssseessssmmeenntt How do you know what

students are learning? EEnnggaaggeemmeenntt Are all students active or

passive? II nnssttrruucctt iioonn What strategies is the

teacher using to reach all students?

CCllaassssrroooomm MMaannaaggeemmeenntt Are the routines and climate conducive to student achievement?

Your f ocus will help determine your note taking instrument.

Data Collection MethodData Collection Method

Index Card

No Notes

Teacher: _____________________________ Date: ________________________

Observer:_____________________________ Time: ________________________

Content/Grade: # of Students:

Walk-Through Form Student Orientation to the Work – Students actively engaged

Attending to teacher, speaker, screen, board, activity…

Data:

Curriculum/Content

Objectives stated/posted

Agenda stated/posted

Aligned with district/state? Yes No ? Data:

Instruction –

Lecture □ Individual

Whole group □ Small group Model of Teaching:_______________________ Bloom’s Level: 1. Knowledge 4. Analysis 2. Comprehension 5. Synthesis 3. Application 6. Evaluation

Data:

Walls That Teach –

Student work displayed Posters/Projects visible

All clearly connect to curriculum objectives or management goals.

Data:

HowHow

Pat Wilson O’Leary Vicksburg Community Schools

Do not just leave a teacher wondering! After a WT, make one of the choices below:

1. Leave a positive note, if it was a positive lesson.

Tuesday: Jim, I enjoyed seeing the team building activity. That helps students get acquainted and creates a family climate. Thanks, Pat WO Name the instructional strategy and why it’s important.

2. Leave a question which contains a positive pre-supposition. Example: “I s this student engagement reflective of a usual class?” Not: “Are students usually this active?”

Feedback Choices After Walk-ThroughFeedback Choices After Walk-Through

Pat Wilson O’Leary Vicksburg Community Schools

Do not just leave a teacher wondering! After a WT, make one of the choices below:

3. Soon af ter WT (do not interrupt instruction), talk f or a couple of minutes with the teacher. Give a verbal comment or question and let the teacher respond (at present or later).

4. I f you have concerns: a) observe again soon, b) consider a longer, more involved observation.

5. At a staff meeting, provide general comments such as “Thanks f or using the suggestions f rom our opening in-service. I saw implementation in six classrooms this week.” or “I was in eight classrooms this week. I only saw two objectives posted. Remember our goal is to have objectives posted for every lesson. Thanks.”

Feedback Choices After Walk-ThroughFeedback Choices After Walk-Through

Walk Through Observations – Walk Through Observations – Decisions to MakeDecisions to Make

Commitment – yoursCommitment – yours By district/central officeBy district/central office To each other and selfTo each other and self To staffTo staff

Communicate before and after WT withCommunicate before and after WT with Union leadershipUnion leadership Teaching staffTeaching staff StudentsStudents

Content FocusContent Focus SIP GoalsSIP Goals Program ImplementationProgram Implementation Curriculum/Instruction/AssessmentCurriculum/Instruction/Assessment

ConsistencyConsistency Plan and schedule a manageable numberPlan and schedule a manageable number Increase as comfort growsIncrease as comfort grows Keep trackKeep track

Continually reflect and grow your knowledge!Continually reflect and grow your knowledge!

Walk Through Observations – Walk Through Observations – Decisions to MakeDecisions to Make

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Lack of commitment to: learning how learning more consistent implementation open-door culture

Lack of communication with: union teachers administration colleagues about what’s easy and hard consultant: Pat Wilson O’Leary

Have fun in Have fun in classrooms!classrooms!

Pat Wilson O’LearyPat Wilson O’Leary

Vicksburg Community SchoolsVicksburg Community Schools

patwo@vicksburg.k12.mi.uspatwo@vicksburg.k12.mi.us

(269) 321-1038(269) 321-1038

Want a Want a bibliography?bibliography?

See Pat!See Pat!