Spring Site Visit

Prior to Site Visit

Select six (6) teachers that will be used as the school’s comparison group. We recommend the leadership and ITRT work closely to select individuals who are ready and willing to make a shift in instructional practices. These should also be individuals who the ITRT is comfortable working with to reach higher levels on the TIP Chart over the course of the year. Please consider teachers who will be willing to make the ear-long commitment to growth.
Share your list with instructional technology by September 16, 2011. Six (6) additional teachers will be randomly selected and returned to you so you will know all twelve (12) teachers who will be observed.
Create an observation schedule for your site visit day. Send this schedule to instructional technology by (TBD).
Share the process for the second site visit with teachers. Ensure all 12 teachers know when they will be observed.
The ITRT is charged with helping all 12 teachers prepare a high quality 21st century skills lessons – especially the 6 selected teachers. They may choose to use a model similar to the PGEP process.
Support the teachers as they are being coached through the growth cycle, referencing the TIP Chart, and making connections to the work they are already doing.

Site Visit

Data will be presented to the school during the last block on the same day as the site visit.
Persons involved should include the principal, members of the administrative team, ITRT, and Reflective Friends lead(s). Key teacher-leaders may also be invited to attend.
Present summation of second site visit.
Excel file will be distributed to the attendees.
Discuss areas of growth and next steps.
Support structures are considered.

Teachers observed during this Reflective Friends site visit will have an opportunity to meet with his/her observer for feedback. This level of participation is optional.
The observer will discuss elements of the lesson with reference to the TIP Chart.
Appointments will be available after school on the day of the site visit.
The teacher will sign up with the site-based ITRT in advance.
Recommendation: ITRT assign each teacher a time slot ahead of time.

We encourage ongoing conversation around 21st century skills. In addition to the leadership team, rely on other key leaders in the building to engage in conversations with teachers. These individuals may include the librarian(s), ITRT, department leaders, and teachers submitting to Henrico 21. Find ways to share data, as appropriate, to connect with the purpose and support the school goals. Continue to reference the TIP Chart, making connections to the work we are already doing.
Teachers should be aware of the coming observations and encouraged to display their strongest 21st century lessons. Although half of the teachers observed will be chosen by the school’s leadership team and half will be randomly selected, both groups will be informed of their involvement prior to the observation cycle.
Observation teams will be composed of HCPS Instructional Technology personnel and HCPS administrator volunteers.
The Reflective Friends process will be extended and revisited in future calendar years to further explore longitudinal data.

Point of contact for scheduling and questions
Select six (6) teachers for observation. The team randomly selects other six (6).
Schedule of observations
Meeting location for the duration of the site visit.
Space for presentation of data during the last block of the day.
Space for teacher feedback conversations at the end of the day