Elementary 2011-2012

A one-day site visit is scheduled at each school on one of the following dates:  October 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27.

Elementary Principals, Associate Principals, Specialists, Math/Reading Coaches, ITRTs, and Elementary Directors will serve on at least one of the Reflective Friends Site Teams.

Expectations
Prior to Site Visit
By August 24:

  • Select 3 teachers (4 teachers for schools with 30 or more teachers) to be observed and submit names using the link:

      http://tinyurl.com/RF-ELEM

Names of randomly selected teachers will be sent to you by August 29.

  • Select a Reflective Friends Site Coordinator who will work with you and your ITRT to organize the site visit (prepare meeting room for visiting team, copy schedules/map for team, assist principal with creating observation schedule, assemble other supplies as needed).
  • Invite members of your administrative team, your ITRT, and key teacher leaders to attend a Reflective Friends preliminary meeting to discuss:
    • Details of the site visit
    • Roles of key personnel
  • Schedule meeting to introduce Reflective Friends to your faculty by September 9.

By September 2:  Schedule a time for you and your ITRT to meet with all teachers (those you select and those randomly selected) who will participate in the RF observations to review the process and expectations.  The ITRT will work closely with teachers to assist with planning lessons and activities to be observed.

August 29 – September 9 – Introduce Reflective Friends to Faculty

Persons involved with presentation: Principal, Leadership Team, and ITRT

  • Present the Reflective Friends purpose and connection to school/district goals
  • Share the TIP Chart that will be used for the RF process.
  • Review the RF process and show the classroom observation tool (similar to this one) that will be used.

Two weeks prior to your site visit:  Send observation schedule and school map to Linda Gill.

Site Visit

  • A one-day site visit is scheduled on one of the following dates:  October 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27.
  • 6 classroom observations for schools with less than 30 teachers.
  • 8 classroom observations for schools with more than 30 teachers.
  • Teacher Interviews (25-30 minutes with 3-4 teachers)
  • Student Interviews (20 minutes with 5-6 students)
  • Teachers should be aware of the date/time of observations and encouraged to display their strongest 21st century lessons. Observations will be aligned to this version of the TIP Chart.
  • A classroom observation tool similar to this one will be used
  • Analysis of data and development of report

Reflective Friends Data

  • Data will be presented to the school on the same day as the site visit.
  • Persons involved at the data review should include the principal, ITRT, and Reflective Friends lead(s). Key teacher-leaders may also be invited to attend.

Commitments/Responsibilities
Reflective Friends Team Provides:

  • Observers
  • Observation Tools
  • Interview Questions
  • Summary Data

School Provides:

  • Reflective Friends Site Coordinator
  • Selected 3-4 teachers for observation
  • Schedule of observations, school map
  • Assistance with scheduling student interviews (4-6 students)
  • Assistance with scheduling teacher interviews (3-5 teachers)
  • Meeting location for the duration of the site visit

Principal’s role:

  • Thoughtfully selects teachers for observation – consult ITRT
  • Partners with the ITRT to present process to faculty – taking a  lead role in the presentation
  • Present a strong, positive attitude toward process
  • Provide space for visiting team to meet, copies of school map, and other school information as needed
  • Use results to focus efforts on improvement between/after observations
  • Continue to use the rubric in observations, discussions, and meetings meetings with teachers
  • Identity needs for further support/training with rubric, lesson development, etc.
  • Provide time/support for ITRT to work with teachers.
  • Celebrate the successes!

ITRT’s role:

  • Work with principal to identify teachers for observation cycle
  • Partner with principal to assist with rubric/process presentation
  • Present a strong, positive attitude toward the process
  • Coach identified teachers to help prepare for the observation
  • Ensure that everything needed for observation is in place
  • Serve on observation team(s) for other school(s)
  • Assist principal with interpreting results/developing targeted plan for improvement
  • Continue to use rubric when planning and collaborating with teachers.
  • Provide staff development opportunities as needed for teachers/principals
  • Coach teachers throughout the year.
  • Celebrate the successes!