Ensuring That We Make a Difference Peer Coaching

Qualities Of A Master Teacher Teachers and students are required to perform quickly and accurately Errors are corrected immediately Good behavior is regularly rewarded (rarely with candy) Low-performing students are never ignored, and are never tricked by questions to which they haven’t first been taught the answers Phonics and sound blending skills are the basis for reading Computation is the foundation of mathematics Carefully rehearsed scripts keep teachers and students on task All students are regularly tested to insure mastery of the material The class does not more on until proficiency or mastery is achieved by at least 70% of the class. Appropriate interventions are developed for the remaining 30% Mastery is evaluated by specific, regular testing Quick and easily managed interventions are readily available There is a principal whohasthe time and resources to devote to being the academic leader of the school Teachers receive ongoing training, in and out of their classrooms, and regular evaluations Classes are not allowed to be disrupted by students who choose to sharpen their pencils or engage in other “off task” behavior  

Issue: The Master Teacher In the next accreditation cycle, there will be more of an emphasis on teaching and learning. Future teacher licensing will focus on teacher performances using summative and formative data. Task: Schools need to reflect on setting expectations of teachers and administrators in raising the quality of teaching and learning in the school environment. Goal: In 2011-12, all school staff will develop twenty attributes that identify “A Master Teacher.” The twenty attributes selected will be a basis for developing an instrument for the use of self-evaluation as part of the current evaluation system. In 2012-13, using the selected list of attributes, each school will develop a peer evaluation system. The principal of each building will assign “mentoring” teams to conduct peer evaluations. In 2013-16, the Office of the Superintendent will collect data from all schools to develop an online component for student/parent surveys on the ASSIST System. This survey will allow parent/student to participate in teacher perception surveys.

Peer Coaching Overview Peer Coaching promotes the culture of collegiality among teachers in schools and in their professional develop-ment, which will do much to improve the quality of our schools and contribute to their success…. —Sec. Richard Riley U.S. Dept. of Education Peer Coaching Overview

The Big Picture Peer Watching Peer Feedback Peer Coaching Overview Peer Watching Peer Feedback Peer Coaching Increases comfort zone NO comments NO exchange Team focus session Increases comfort zone 5-step process Coach only shares data Team focus session Increases comfort zone 5-step process 3–5 possibilities for improvement Team focus session

How Does This Work? Request a visit Visit Five Steps Request a visit Visit Review notes and list some possibilities Talk after the visit Process Review

Request a Visit Identify skill to be observed Five Steps Identify skill to be observed New practice Maintaining a practice New idea Daily improvement Establish data-gathering method Identify lesson to be taught Logistics

Visit Informally Teacher and coach each have responsibilities Five Steps Informally Teacher and coach each have responsibilities Coach enters and assumes assigned seat with no interactions (students or teacher) Collect data Adhere to prearranged timeline (10–50 min.) No judgments or evaluations

Review Notes & List Possibilities or Suggestions Five Steps Review data eliminating any hints of evaluation Write opening statement for post-visit talk Identify two–four leading questions that will move the teacher to reflect on the lesson Make two–four suggestions or possibilities

Talk After the Visit Review Request For Visit to focus conversation Five Steps Review Request For Visit to focus conversation Review data collected Ask leading questions Perform teacher analysis Share suggestions or possibilities Consider another visit

Process Review Five Steps Review rules and guidelines to see how closely they were followed Fourteen Process Review questions Who learned the most? Next session?