Peer Observation Grades 6-12 Presentation by Kimberly Fitch and Joseph Harris June 26, 2014

INTRODUCTIONS AND NORMS Be engaged Cell Phones Rule of two feet

You’ve got the job! Together, create a team resume’ on chart paper. Include the following: Names Education Work History Honors/Awards Years of Experience Strengths Hobbies, talents, travel

3-5 Turn & Talk What is the purpose of peer observation? What are the benefits of peer observation? What processes and protocols should be in place for a successful peer observation? What qualifications should a peer observer hold? -Participants will turn and discuss the questions. -Participants will share out for whole group discussion.

Where are we going? I can examine the benefits of peer observation. I can demonstrate understanding of the PGES protocols for the peer observation process.

Powerful aspects. -Peer observation is formative. Not a source of evidence in evaluation.

Activity With a pencil in hand, read the blog entry: “Peer Observation = Powerful.” Identify a few take aways about how peer observation benefitted our professional growth and be ready to discuss.

Ways We Have Benefitted Observing others to identify areas of growth in the Kentucky Framework for Teaching or other standards. Observing others with one focus in mind, such as looking for areas of growth in student engagement. Observing others to see what new ideas we can walk away with such as formative assessment and differentiation.

Peer Observer Requirements Work with your partner to identify the key points in the KDE guidance on peer observers: A Peer Observer will observe, collect, share evidence, and provide feedback for formative purposes only. Peer Observers will NOT score a teacher’s practice, nor will peer observation data be shared with anyone other than the observee unless permission is granted. A peer observer is trained certified school personnel: Required All teachers will receive a peer observation in their summative year. All Peer Observers participating during the summative year observations will complete the state developed training once every three years. All required peer observations must be documented in CIITS (time, date, evidence). All peer observations documentation will be accessed only by the evaluatee.

A Peer Observer will observe, collect, share evidence, and provide feedback for formative purposes only. Peer Observers will NOT score a teacher’s practice, nor will peer observation data be shared with anyone other than the observee unless permission is granted. A peer observer is trained certified school personnel Required All teachers will receive a peer observation in their summative year. All Peer Observers participating during the summative year observations will complete the state developed training once every three years. All required peer observations must be documented in CIITS (time, date, evidence). All peer observations documentation will be accessed only by the evaluatee.

PGES Peer Observation Process Arrange observation time. Hold pre-observation conference. Conduct observation. Complete observation form and send copy to teacher with post-conference date/time. Meet with teacher to provide formative feedback.

Partner Discussion/Planning What skills will be required by the peer observers? What professional learning will the peer observer and the teacher need? How can PLCs support this process? What might an administrator consider when pairing a teacher with a peer observer?

Evidence VS. Interpretation and Bias All peer observation scripting must be evidence based, not biased or interpretative statement. Example of interpretive statement/bias: Student appears angry and says, “I disagree…” Example of evidence statement: Student says: “I disagree because the article states,”

Evidence or Interpretive Statement? Teacher greets students at the door. Evidence statement. The students in Mr. H’s class don’t seem to like him. Interpretive/Bias statement. Students are engaged. Interpretive/Bias Statement.

Evidence or Interpretive Statement? The teacher took too long to take attendance. Bias Statement The teacher said, “Now we are going to transition to a new activity.” Evidence Statement

What it looks like in CIITS

Our Peer Observation Scripts: Turn & Talk Look over the scripted evidence and make an inference about what kind of information a peer observer scripts during the lesson. If you were the person completing these peer observations, what would be two points of conversation you would have during post-observation?

Peer Observation Video Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-abWqXlkFY Identify three take aways about peer observation as observed in the video. Be ready to discuss.

Peer Observation Practice Script as much as you can from this short video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE9YbeCkLeQ After the video has ended, work with a partner to align your evidence with the domains on the CIITS handout.

Questions

How can you use peer observation to grow professionally? Spend the remaining time coming up with a plan for using peer observation in your own professional growth or in the professional growth of your own teachers: How will you use peer observation to grow professionally? How will you use peer observation to help others grow? What teachers would you pair up and why? What areas of the Kentucky Teacher Framework would you like to focus on in a peer observation?

Resources for Peer Observation Professional Learning for Peer Observers, http://education.ky.gov/teachers/PGES/Pages/Peer-Observation.aspx Measures of Effective Teaching: Observation from the Teaching Channel, https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/measures-of-effective-teaching-observation PD 360 Video

Contact Information Email: joseph.harris@lawrence.kyschools.us, kimberly.fitch@lawrence.kyschools.us Twitter: @joeharris2013, @mskimberlyfitch Blog: teachermanjoe.blogspot.com