PEER COACHING By: Melissa Ebling & April Zeigler

Clinical Observations  Does anyone really get anything out of a clinical observation?  What about seasoned teachers?  Some districts do not do enough supervision.  Little time for personal reflection.

Differentiated SupervisionDifferentiated Supervision  Schools are moving to this model  Allows for personal and professional growth  You have a choice in your growth!  Seasoned teachers can broaden their horizons  Allows more time for the supervisors to work with younger teachers

Peer Coaching  Can be selected as an option of differentiated supervision  You are paired or you pick a fellow teacher to work with  You have a collaborative relationship with your partner  You and your partner can self direct and initiate your own professional growth

Research  Joyce and Showers  Conducted many studies about Peer Coaching  Peer observation is more successful than workshops alone  Thies-Sprinthall’s five conditions for psychological/cognitive growth  Formative vs. Summative assessment

Research Continued…  Types of Peer Coaching  Cognitive coaching  Reciprocal peer coaching  Reflective peer coaching  Experienced Faculty  Same disciplines vs. different disciplines  Need for differentiation  Barriers & Solutions

Peer Coaching Option Proposal  Yearly teacher training in peer coaching available prior to the start of the school year  Must repeat every 5 years  Teachers choose their partners  Partnership lasts two years maximum  Number of peer coaching sessions  Four sessions per year/one per marking period

Peer Coaching Option Continued  Notification given to staff development specialist  Procedure  Pre-conference to set focus and explain lesson  Observation to gather data on previously set focus  Post-conference to give teacher data and feedback

Peer Coaching Option Continued  Log of peer coaching session on file, but no details of the session are mentioned  Peer coaching forum  Offered two times a year/one per semester on an in-service day

Peer Coaching Option Continued  Class coverage and planning time  Paid substitutes, building substitutes, and trained and certified teacher aides  Planning and in-service  Limitations  Amount of participants  Solution  Teachers will be required to participate in traditional or clinical observation every three years