Calibrating Observations & Walk-Throughs

Posted Behavior Expectations

Thursday morning I had an opportunity to participate in walk-throughs at JMS and CCMS with other principals in an effort to "calibrate" our observations and learn from each other.   Prior to the walk-throughs, we met in the main office at JMS to discuss what aspects of instruction we were going to target and what content area we would be observing.  The process we decided on involved establishing two teams of observers.   We identified the two rooms we would visit for roughly ten minutes each and then switch rooms.  Each group or team would go into a room and after each visit we briefly  discussed what each person observed....this is the key to the "calibration."  When the observation period at each school was over, we met in a conference room to discuss our observations as a whole and to debrief the process. 

6th Grade Math Learning Target

It is important that the lens administrators use during observations and walk-throughs are similar. The term that is used to describe consistency among administrators is referred to as inter-rater reliability.  The goal is for evaluators to be accurate and consistent during observations and their thoughts and judgments to be based upon evidence observed.  We really want to make sure that as evaluators, we are seeing things the same way and we are able to identify specific use of those strategies that are most closely tied to student achievement.  If we are not seeing those strategies, then we want to be provide accurate, feedback to teachers that promotes growth of teacher practice.

8th Grade Service Project

8th Grade Service Project

I was pleased with our discussions and am looking forward to continuing the walk-throughs with the other principals. The process that we used was helpful for me and allowed for a great deal of insight and reflection into what each of us observed.  I was also very impressed with the level of instruction and learning taking place at both middle schools. At JMS we observed six classrooms and at CCMS we observed four.  I am going to offer the same opportunity to teachers at the high school.  The level of instruction and student engagement that I observed was impressive.  I saw an effective team of teachers co-teaching a class of 6th graders in which the students were completely engaged in the activity.  I observed a science classroom in which the students were working in groups preparing for a brief presentation they had prepared on whiteboards.  Each group was able to use a variety of sources to research their topic.  This particular day they were researching and presenting on weather patterns.  During the presentations, students were recording important information on a graphic organizer they were provided.  Students teaching students is an effective way to increase engagement.  We observed a classroom of 6th graders joining their teacher's blog.  The teacher really wanted the students to connect with the text so she asked them to provide textual evidence to support their analysis of what they read and to blog their evidence. Finally, I walked the CCMS hall with all of the service project boards hanging.  What a great 8th grade project. The bottomline is that greatness can be found in every school and on every campus.  I had a wonderful visit to JMS and CCMS on Thursday.  It was such a privilege to visit and observe the learning that is happening at both schools.