Using Classroom Observations to
Improve Teaching and Learning
Educator Evaluation Pilot Series -- Day
Three Review and Update
Matthew Montano
Director of Educator Quality, NMPED
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Steve Broome
Director State Development, SREB
Ivy C. Alford
Director of State Services, SREB
Webinar Objectives
Participants will:
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
 Review key concepts from Day 3
Training
Identify “look fors” and structured
feedback for Domain 3
Clarify future actions and expectations
for Clinical Rounds within the Fall
Semester
Key Points from Day 3
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Session Objectives
Participants will:
 Review individual teacher feedback that was provided to staff
members over the past 4 weeks.
 Review classroom videos to perfect the identification of
effectiveness levels using the state’s observation rubric and to
provide individual teacher feedback.
 Determine how to present collective observation data to teams
and the whole faculty.
 Communicate how observation data is used as the foundation of
professional development selection and as an evaluation of the
use of professional development strategies.
 Determine how observation data can assist in setting and
reaching both short and long term school improvement goals.
Quick Overview
NM Observation Domains
Planning
and
Preparation
Creating an Teaching
Environment
and
for Learning Learning
Professionalism
5
Key Elements of Domain 1
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
1A
Content
1B
Cohesiveness
1C
Outcomes
1D
Resources
1E
Students
1F
Assessment
Essential Lesson Plan
Components
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Reference Standards
Clear, student-friendly objective
Sequence of learning activities
Overall and formative assessment
connections
Identification of strategies to
address special populations
Moving on Up—Domain 2
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
State of Instruction Address
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Completed
periodically
Clarifies and
refocuses goals
Founded on data
Identifies
accomplishments
Sets the stage for
future work
The Flow of the Address
Revisit
Priorities
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Share Data
Identify
Celebrations
and
Opportunities
Domain 3
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Elements of Domain 3 +
Effectiveness
Element
Current Description
of Effectiveness
NMTEACH 3A:
Communicating with
students in a manner that is
appropriate to their culture
and level of development
Expectation for learning,
directions, procedures, and
explanation of content are
evident and consistent.
What Evidence-3A
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
 Students can communicate the daily
objective; objectives are posted and
referenced
 Identifying and building background
knowledge
 Connecting previous learning with
current and future learning
 Providing written and explicit oral
directions
 Clear classroom expectations, routines
and procedures are stated and observed
Elements of Domain 3 +
Effectiveness
Element
Current Description
of Effectiveness
NMTEACH 3B: Using
questioning and
discussion techniques
Teacher questioning
techniques elicit a deep
response and allows for
sufficient time for
students to answer
through interaction
What Evidence-3B
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
 Using clarifying questions (both
students and teachers)
 Asking higher order questions
(using DOK or Costa’s Levels as a
reference)
 Activities are structured to have
students create questions
 Effective use of questioning
techniques (Cold Call) with wait time
 Questions are arranged according to
their level of complexity
 Using ACE Strategies
Elements of Domain 3 +
Effectiveness
Element
Current Description
of Effectiveness
NMTEACH 3C: Engaging
students in learning
Activities, assignments,
materials, and grouping of
students are fully appropriate to
the instructional outcomes:
•All students are engaged in
work of a high level of rigor
•The lesson’s structure is
coherent and paced
appropriately
What Evidence-3C
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
 Providing differentiated learning activities and
manipulatives to support learning
 Activities are directly aligned to the learning
objective
 Learning centers are used to address varying
levels of background knowledge and/or learning
styles
 Teachers engage in “teachable moments”
 Variety of student groups are used—pair, small
group, etc.
 Teacher acts as facilitator
 Teacher addresses Behavioral, Emotional and
Cognitive Engagement
Elements of Domain 3 +
Effectiveness
Element
Current Description
of Effectiveness
NMTEACH 3D: Assessment in Assessments are
consistently used in
Instruction
instruction:
Students are fully aware of
the assessment criteria
The teacher consistently
monitors students’ progress
and provides high quality
feedback
What Evidence-3D
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
 Teachers utilize assessment to reteach
 Adjust lesson or clarify based on
student responses
 70-80 percent of exit slips display
mastery of content of the lesson
 Rubrics are taught and posted
 Conferencing is on-going
 Teacher moves around the classroom,
checking for understanding
 Teachers create common formative
and summative assessments
Elements of Domain 3 +
Effectiveness
Element
Current Description
of Effectiveness
NMTEACH 3E:
Demonstrating flexibility
and responsiveness
Teacher promotes the
successful learning of all
students:
The teacher adjusts
instructional plans and
makes accommodations for
student questions, needs
and interests.
What Evidence-3E
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Allowing for differentiated
learning
Adjusting lesson plans and pacing
based on classroom feedback
from students
Using different instructional
strategies than were originally
planned to better engage students
Teachers use conferencing
methods to identify when
adjustments are needed
Key Elements of Domain 3
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
3A
Communicating
Learning Goals
3C
Engaging
Students
3E
Demonstrating
Flexibility
3B
Questioning
3D
Assessing
Learning
In the
Classroom
How can we help teachers?
What can we do now to assist our
teachers to better understand this
Domain?
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Teacher Focus
Feedback from administration
Partnered walk throughs
Departmental/Grade level goals
Peer observations
Connected professional
development
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
HOMEWORK
Using Feedback for
Improvement
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
1. Share what you have learned today
with your administrative team
2. Complete 12-24 walkthroughs and
provide “Wow’s” and “Wonder’s”
feedback
3. Complete your “State of Instruction
Address”
4. Share Domain 2 with your Leadership
Team
Scheduling Clinical Rounds
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
How to Schedule
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
Submit 3 preferred weeks
Send preferences to
ivy.alford@sreb.org
One per district
Identify the number of participants
and host site
Work with Ivy and Matt for the
daily agenda (start and end times)
Webinar Objectives
Participants will:
Southern
Regional
Education
Board
 Review key concepts from Day 3
Training
Identify “look fors” and structured
feedback for Domain 3
Clarify future actions and expectations
for Clinical Rounds within the Fall
Semester
THANK YOU
Steve Broome
Director, State Development
High Schools That Work
Making Middle Grades Work
404-879-5592
steve.broome@sreb.org
Southern
Regional
Education
Board 29
Ivy Alford
Director, State Services for School Improvement
High Schools That Work
985-974-4416
Ivy.alford@sreb.org