Week+5+-+Elements+or+aspects

Discuss below:
 * elements or aspects of an instrument that are most useful for teachers to improve instruction

Cindy:
 * Specific "something" to try for next time - a questioning technique, and instructional strategy (i.e. Think, Pair, Share), a resource (a URL or tool) or seating arrangement, etc. Something the teacher could use "when tomorrow comes" and tweak to fit the content and group.

Allyson:

I think detailed notes about what happened in the class for an open ended discussion that can focus on the biggest issue (what ever that is for that teacher.) I also think including a space for "I wonder" questions allows teachers to reflect on specific issues in a nonthreatening way... as in "I wonder if separating the two students in the back would help them focus?" or "I wonder how the students could use this information in a larger project?"

We have begun using a question area of our observation sheets at my school for this sort of questioning and I like the discussions it leads to. = Adrienne = Allyson **I like the idea of the "I wonder" questions. It presents a non-threatening way to introduce a way for teachers to reflect on how they can improve from a observation.**

Adrienne: 1. Commendations- areas that were superb 2. Recommendations- areas of improvement 3.Strategies identified- teaching strategies used to emphasis the skill 4. Technology used- multimedia etc. 5.Teacher Reflection of the observation (How can I improve next time)

I'm going to step out and be a little radical. I do think focusing on classroom instruction is certainly important, and I think what everyone has listed so far is helpful to that end. As a teacher, I always appreciated feedback my administrator gave me on what he/she saw in the lesson that was observed. I liked to know how I was relating and addressing the needs of my student as he/she saw it. However, what I never really discussed specifically was how/if the students were really learning. I think we need to begin to look at incorporating student voice and looking at student work as part of an observation. I believe we need to shift the focus from specific delivery of instruction to effective student learning. -Ben