NYSED Principal Evaluation Training Program

1. NYSED Principal Evaluation Training Program Day 2: Learning and Teaching Session 4: Dynamic Process

3. Session 4: Dynamic Process 3

4. Aims of The Session • To increase participant's cognition of: • Talking with students • Other sources of evidence available during lesson observation • The principal’s role in establishing effective systems

5. Dynamic Classroom Observations • We have observed pre-recorded lessons today, which makes those observations static • In actual practice observations are more dynamic • What are the main elements which make it more dynamic, to which the the principal observer might refer?

6. Talking to/with students

7. Activity 1: Talking with Students With a partner discuss: Whyshould the principal ‘talk with students’ and what protocols should be followed? What should the principal do with the information? Howwill the principal encourage students to feel secure so that they can answer honestly? What are the sensitivities, if any, of which the principal should be mindful when talking with students?

8. Activity 2: What am I asking students? • In your groups, draw up a list of core questions that a principal might ask/not ask students when observing a lesson. • Please chart these and display your chart on the wall when finished.

9. A summary of core questions to ask students • What are you expected to learn and therefore understand by the end of the lesson? • What have you been asked to do? • Why are you learning this? • Please explain what you are learning. • What have you learned before that helps you with your learning now? • Have you learned anything like this before?

10. Other sources of evidence during lesson observations - looking at students’ work

11. Other sources of evidence - look at: • Students’ work: • journals • workbooks • writing samples, labs etc. • teachers’ written comments • and assess: • teachers’ knowledge • content and accuracy • comprehension • appropriateness - e.g. match of work to students’ abilities • rigor, the variety of tasks • presentation

12. Multiple Observations All teachers need to be observed on multiple occasions throughout the year, by multiple observers, including principals. A key role of the principal is to ensure effective implementation and accountability. The principal evaluator’s role is to find and record evidence on how well the principal does this. As Paul Bambrick-Santoyo points out, one of the biggest challenges as a principal is to keep track of the different plans and recommendations that each teacher is trying to implement.

13. Observation Tracker: Global Summary Page Driven By Data Paul Bambrick-Santoyo

14. Activity 3: Lesson Observation Case Study • Individually • Knowing what you do about effective performance management systems, review the Lesson Observation Case Study and identify the evidence which you could use to evaluate how well the principal is implementing an effective teacher evaluation process in the school. •  Small groups • Discuss common key similarities and any differences.

15. Summary of Session 4 • The importance of looking at additional sources of evidence during a lesson observation • The importance of the principal establishing robust systems for tracking actionable changes and developing a growth plan for teachers • The importance of building principals’ capacity to observe lessons and provide effective feedback that is supported by evidence and leads to increased teacher effectiveness • The importance of the district establishing robust systems for tracking actionable changes and developing a growth plan for principals