Instructional Rounds

Teachers Observing Peers in Practice

Here are the dates when we will be back at MHS:

March 5:  Donna, Amanda, Meg

March 12:  Amanda

March 18:  Amanda

April 2:  Donna and Amanda

April 8:  Professional Development

April 9:  Donna

Below is the schedule for instructional rounds.  Please note that pre-rounds meetings will be during Smart Lunch. Everyone in the department should plan to attend.  

Hosts for each department are noted here.  If you will be hosting rounds, Amanda or I will touch base with you tomorrow, March 5, to discuss possible Student Learning Questions. Attached is a document that provides examples of SLQs.  

Sample Student Learning Questions
Collaborative Group Work
How are students working together to develop consensus/understanding?
What is the evidence that students are using their roles to dig deeper into the text/topic?
How did students demonstrate collaboration in their groups?
How many students were engaged in group work?
How do students confront challenges?
Classroom Talk
What student comments show relevant and meaningful discussions about the text/topic?
In what ways are students talking with one another?
How often did students ask their peers for assistance when they were confused?
How often did students rely on the teacher for assistance?
What do students say to show that they reach deeper understanding from conversation?
Whose voice or voices were dominant in the classroom?
Scaffolding
What evidence demonstrates that students were working in their comfort zone, risk zone, or danger zone?
What evidence shows that students are learning concepts through a series of prior building-blocks?
How do students scaffold knowledge to their peers?
What different approaches to the problem did students apply?
Questioning
What evidence is there of student questioning toward their peers or toward the teacher?
What percent of student questions build on previous knowledge?
How many student-to-student questions were asked during the lesson?
What student questions were asked during the lesson?
What level of questions are students asking?
Literacy Groups
How are students using their roles to dig deeper into the text/topic?
What percent of students were engaged?
What evidence demonstrates that students are having relevant and meaningful discussions about the text/topic?
How did the students engage in their roles in their groups?
Writing-to-Learn
What examples are there of students explaining in writing of their own words why the formula/concept makes sense?
How does the vocabulary that students use in their writing show understanding or misunderstanding?
How often were students participating in low-stakes writing?
How are students supporting their responses with evidence?