Classroom Observations: 5 Ways to Win (A Coach Perspective)
Friday, January 21, 2022
Classroom observations often get a bad rap. If you think about it - it does sound pretty intimidating. Your boss posts up in your classroom (sometimes for an entire class period or day) and furiously scribbles notes about you and your performance. Meanwhile, you have no idea if you’re checking all the boxes or just going off on a nervous tangent for 50 minutes…
But don’t call in sick just yet - you have no reason to worry. Here’s why:
Your instructional coach is in your classroom to help you. In fact, their entire job is centered around your success and improving your student outcomes. Think of your coach as your mentor - their purpose is to help you become a more reflective and intentional teacher so that you can reach your career goals.
Although your coach aims to observe you in your natural habitat, there are several ways that you can prepare for your observation to truly showcase your skills.
This quick tip is often overlooked, but immensely important if you really want to “wow” your instructional coach and ensure that you receive a stellar evaluation.
School leaders carefully construct school-wide policies and expectations for a reason and it’s critical that you demonstrate an understanding of that. Respecting policies also shows your coach that you are a team player who is invested in the school’s culture.
When I was a classroom teacher, there was a school-wide policy that students must line up - quietly - outside of the classroom and wait for the teacher to let them enter. When I was being observed, I made sure to carefully monitor this process and enforce that students were consistently following this expectation.
Action Item: Review your school’s student and teacher expectations prior to your classroom observation. Be sure not to overlook even the smallest policies (dress code, bathroom breaks, etc - these are important too!) Create a checklist of these policies and verbally reinforce them with your students to demonstrate a true understanding to your instructional coach.
Many school principals claim that "Classroom Control" is a major focus when observing teachers in their classrooms. Check out these tips - Minimizing and/or Eliminating Behavioral Issues.
It’s tempting to experiment with a new teaching strategy during an observation - especially if you really want to impress your coach with innovative techniques and skills! While an effective coach certainly supports your creativity, testing out a new method during an observation can be a risky move. You have to remember that the strategy is not only new to you but also to your students.
During an observation, your instructional coach wants to get an idea of what a normal class session looks like and how your students engage in and demonstrate learning. What are your strengths as a teacher? Do you use probing questions to support engagement and critical thinking? Consider planning a structured discussion with your students!
Action Item: Reflect on your past lessons and choose 1-2 that you really knocked out of the park. Consider the instructional practices you used and plan to re-use those strategies during your classroom observation. No need to reinvent the wheel here!
As teachers, we are experts at improv. If we forget to print the daily warm-up, we are masters at pivoting our plans so that students remain engaged in learning. Don’t get me wrong, this is a critical skill for educators! However, during an observation, your instructional coach wants to see that you spent time planning the lesson and preparing materials so that class time runs smoothly from beginning to end.
This means that you need to consider the timing of activities, print handouts and gather materials well in advance, and have clear visual instructions displayed during the lesson.
Action Item: Review each activity in your lesson plan and create a list of materials you and your students will need - and then make sure that you have extra copies of each (PPT slides, books, handouts, etc). Arrive at school early to gather and print lesson materials and display visual instructions for students.
Struggling to stay organized? Check out these 28 Classroom Organization Ideas to Make Your Year Easier.
This is a big one! Your students walk in, expecting a normal class session, and there’s a stranger lurking in the back - watching their every move and taking mysterious notes. Sounds pretty frightening, right?
It’s important to prep your students before the observation to avoid behavioral issues and general confusion.
This also gives you the perfect opportunity to review classroom policies and procedures so that they clearly understand what is expected of them during this time.
Action Item: Before your observation, carve out 5 minutes to explain what will take place during the next lesson. Be sure to mention when your coach will enter the classroom and what your coach will be doing. Consider selecting a few students to model these procedures so that the class gets a concrete picture of what to do and what not to do.
Phew - you made it! After your classroom observation, your coach will likely provide written or verbal feedback on how the lesson went to support teacher growth. Their feedback might include strengths, weaknesses, and areas that you need to improve.
This can be nerve-wracking - but just remember that your coach is there to support your professional development. If you succeed, they succeed!
During this time, your coach wants to see that you are receptive to constructive feedback and that you aren’t taking it too personally. The best teachers are those who are constantly trying to improve their techniques and learn from others.
Action Item: Let your coach know that you would like to have a face-to-face debrief after the observation, if possible. During the debrief, demonstrate that you are attentively listening by asking specific questions on how you can improve.
Come prepared with ideas that you would like to discuss and ask your coach’s opinion on specific parts of the lesson - they will appreciate your honesty, openness, and positivity!
Does your department or school have endless files & folders that make it near impossible to actually get support? Check out how TARA can help maximize your time, talent, and energy for free right now!
Because when teachers come first, students win...and teachers stay.