Facilitation Checklist:

Before, During and After the Lesson LinkTM Cycle

  1. THE GOAL-SETTING MEETING

Before the meeting begins:

Schedule date and location for goal-setting

Email a reminder of the meeting to the team

Bring the following Lesson Link materials:

  • Copies of Goal-Setting Guide for each participant
  • Lesson Link Quick Facts
  • Calendars
  • Sign-in sheets

During the meeting:

Set goals for meeting (e.g., today we are going to...)

Give an overview of Lesson Link

Discuss and establish norms for your work together

Take notes and follow the lesson planning protocol

Use the Goal-Setting Guide to choose a content focus area

Make a list of materials needed for the lesson and who is responsible for bringing each item

Monitor the time

Determine when your planning meeting will take place

After the meeting:

Make and distribute copies of the Goal-Setting Guide for ILT and your Lesson Link team

Confirm time and location of planning meeting with admin.

Arrange substitutes, if necessary

Send email reminder to team regarding planning meeting

  1. THE PLANNING MEETING

Before the meeting begins:

Schedule date and location for planning conference

Email a reminder of the meeting to the team

Gather instructional materials that may be required for planning (books, copies of old lesson plans, student worksheets, etc.)

Bring the following Lesson Link materials:

  • Worksheet from team’s goal-setting conference
  • Copies of lesson Planning Protocol
  • Facilitation resources for yourself
  • Sign-in sheets
  • Laptop with protocols in Word

During the meeting:

Set goals for meeting (e.g., today we are going to...)

Take notes and follow the lesson planning protocol

Make a list of materials needed for the lesson and who is responsible for bringing each item

Monitor the time

Determine teaching schedule for the observation day

Determine location for debriefing after each lesson

Determine how student and teacher observation data will be collected

After the meeting:

Arrange for substitutes with your office manager

Confirm location with site administration of debriefing meetings (e.g., reserve a conference room)

Distribute the finalized lesson to the team

Distribute the teaching schedule to the team

Create and photocopy forms for data collection or gather blank paper for notetaking

Prepare any materials required for teaching the lesson

  1. THE OBSERVATION AND DEBRIEF

Before the observation/debrief begins:

Send a reminder email regarding time and place to meet on observation day

Bring instructional materials that may be required for teaching (books, copies of lesson plans, student worksheets, etc.)

Review Facilitator Moves

Meet with the team to review the lesson and make sure all materials are ready

Divide up data collection responsibilities

Remind observers that they are there to observe, not to interact with students (an extra pair of eyes, not an extra pair of hands)

Bring the following Lesson Link materials (copies for each team member)

  • Lesson plan
  • Data collection/note-taking sheets
  • Debriefing protocols and Note-taking worksheets
  • Final debriefing protocol and Note-taking worksheet

During the observation/debrief begins:

Follow protocols for observing and debriefing

Make sure that a recorder in the group is documenting the debriefing conversations (on the Note-taking worksheet)

At the final debrief, set or confirm the date for the next Lesson Link Cycle and planning meeting (optional)

After the observation/debrief begins (Post cycle follow-up):

Type up and e-mail to each group member the following documents:

  • The finalized lesson, including any revisions made during the Lesson Link cycle
  • Key learnings that the group will carry with them into future instruction

Send a hard copy of the lesson (and any student masters) to the principal for compilation

Consider sending a thank-you note/e-mail to the members of your team