Dr. Leonard Elovitz
Associate Professor
Kean University
FORMATIVE SUPERVISION PROCEDURES
I. Teacher Notification
A. This process is to be used with the teacher who can be rated from mediocre to excellent. The poor to marginal teachers require other interventions.
B. The goal of formative supervision is the improvement of instruction. Therefore, the teacher, as a willing partner in the process, should always not only be informed of but should agree to the date and time of each observation.
II. Pre-conference
A. Purpose is generally to find out the lesson objectives and planned educational strategies of the teacher.
B. Optional – If you can’t figure out the objectives at the start of the lesson, how will the kids? Your time is too valuable to be spent pre-conferencing.
III. Observe the Lesson
A. Plan to stay for the whole lesson if this is an initial visit. (follow-ups to verify corrected teacher behaviors can be shorter).
B. Be unobtrusive as possible - don’t ask questions of kids or teacher
C. Data Capture – a record of teacher behavior – use any or a combination of the following:
1. Script Taping - record everything said by the teacher (not the students)
2. Time Line – record what is happening at predetermined time intervals
3. Topical – record examples of Standards, Principles of Learning, teaching Methodologies, etc. as they are observed
IV. Lesson Analysis
A. Label Data Capture in terms of the elements of effective instruction.
B. Answer the following questions:
1. Standards
a. Did the teacher select objectives and instructional activities at the correct level of difficulty for the students?
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
b. Did the teacher teach to the intended objectives?
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
c. Did the teacher monitor the learning and adjust the teaching if necessary?
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
2. Did the teacher correctly use the Principles of Learning? ( NOTE: An excellent lesson does not necessarily require that all of the Principles be present) Provide documentation from the Data Capture.
a. Anticipatory Set
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
b. Motivation
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
c. Active Participation
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
d. Transfer
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
e. Reinforcement
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
f. Retention
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
g. Closure
1) Yes_____ No_____
2) Documentation from Data Capture
C. Circle 1 to 3 items above that in your estimation were most responsible for increasing the probability of student learning.
D. Circle 1 to 2 items above or note the absence of the items that in your estimation were most responsible for impeding student learning.
V. Planning the Post-Observation Conference
A. Develop a plan for your lesson for one
1. Write conference objectives in behavioral terms for the one to three items that increased student learning.
a.
b.
c.
2. Write conference objectives in behavioral terms for the one or two items that impeded student learning.
a.
b.
3. Plan conference introduction
a. Write a statement of greeting that sets a positive feeling tone. (Hi line – feel fine).
b. Plan to review the conference sequence for the teacher.
4. Complete the lesson diagnosis
a. Write an open-ended question that will give the teacher an opportunity to reflect on the instructional skills that promoted student learning.
b. Write a question(s) that narrows the focus to the skill(s) to be reinforced in the conference
c. Write an open-ended question that will give the teacher an opportunity to reflect on the instructional skills that did not promote student learning.
d. Write a question(s) that narrows the focus to the skill(s) to be taught in the conference
5. Teacher Reinforcement - plan the elements of your lesson for one or two reinforcement objective(s).
a. Point out examples of the skill(s) to be reinforced from the Data Capture.
b. Write a statement that recommends the continued use of that skill(s) and explains how its continued use will assist student learning.
6. Teacher Growth – plan the elements of your lesson for one or two growth objective(s).
a. Point out examples of the skill(s) to be added or improved from the Data Capture.
b. Write a statement that recommends the continued use of that skill(s) and explains how its continued use will assist student learning.
7. Plan the follow-up
a. Develop a question that assists the teacher in determining how much time is needed for independent practice before your next observation.
b. Develop a question that decides the time and date of the next observation.
VI. Conduct the Post-Observation Conference.
VII. Do the next Observation.
This document was developed from the teachings of Madeline Hunter, Joel Suzuki and Ernie Stachowski. Please feel free to copy and use it.
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