Classroom WalkThrough

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Paradise High School
• 2009 2010
• Leadership by
• just popping in

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Definition
• Walk-Throughs are 2-4 minute regular visits to
  classrooms by instructional leaders that provide
  a school-wide snapshot, over time, of classroom
  environments, learning experiences,
• and student perspectives.

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Purpose
• To view the entire school, not to evaluate
  individual teachers
• To gather data unassumingly
• To serve as a catalyst for reflective school-wide
  dialogue
• To help educators articulate and practice
  customary, attentive teaching that enhances
  student learning

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Rationale
• Assist administrators to act as instructional
  leaders
• Promote a team ambiance throughout the campus
  with school-wide expression
• Students receive the message that teaching and
  learning are the focus to our school belief
  system
• Administrators gauge the overall school
  environment rather than individual aspects

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Overview of Importance
• A technique to strengthen curriculum alignment
  and instruction on a daily basis in all
  classrooms
• An instrument to increase classroom visit
  effectiveness
• A productive technique to promote dialogue
  between teachers and administrators concerning
  the classroom teaching environment

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Classroom Walk-Through

• CWT will promote
• Increased student achievement in classroom and
  on the
• TAKS test
• Improved instructional practices within the
  classroom
• setting
• Fewer office referrals due to classroom
  disruptions
• Relationships built between instructors,
  students, and
• administrators
• Systematic approach to increasing student
  achievement
• Improved instructional practices within the
  classroom
• Identify Best Practices and effectiveness of
  
• curriculum implementation

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Classroom Walk-Through

• An attentive classroom visit will only consist of
  a brief period of time followed by a time of
  reflection between the teacher and the
  administrator.

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Classroom Walk-Through

• A Classroom Walk-Through
• Should be no more than 2-4 minutes within a
  classroom setting for each visit

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Classroom Walk-Through

• A Reflective Dialogue
• Should take no more
• than 2-4 minutes for the administrator and
  teacher discussion

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Classroom Walk-Through

• is designed to assist in
• Reflecting on beneficial teaching practices
• Aligning instruction across the campus/district
• Curriculum analysis skills in subject area
• Improving student attainment of subject area
• Coaching for improved practice in the classroom
  

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Classroom Walk-Through

• 4 Types of Classroom Visits
• 1. Visible presence of Administrator
• 2. Informal teacher observation
• 3. Formal teacher observation
• 4. Brief Classroom Walk-Through

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Classroom Walk-Through

• is NOT intended
• for
• evaluation purposes

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Classroom Walk-Through

• What is being looked for in a CWT
• Teaching Objective/Learning Expectation
• Grade-level target
• Level of Blooms Taxonomy
• Appropriate Text and Materials for lesson
• Instructional Strategies
• Student engagement
• Survey of Learning Environment

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Instructional Strategies
• Providing information in a variety of methods
• Differentiating instruction
• Modeling desired skills, actions, and outcomes
• Examples provided to transfer knowledge
• Investigate and observe from a variety of sources
• Check for understanding/varied questioning
• Re-teaching
• Cooperative learning
• Creative thinking
• Compare and contrast
• Reflective activities
• Providing extension opportunities

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Assessment
• Formal
• Pre-test
• Tests/Quizzes
• Informal (Checking for Understanding)
• Observation
• Questioning
• Peer Assessment/Evaluation
• Skill Demonstration
• Teacher actively monitoring (walking around)

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Learner Engagement
• This step focuses on the level of attention
  that students are devoting to the task.
• Engagement- work has clear importance to the
  students
• Strategic compliance Student associates work
  with extrinsic consequences that are of value
• Ritual compliance Student uses whatever effort
  available to avoid negative consequences
• Disengagement Student is off task and
  disconnected while spending little or no effort
  to comply with the instructor
• Rebellious Student refuses to do the assigned
  tasks
• To determine engagement level, students may
  be asked questions during the brief
  walk-through.

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Learning Environment
• Data is collected while walking the walk around
  the classroom.
• TEKS of the assignment are posted and in sight
• Lesson Objective is posted and in sight
• Classroom is organized for learning to take place
• Current/relevant displays
• Samples of student work are in view for display
• Writing samples are posted
• Resources available for student use
• Classroom Behavior Expectations posted and in
  sight

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Classroom Walk-Through

• When will CWTs be conducted?
• GOAL
• Every Classroom
• Three visits each grading period
• Different times of day
• Different times of week

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Classroom Walk-Through

• After the Walk-Through
• Document observation
• Teaching Objective and Student Expectation
• Grade-level Target
• Level of Blooms Taxonomy
• Text and/or materials
• Review notes
• Instructional Strategies
• Learner Engagement
• Learning Environment

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Reflection
• The ability to express what is taking place in
  the class and make sense of what is happening on
  a daily occurrence. However, it is more
  important to look forward, to foresee what is to
  come and what are the steps to get to the desired
  objective.

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Reflective Dialogue Must Contain
• A decisive time for a close look
• A eagerness to be open-minded to other points of
  view
• Knowingly processing your thoughts
• Obtaining new insights and appreciation
• Dedicated action with the learning that has taken
  place

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Quality Reflection
• Requires Practice
• Given only about 50 of time
• No answer is expected
• Take about 5 minutes
• Purpose To discuss how a Classroom Walk-Through
  can impact teaching and learning in our school

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Classroom Walk-Through

• Special Thanks to
• DeAnna Jenkins ESC Region XI, Ft. Worth, Tx
• Prairie Grove ISD
• Peter Pappas Teacher Lead Professional
  Development
• Todd Weidemann Berrien Springs HS
• www.schoolforeducators.com
• www.learning24/7.com
• www.charlotte.com