Diagnostic Classroom Observation: Moving Beyond Best Practice

by Nicole Saginor

Overview

"The best educators are the best learners. It′s all about teaching, learning, and feedback, and this book brings common sense to common practice."
—Raymond J. McNulty, Senior Vice President
International Center for Leadership in Education

"At last, a diagnostic classroom observation tool that moves beyond generic criteria for examining teaching and learning. This is a must-have resource for teachers, administrators, and professional developers who want to look beyond the veneer of ′best practice′ and use evidence-based, content-focused criteria to get to the heart of deep, conceptual teaching and learning."
—Page Keeley, Senior Program Director
Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance

A complete instructional leadership system for improving classroom practice!

Providing effective classroom evaluation is a critical function of authentic instructional leadership. Diagnostic classroom observation (DCO) is a research-based system that helps principals and other supervisors carry out classroom observations and evaluations to support effective teaching practices.

Based on the Vermont Classroom Observation Tool, the DCO model covers the entire supervision process, from preconference analysis to postconference follow-up, and includes protocols for observing math, science, and literacy instruction. Program users can determine classroom quality and student engagement by evaluating four critical aspects of instructional practice: lesson planning, lesson implementation, lesson content, and classroom culture. Additionally, the author supplies readers with:

• Classroom observation forms to help identify instructor strengths and weaknesses
• Scoring forms to assist with the final evaluation and review process
• Real-world vignettes that clearly illustrate key indicators of quality teaching
• Methods for matching student learning assessments with appropriate instructional strategies
• Guidance for introducing DCO into any school or school district

Diagnostic Classroom Observation offers principals and teacher leaders a thoroughly tested and validated classroom observation system that improves instructional performance and enhances student learning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452280622
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	05/22/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	939,678
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Nicole Saginor is a former superintendent in Vermont, leading a school district through the School Improvement Grant process as directed by NCLB. She is the principal developer of the Vermont Classroom Observation Tool (VCOT), which was used by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. in two national studies funded by the US Department of Education to measure teacher performance. In her book, Diagnostic Classroom Observation, she develops the VCOT further and gives vivid images of how good teaching actually looks in real classroom settings. With examples of how to create valid assessments, recognize equity in the classroom, and speak to teachers in a post-conference, she assists school leaders in getting real results from their supervisory practice. Her work has attracted both national and international attention. She currently consults and is currently working with the Ministry of Education in Kosovo to develop their new teacher performance assessment system.??

Saginor has spent her 42-year career in education as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, principal, superintendent author and researcher. She was the associate executive director at Vermont Institutes, a nonprofit professional development organization where, for eight years, she directed a number of statewide initiatives to strengthen leadership in the state, providing training and professional development to school leaders, along with opportunities for networking and support. She brought national leaders such as Rick Dufour, Willard Daggett, Jonathan Kozol, Andy Hargreaves, Charlotte Danielson, and Meg Wheatley to interactive leadership forums in Vermont to create a culture of collaborative leadership. ??She has trained researchers for several national research studies in classroom observation for the collection of data on professional practice and the impact of specific programs of teacher preparation, induction, and pedagogical practices. She received her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Vermont and holds a master′s degree in French literature from Boston University.

She offers One-day speaking engagements, two to five day workshops and onsite coaching for administrators and teachers. www.nicolesaginor.com

• Speaking Topics:

• Implementing the Common Core through supervision and evaluation of instruction

• Leading School Improvement

• Evaluating Instruction in Literacy

• Evaluating Instruction in Math and Science?Evaluating Instruction in Technology

• Formative Assessment

• New Practices to Enhance Teacher Evaluation

• Equity and Classroom Culture

Table of Contents

Preface
The Structure of the Observation Tool
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. Defining the "Technology of Good Instruction"
Assumptions Underlying DCO
Intended Uses
Final Thoughts Before Proceeding
2. Ending the "Process Versus Content" Argument
The Math/Science Version of Diagnostic Classroom Observation
The Implementation Criteria
The Content Criteria
The Classroom Culture Criteria: Using the Math/Science Version
Discussion Questions
Concluding Thoughts
3. Learning to Read and Reading to Learn
Section 1: Learning to Read
Section 2: Reading to Learn
Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
Section 3: Using the Literacy and Composite Versions
Discussion Questions
Concluding Thoughts
4. Classroom Culture: Treating Everyone as You Would Be Treated
The Classroom Culture Criteria
Applying the Classroom Culture Criteria
Concluding Thoughts on Equity of Access
5. Assessing Assessment
The Bullets: Characteristics of Good Assessment
Choosing the Right Assessment for What You Want to Know
Creating Valid Constructed Response Items
Learning to Assess Assessment
Concluding Thoughts
6. Putting It All Together
Examples: Why "Pretty Good" Is Not Good Enough
Putting It Together for Yourselves
Discussion Questions
Concluding Thoughts
7. Using Diagnostic Classroom Observation to Improve Instruction in Your School
Section 1: Learning to Use DCO
Section 2: Adding DCO to Your Supervisory Practice
Tools for the Principal
Introducing DCO to Your Teachers
Concluding Thoughts
Appendix A. Questions for the Preconference: Math/Science Version
Appendix B. Questions for the Preconference: Literacy Version
Appendix C. The Math/Science Version
Appendix D. The Literacy Version
Appendix E. The "Cross-Walks"
Appendix F. The Score Sheets
Appendix G. The "Cheat Sheets"
Reference
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Educates administrators about how to become instructional leaders outside the classroom and not just cheerleaders for educators. The content is relevant and pertinent in today’s educational climate and something all principals should consider. "

R. Jon Frey

"Will help supervisors to understand the 'why' of classroom observation, emphasizing how observation should enable us to maximize teacher strengths and ameliorate weaknesses. Provides a needed link between classroom observation and professional development, especially in the establishment and maintenance of professional learning communities. "

John C. Hughes

"Excellent, well sourced, and on target to identify quality instruction. A good field book for any administrator. "

Robert Brower

The best educators are the best learners. It’s all about teaching, learning, and feedback, and this book brings common sense to common practice.

Raymond J. Mc Nulty

At last, a diagnostic classroom observation tool that moves beyond generic criteria for examining teaching and learning. This is a must-have resource for teachers, administrators, and professional developers who want to look beyond the veneer of ‘best practice’ and use evidence-based, content-focused criteria to get to the heart of deep, conceptual teaching and learning.

Page Keeley

"An excellent reference tool for any school that wants teachers to become critical observers of their own classrooms. "

Nicolette Dennis

"A powerful and needed book. This material is cutting edge stuff for principals who don’t know how to work with teachers to improve their teaching. "

Kermit Buckner

“The best educators are the best learners. It’s all about teaching, learning, and feedback, and this book brings common sense to common practice.”

Raymond J. McNulty