Teacher Observation Evaluations

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Culturally Responsive Teaching

As a member of the ILT team at PS 97Q, I spent much time learning about culturally responsive teaching, knowing students well, and implicit bias. As a team, my co-teacher and I evaluated our teaching practices, paying close attention to the texts we used with our students. We found the texts we had used for years did not represent the diversity in our classroom. In response, we researched culturally responsive texts that would serve more as mirrors into their lives. We curated a selection of texts that celebrated characters from diverse cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Characters with disabilities and characters from diverse family structures were also included in the texts selected. When rating the texts using the CRTE scorecard, all texts met most, if not all, of the criteria listed. Students were presented the texts and given the choice to vote on which texts they would like to read next. This guided our ELA planning for the rest of the year. Most importantly, the feedback received from students as we encounter these new, rich texts together has been life-changing. Students from traditionally marginalized groups (students with disabilities, BIPOC, students who practice Islam, same-sex parent families) have been able to connect with and relate to characters and storylines.

Shout-outs from Mr. Aggoub

-Shout-out to Ms. Ellis and Ms. Morelli for creating an exemplary hybrid ICT environment where all students have access to both teachers. All students receive the same high-quality instruction in real time.

-Shout-out to Ms. Morelli for facilitating a parent workshop and conducting a read aloud- "The Bad Seed!”

- Shout-out to Ms. Centore, Ms. Bernacett, Ms. Caceres and Ms. Morelli for sharing best practices to support successful Student Led Conferences (SLCs)

-Shout-out to the Fifth Grade Team and Fifth Grade Students for a phenomenal Town Hall to address the "Insurrection on the US Capitol". Very powerful to hear students articulate their thinking and feelings.

-Shout-out to all the teachers who participated in our Virtual Instructional Walkthrough. With members of the ILT, teachers across grades and subject were visited. A collaborative feedback session was also held to highlight the many great instructional practices as well as suggestions. Thank you for building a culture of collaboration and learning.

-Shout-out to Ms. Caceres, Ms. Ellis, Ms. Morelli, Ms. Bernacett and Ms. Romano for inviting me and our District Superintendent to visit their classrooms virtually. So many highlights to celebrate.

-Shout-out to the teachers and staff who welcomed me to their lessons (Ms. Capobianco, Ms. Waters, Ms. Morelli, Ms. Martinez, Ms. Rodrigues, Ms. Lello, Ms. Abraham, Mr. Kessler, Ms. Vannata)

Lesson Plan and Student Work Samples

For this lesson, students created a plan for their feature article in our Journalism Writing unit. Student choice was a key component of this task; students were encouraged to write for an audience of their choice, create their own catchy titles and hooks, and incorporate text features. Upon reflection, one area of teacher growth would be to provide more opportunities for above level activities. An example of such activity would be asking students to research facts and statistics to include in their writing pieces.

Virtual Classroom Visits Feedback

Good Afternoon Ms. Ellis and Ms. Morelli,

It was a pleasure visiting your "virtual" classroom on Tuesday, December 1st. During my visit, your class participated in a "Communication Bloopers" activity in which they discussed the most challenging part of working with a group of their classmates while in breakout rooms (interrupting, controlling, ignoring, withdrawing). This lesson was a great way for students to share what needs to be improved upon from their peers end in order for a breakout room to be successful and for all students' voices to be heard / ideas shared equally.

From there, you transitioned into explaining the skill of the day to the students which was "Point of View"(Chapter 11) in the book The Witches by Roald Dahl. You presented your screen for the students to view the assignment which was: Describe the boys first experience as a mouse. Use 2-3 sentences from the text to support your answer.

It is evident that you plan your class time effectively and provide students with activities that make the subject matter meaningful. Your virtual classroom is flexible and accommodating as students are comfortable taking risks during your lessons. Throughout your lesson, you encourage students to be active participants in the class. It is evident that there is a great deal of collaboration between you as you are planning your lessons which is evident in the smooth nature in which your lessons flow. There is a constant seamless flow of instruction which is essentially important especially while working remotely.

Continue to encourage students to be active in their learning and provide them with clear virtual classroom procedures in order to maximize time.

Have a great day!

Best,

Stella Kalogridis

Assistant Principal

The Forest Park School

Dear Ms. Morelli and Ms. Ellis,

It was a pleasure visiting your Google Meet on January 19, 2021. Your Learning Target and class discussion around making connections to the pandemic and the theme of grief from the book “The Stars Beneath Our Feet” was extremely culturally relevant and important as we teach our students to see themselves within a story. You can tell that you carefully implemented Principles 1 and 6 when planning this lesson. Even though there has been a lot of lost time and learning this past year, you still managed to stick to grade-level content which over time will result in more functional learning. I want to acknowledge that you both recognized the effect that the pandemic has had on our students social and emotional well-being, which carefully aligns with our schools Instructional Focus. I thoroughly enjoyed the way you empathetically supported your class conservation by welcoming your students into your own thoughts and feelings. Moving forward, you may wish to think about using the Socratic Seminar which is simply a structured conversation that students facilitate through open-ended questioning. You are both extremely valued members of our school community and a seamless ICT team.

Best regards,

Deena O'Connor

Assistant Principal

The Forest Park School