FORMAL OBSERVATION AND EVALUATION PROCESS
All candidates will have formal observations and progress evaluations during all quarters. These observation documents become part of the candidate’s teacher education program file. Formal observations are a requirement of the program and serve the following purposes:
A measure of progress in demonstrating skills as outlined in Standard V of the Washington State Teacher Preparation Standards and the Teacher Performance Assessment
Evidence of competency levels throughout the student teaching experience that scaffolds expected practices
A formative assessment for scaffolding reflection and expected individual progress
A means for linking Methods with classroom practices, as well as a tool for supporting implementation (that accounts for different classroom practices); a means for coaches to support ways to implement particular practices in a collaborative way
A means for making a connection between context and practices; that is, understanding the impact context has on implementing particular practices
A concrete artifact for focusing discussions
A goal-setting tool for subsequent formal and informal observations
Candidates will be observed using the “UW Secondary Teacher Education Program Observation Form,” and assessed using the “Progress Evaluation Form” (PEF). The evaluation form while formative in nature, also serves as a summative tool aligned with both Standard V of the Washington State Teacher Preparation Standards and the Teacher / Principal Evaluation Project. It is reviewed and completed with the candidate to various degrees each quarter. In addition to the above tools, candidates will be evaluated using the Professionalism Expectations for Candidates one time each quarter. All of these tools can be found in this appendix.
The following details the process for planning and completing a formal observation. Mentor teachers should follow the same process when completing their formal observation in Winter quarter.
1) Coach should schedule observation with candidate AND copy mentor teacher, indicating that both the candidate and the mentor teacher should agree upon the time. Observation should include post-observation time with candidate (and mentor teacher if available).
2) Coach should clarify understanding of process, including submission of lesson plan, additional information requested, and observation tool to be used for reporting purposes (which will be kept in their TEP file).
3) Lesson plan is REQUIRED and due no later than 48 hours before the observation and must be shared with both coach and mentor teacher.
4) Coach will observe 1 whole class or equivalent during a block period.
a. Observation notes will be taken and may include quantitative information about number of praises, redirections/questions asked, calling on students. Notes include explicit things observed and probing questions about what coach observed.
b. Notes will be given to candidate for analysis and response.
c. Feedback will be requested from mentor teacher
5) Coach will confer with candidate post-observation. Mentor teacher should be included whenever possible.
6) Based on notes and input from both candidate and mentor teacher, observation report should be completed using either the “Lesson Observation Narrative Protocol.”
a. Email or share hard copy of completed observation report to candidate and mentor teacher. Mentor teacher should add comments and questions if they choose.
b. Candidate may then respond to questions and comments.
c. Document should be printed out and signed by candidate, mentor teacher, and coach.
7) One original copy should be submitted to the Google Drive Folder assigned to the candidate.
8) Coach will observe 1 whole class or equivalent during a block period.
9) Coach will confer with candidate post-observation. Mentor teacher should be included whenever possible.
10) A Coach will initiate completion of the Progress Evaluation Form. In consultation with the coach and mentor teacher, the team will determine if adequate progress is being made. This document will be placed in the candidate’s Google Drive Folder upon completion of the program and is used to determine eligibility for residency certificate.