How keen are your observations? Take look at the coaching notes Mike Rutherford, Rutherford Learning Group, drafted designed to help school leaders develop a keen eye for observing instruction. Mike has done a lot of work with SAM teams and understands the importance of skillful observation.
Mike offers interesting way at looking for the three “C’s” when you visit a classroom:
1. Culture- the unwritten “ways we do things around here”
2. Climate- the classroom’s mood or “local weather”
3. Community- the degree of inclusiveness or “family atmosphere”
Here’s a link to read his coaching notes: http://goo.gl/T2p3FO
Here’s a link to see a video of Mike asking the questions: “How Talent Friendly is Your School?” He made this presentation at the 7th Annual National SAM Conference in San Diego, January, 2014. http://goo.gl/CgCk3f
Comments