Description
Book Synopsis
The definitive, step-by-step guide for conducting teacher rounds!
It's a revolutionary idea: rather than working in isolation, teachers have much to learn from each other. With teacher rounds, educators share insights and grow professionally, benefitting from the peer learning common in other demanding fields. This invaluable book dives into the details of implementing a successful teacher rounds program, and provides a complete and practical step-by-step plan.
Written by two respected pioneers of the teacher rounds movement, this resource is especially useful for school leaders and rounds facilitators. Readers will learn how to
- Realize the potential of teacher rounds as a strategy for Common Core implementation
- Develop rounds facilitation techniques through vignettes, video clips, and group learning exercises
- Create positive, empowering teams that lift both instruction and student p
Trade Review
"What Vivian Troen and Kitty Boles have done in this book is…the use of rounds as a dedicated learning environment for teachers. This book provides the scaffolding and support that teachers can use, on their own, or in an organized fashion as part of more systemic strategy, to create the infrastructure necessary to bring collective learning deliberately and explicitly into the daily life of teachers. Troen and Boles stress in many places in this book the importance of rounds as a cultural-building practice. For me, this is the central contribution they make. Rounds is not simply a practice; it is a practice in the service of building a professional culture."
-- Richard F. Elmore, Professor of Educational Leadership
Table of Contents
Forward Introduction Getting from Then to Now Implementing the Common Core State Standards About this Book Part I - Background 1. What is Rounds? Rounds is a Unique Form of Professional Development A Rounds Group in Action: A True-to-Life Story Pre Rounds Meeting - Choosing a Compelling Problem of Practice Preparing the Host Teacher Observing the Host Teacher Teach Debriefing the Observation Committing to a Change of Practice It′s a Circular Path to Perfection 2. Why Do Rounds? Rounds Creates a Framework for Critical Colleagueship Rounds Facilities the Sharing for Successful Practice Rounds Helps Develop a Shared Vision of Good Teaching Rounds is Low-Cost, High-Impact Strategy for Implementing the Common Core State Standards Rounds is Aligned With Learning Forward′s Standards for Professional Learning 3. Who Does Rounds? The Rounds Group Challenges for the Group The Rounds Facilitators Challenges for Facilitators Facilitator Study Groups The Host Teacher Preparation for the Observation Following the Observation Part II - Facilitators 4. How to Prepare for Rounds Step 1: Lay Groundwork for Collaboration Establish Norms Learn How to Observe: Conduct A Rounds Observation Workshop Step 2: Conduct the Introduction to Rounds Meeting 5. How to Implement Rounds Step 1: Facilitator Prepares the Host Teacher Supporting the Host Teacher in Preparing the Form Using the Host Teacher Preparation Form Don′t Forget the Kids Step 2: Rounds Group Observes the Host Teacher′s Class Step 3: Group Debriefs the Observation Step 4: Group Conducts the Next Rounds Meeting Developing a list of Common Criteria Step 5: Teachers Share a Record of Practice Examples of Commitments to Change and Records of Practice 6. Year-End Wrap-Up Has the Work Improved Student Learning? The Answer is Yes! Video Case: Examining One Teacher′s Change of Practice Framing the Context The Power of Teacher Rounds End of Year Reflection 7. Case & Guides to Case Analysis Using Cases to Facilitate Discussion of Issues Confronting Rounds Groups How and When to Use Cases Ideally Alternatively Part III - Principals & Department Chairs 8. Role of the Principal Understand what Rounds Requires Assess Teacher Talent Choose the Best Candidates Lay the Cultural Groundwork Build on Firm Ground With Good Resources Provide Ongoing Support 9. Rounds for Department Chairs: Improving High School Teacher Development & Supervision Department Chairs Step Up Pull the Lever The Difference Between Department Chair Rounds and Faculty Rounds How to Implement Department Chair Rounds Build a Culture of Trust Select your DCR Facilitator Facilitator Frames Rounds Prepare the Department Chair Host Choose a Compelling Problem of Practice Prepare for the Round Follow the Protocol for Debriefing Watch the Video Practice our Post-Observation Conference End Game Make an End Game Checklist Part IV - Appendices A. CCSS Speaking and Listening Standard 6-12 B. Glenda′s Host Teacher Preparation Form C. Glenda′s Record of Practice D. Observation Workshop: Learning to See, Unlearning to Judge E. Example of a Problem Aligned to the Common Core State F. Alex′s Host Teacher Preperation Form G. Alex′s Student Slides H: Alex′s Student Email Response References
