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The Power of Teacher Rounds
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The Power of Teacher Rounds
A Guide for Facilitators, Principals, & Department Chairs

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May 2014 | 176 pages | Corwin

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 performance

Tap into the knowledge and best practices present throughout this helpful book, and see how your teacher rounds program can thrive!


 
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

Supplements

"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
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Key features
(1) Highlights the elements of effective Rounds and provides facilitators with specific skills that will enable them to develop well-functioning teacher Rounds groups that improve instruction and student learning in their schools.

(2) Encompasses a variety of strategies and tools including guided instruction, group activities, diagrams, illustrations and templates.

(3) Makes effective use of teaching cases and provides facilitators with a protocol for case analysis.

(4) Original video clips of Rounds in action will be provided for analysis by partipants.

(5) Explores the application of Rounds as a professional learning design for Common Core implementation.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Table of Contents

Introduction


For instructors

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