How often?

[kingrichie]

How often do you get observed by your principal?
Seriously, my principal has been into my classroom once so far this year, and that was just to ask a quick question.:idontknow:

[seastarmath]

New teachers in our district get observed four times a year. Tenured teachers are on a cycle: Every fourth year, they get formal observations.

Our school is fairly large, so if our administration observed everyone, they wouldn't have time to do anything else.

If you are looking for feedback, you can just request that the administration observe. OR you can ask a colleague to observe and let you know what they saw.

[Clix]

Mine's popped in ... twice? I think. For maaaybe 30 seconds.

[merrynl]

First year teachers in our district get observed 6 times a year (one planned, 5 unplanned) with 2 written evaluations. After that, teachers get observed every three years, 3 observations with one written evaluation.

My principal used to pop in all the time when I first got there, but then the visits really tapered off.

[seastarmath]

I like the fact that I only get formally observed one out of four years. IT makes me feel trusted and professional given all I had to go through to get tenured. Plus, it gives our administrators more time to deal with other issues. The group of teachers I work with pretty much deal with instructional issues or teachers who are not doing their jobs. We team teach, so it is quite obvious when someone is NOT doing what they are suppose to. We tend to be harder on ourselves and on each other than the admin is. Maybe its different in self contained classrooms?

[Brit]

um, pretty much never. I get "pop ins", but so far, the principal has only popped in on my preps. I'm an LTO (long term occasional -- covering a mat leave) and I've had nothing formal, and next to nothing informal. but they seem to know how I'm doing and what I'm doing anyhow.

It's the magic of admin. I don't question it.

[SS Rocks!]

I have been observed twice (I'm non-tenured so I have to be observed four times). Beyond that my administration passes through our classrooms at least once a week. I like the fact that they pass through randomly. To me, it shows they care enough about the school to make sure all is well.

[Ima Teacher]

Intern (first year) teachers are observed 20 hours by a mentor teacher, 3 hours by a university supervisor, and 3 hours by the building principal. Plus, they have 50 hours of out-of-class meetings with the mentor and three formal meetings with all involved parties.

Non-tenured teachers get two official observations per year. Usually one is announced and one is unannounced. Other are scheduled if necessary.

Tenured teachers get observed every three years.

Of course, our administrators are in the rooms multiple times during the school year anyway. I really like that since it gives a better idea of exactly what's going on in our classrooms that one can see in a quick one-time observation.

[merrynl]

Of course, our administrators are in the rooms multiple times during the school year anyway. I really like that since it gives a better idea of exactly what's going on in our classrooms that one can see in a quick one-time observation.

While I like that the principal is making an effort to keep up with what's going on in the school, it only helps if your principal understands how your subject should be taught. Otherwise, it doesn't take much to fake it and make him like what you're doing, as long as you know what he's expecting to see!

[War_Eagle]

You know, in all of the years I taught, I don't recall ever being observed.

[Boxcar]

This is a good question. I don't know how often staff is supposed to be observed at my center... I think the director only is to observe Leads, and one of our Leads is the assistent director. Does she observe herself?

[Ima Teacher]

Otherwise, it doesn't take much to fake it and make him like what you're doing, as long as you know what he's expecting to see!


But, whether the principal knews the subject matter or not, there are certain things that are common to all teaching--classroom management, student engagement, etc. that you're not going to be able to fake your way around all the time when you never know when the principal is coming in.

[Clearly Canadian]

For the most part our admin stays out of our rooms. The exception being new teachers, including veteran teachers who are new to our school. We are responsible, as per our contract, for creating a TPGP (Teacher Professional Growth Plan). This outlines for everyone individually, what they want to work on to improve their practice. This can be everything from classroom management, to technology, to pd that involves implementing a new curriculum. The last time I was formally evaluated, was probably 7 years ago. Admin might do a couple of pop ins at the beginning of the year, probably with good intentions of continuing. I'm fortunate though to work in a school, where the staff is amazing. I think that admin feels, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[Boxcar]

I think that is an important attitude for amin. to have. Fixing what isn't broken wastes resources and negatively affects the teaching enviroment. I think we've all witnessed needed improvements overlooked while dollars/time go to silly things.

[Brit]

I work at a great school with great admin who basically trust and support us to the moon and back. Still, I'd like more feedback than I get. I've always been a feedback junkie, looking for that sticker or that positive comment...but geez, I'd take a pile of negativity over nothing in particular. Well, maybe I would...though not consistently...

what are the qualifications for admin where y'all are? here, they have to be qualified to teach in at least 3 areas (e.g., primary, junior, intermediate) and have classroom experience. I'd say they know what they're looking for pretty well when they're looking.

[Boxcar]

Wow. Your admin. have to be pretty qualified. In most centers, anyone can start one up and be an admin. For Head Start, it is different but that's the general theme. Most of the directors do have a BA, AA, or MA and some classroom experience. Our director has a MA and our assistant director has an MA and teaches in a classroom.

[kidcrazy]

I guess it depends on the area. We have required principal vists. Sometimes my principal lets me know he is visiting and sometimes he just pops in and observes.

[LeAnna]

At my district for credentialed teachers the contract states that a non tenure teacher (first two years in the district) must be formally evaluated at least two times formally, with a pre meeting, and post observation meeting. The evaluation format is based on the California Standards for the teaching profession and a rubric is used to assist the administrator and teacher in identifying where the there is need for improvement where the teacher is showing best practices. There is a timeline on when the obervations and evaluations must be done.

Sadly, some administrators are unskilled at the process and it makes for some mighty heated and intense grievances, which usually the union wins. The most harrowing part for new teachers is that regardless of how their evaluations went, they could be let go at the end of the their second year without cause.

Having had both excellent administrators and truly sadistic adminstrators I have grown to understand the value of a strong union.

I had one great adminstrator who would pop in the class once a day, at different times. He explained that this was his way to have a feel for what was happening at the school and he would spend anywhere from a couple of minutes to up to fifteen in the classroom. He was observing students and he would always be cheerful and helpful. Because the students saw him in the hall ways, the lunchroom, the classroom and at bus time, they came to know him well and see him as a safe adult at school. Not just a disciplinarian.

He also did his evaluations according to the contract and always assisted teachers in improving their practice.

[silvana]

In the UK it is standard practice that all teachers including managers are observed once a year in core subjects, this is part of the performance management cycle.

[Kathleen]

I just joined this forum, and your post is from 2006, so I doubt you still have the same question about your principal observing you! How is your teaching going, and are you even still a member of this group discussion??