Instructional Rounds - Are you implementing?

Instructional Rounds, as taken by the book Instructional Rounds in Education by Elizabeth A. City, Richard F. Elmore, Sarah E. Fiarman, and Lee Teitel: “Inspired by the medical-rounds model used by physicians, the authors of Instructional Rounds in Education have pioneered a new form of professional learning known as instructional rounds networks.  Through this process, education leaders and practitioners develop a shared understanding of what high-quality instruction looks like and what schools and districts need to do to support it”.  So basically, a school or district would take a small group of teachers, lead by a lead teacher or administrator to prepare and observe a class.  They are not there to evaluate the teacher, but instead they are observing and noting the different aspects of teaching that are being used.  The group meets before the class observation to discuss what they are looking for in that day to help them further their teaching style.  Then the group goes to observe and takes notes.  After the hour observation, the group meets again to discuss what they saw and learned.  Just like students learn from one another, so can teachers.

For a more detailed description please visit Thomas Fowler-Finns website Instructional Rounds Plus at:

http://www.instructionalrounds.com/What-is-Instructional-Rounds-.html 

or look at an article written by Robert Marzano featured on ASCD’s Educational Leader web site at:

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb11/vol68/num05/Making-the-Most-of-Instructional-Rounds.aspx

Scott Elias, a high school principal in Colorado, has piloted this process in his school.  See his posting at http://blog.scottjelias.net/2011/02/engaging-teachers-in-instructional-rounds/.

Join Texas ASCD in October, as they have invited Elizabeth A. City (author of the above mentioned book) to present a Special Session at the 2012 Texas ASCD Annual Conference.  Visit our website to learn more: http://www.txascd.org