NEVADA EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

TEACHER PRE-OBSERVATION CONFERENCE TOOL

Proposed Observation Date: January
13, 2015
Observation
Time/Duration:
___________

Teacher Name: Debby Cole

Evaluator Name: Christine Prosen
Date: December 18th, 2014

School Name: Parson Elementary

Grade/Class/Subject to be Observed: Math

This tool is for the teacher and evaluator to discuss an upcoming announced observation. It is intended to guide
thinking and conversation, so every question may not be answered or be relevant to every observation.

INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE STANDARDS

Questions to Guide Discussion:
Instructional Planning: How have you prepared
for this lesson?

Learning Focus: In what ways will you connect

new learning to prior learning and experience?
How will you know students understand the
relevance of what they were learning? In what
ways will you allow for students to challenge/
build on initial understandings?

Notes:
I have prepared for this lesson by collaborating
with my colleague to develop a 7 day lesson
plan. We created a rubric, a checklist, and a
backwards model plan. We found media and
activities for each day in order to engage our
students. We also taught 2.NBT.5 the prior
week to build a strong foundation of
understanding and building their
mathematical thinking.
I will connect new learning to prior learning
and experience by reminding students that we
are continuing on place value just like we did
the week before. The only difference is we will
now add in another place value position. TW
model a problem they had the prior week to
remind students. Then TW add the hundreds
and model how they are similar and different.
I will know that my students understand when
they can Restate, Answer, and, Prove their
math problem. This will allow me to read
exactly what they are thinking when they are
solving the problem. I will use this to
determine which students I need to pull for
small group and which students I can
challenge further.
I will challenge my students / build on their
initial understanding by using prior concepts
to learn the new skill. I will use media to have
my students record their thinking. I will
challenge them by raising the bar and having
expectations for what I want them to
accomplish. Students will have the chance to
write their understanding, create an audio
explaining their understanding, and creating
Vokis to further explain their thinking in a
more interactive format.

Nevada Department of Education - NEPF

9/19/2014 Teacher Pre-Observation Conference Tool for purposes of training and validation
of 7

Page 1

NEVADA EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

TEACHER PRE-OBSERVATION CONFERENCE TOOL

Knowledge of Students: How will you ensure

tasks have high cognitive demand for the diverse
learners in your classroom? How will the lesson
engage and challenge students? How will the
skills/concepts from this lesson be used in future
lessons?

I will ensure my tasks have high cognitive

demands for the diverse learners in my
classroom by engaging them. They can use
manipulatives, white boards, or any other
tools they need to learn the material. I will
make sure I ask higher level thinking questions
that will make students really think. SW
explain their thinking in written, audio, and
interactive avatar to engage them.
The lesson will engage and challenge students
by having high expectations and rigor.

Instruction and Learning Practices: What

instructional strategies and methods will be used
to engage students and ensure student achieve
lesson goals? What instructional strategies and
methods will be used to engage students and
ensure all students achieve lesson goals?

Developing Independent Learners: How will

you help students engage in metacognitive
activity to increase understanding and
responsibility for their own learning? How will
you ensure that students understand how they
are doing and support students self-assessment?

The skills and concepts will be used as a

foundation mark for students to build upon.
This lesson will be another building block to
learn and discover how math intertwines with
each other. They will be using the skills that
they have learned to help understand the new
skill that follows.
The strategies we will be using are number
bonds and hundreds, tens, and ones. We will
also be using R.A.P for students to explain
their mathematical understanding. We will
engage students by using media, creating
audio and integrating Vokis into our lesson,
having high expectations and increasing rigor.
I will ensure all students achieve lesson goals
by observation and monitoring their learning
through the week. If students are struggling I
will pull them for small group and if they are
achieving the tasks with ease, I will challenge
them by giving them more complex numbers.
SW also be able to collaborate with each other
in their teams.
I will review the rubric with students to ensure
they know how they will be graded. SW also
be given a checklist that they can use
throughout the lesson to see if they are
reaching their goal. If they cant check off
everything on the checklist then they know
what they are struggling in and what they

Nevada Department of Education - NEPF

9/19/2014 Teacher Pre-Observation Conference Tool for purposes of training and validation
of 7

Page 2

NEVADA EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

TEACHER PRE-OBSERVATION CONFERENCE TOOL

Assessment of Student Learning: How will

you integrate assessment into instruction? What
assessments will you use to check for
understanding during the lesson? How will you
use this data to inform your next steps?

need to ask for help with or they know what

they need to practice more. I will also
periodically throughout the lesson have S
show a thumbs up if they are understanding or
a thumbs down if they are confused.

SW be given a problem to solve on their white

boards. SW solve the problems and RAP their
answer. When finished SW show their problem
and explain their thinking to each other. TW
observe which students are able to complete
the task and which S are struggling. T can also
use this time to see guide the ones I know will
have a hard time.
When S are given their tasks in their teams. I
will circulate the room helping those that need
some extra guidance and support.
I will use the data I collect through the
modeled lesson and the student collaboration
tasks to see which groups I need to further
assist more in depth in small group and which
students I need to challenge further.

Growth and Reflection: What have you been

working on in your instructional practice since your
last observation cycle?

Assessing my students will give me an idea

throughout the week to see which students
are missing needed skills to make their
foundation stronger. I will focus on these
missing skills in small group in order to fill in
the missing gaps.
Since my last observation cycle I have been
working on integrating audio into my
classroom in order for students to verbally
express their understanding so I can better
engage my students.

Artifacts to Provide Contextual Information (if applicable)

These can include some or all of the following but
are not limited to this list: lesson plan; student
work; student feedback (e.g., survey, writing);
teacher notes; audio/visual/print artifact; prior
student work/assessment informing planned
learning opportunities.

Lesson plans, Backwards Assessment Model, Rubric,

Checklists, Vokis, audio, S assessment, Student
tasks throughout the week, and pictures of S
working collaboratively. Artifacts will be placed into
our online website.

Nevada Department of Education - NEPF

9/19/2014 Teacher Pre-Observation Conference Tool for purposes of training and validation
of 7

Page 3

NEVADA EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

TEACHER PRE-OBSERVATION CONFERENCE TOOL

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES STANDARDS

Questions to Guide Discussion:

Commitment to School Community: How will

you collaborate with colleagues? How will you
take an active role in building a professional
culture that is learning centered and focused on
high expectations for all students?

Notes:
I will collaborate with colleagues by mentoring
Ms. Chick through the teaching process. I will
help her with lesson plans, set layers into
curriculum engine, and explain each day to her
day by day. We will also give her a copy of the
materials in which we are using for each
lesson. I will assist Tobiasson by allowing her to
view our lesson plans and to help guide her
through the process. We will guide them
through the PLC process and help them step by
step. We will also guide them through Infinite
campus so they know how to print progress
reports and report cards.
Teaching teachers at Wilhelm how to use
Infinite Campus
Teaching teachers at Ronzone
Elementary how to use Infinite Campus.
I will take an active role in building a
professional culture that is learning centered by
teaching staff how to complete the PLC forms,
how to navigate through Infinite campus,
create progress reports, insert comments and
try to help staff create rubrics that will hold our
students to higher expectations for all students
in our school.
We are also helping our community and
students by having tutoring 3 days a week and
Ukulele Club every Monday. We are having our
Ukulele players perform for our community as
well.

Nevada Department of Education - NEPF

9/19/2014 Teacher Pre-Observation Conference Tool for purposes of training and validation
of 7

Page 4

NEVADA EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

TEACHER PRE-OBSERVATION CONFERENCE TOOL
Performing in the band and performing
with our Ukulele Players.
Creating a music list for 5th grade dance

Reflection on Professional Growth and

Practice: How will you use feedback and data
to self-reflect on your practice? How will you
pursue professional learning opportunities to
further your own professional growth? How will
you pursue teacher leadership opportunities?

I will use feedback and data to see whether I

need to change what I am doing to better serve
my students. I will take the feedback given and
apply it in my classroom. I will take all
comments and suggestions to heart and I will
make the necessary changes to better educate
my students. I am willing to try new things and
I am willing to explore different avenues in
teaching. I will take what I am doing, tweak it
and try again. I will learn from all my mistakes.
I will pursue professional learning opportunities
by attending the PDEs in the mornings that
can help me better myself in my classroom. I
will read articles and do research that will help
me become a better educator. I will continue
taking online course until I am online blended
certified.

Professional Obligations: How will you model

integrity in all interactions and advocate for fair,
equitable, and appropriate treatment of all
students and families? How will you ensure that
school policies and regulations are adhered to?

I will pursue teacher leadership opportunities

by helping and mentoring my fellow colleagues
as they need help. I am willing to stay late and
to collaborate with them to help them achieve
their desired goals. I will continue to guide
them through Infinite Campus, PLC, and
curriculum engine and to help them use
student friendly objectives with the essential
questions to help build more rigor in their
classrooms.
Provided different schools our rubrics
and checklists

Nevada Department of Education - NEPF

9/19/2014 Teacher Pre-Observation Conference Tool for purposes of training and validation
of 7

Page 5

NEVADA EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

TEACHER PRE-OBSERVATION CONFERENCE TOOL
Family Engagement: How will you regularly
facilitate two-way communication with parents
about your goals of instruction and student
progress? How will you value, respect, and
encourage students and families to become
active members of the school? How will you
connect families to opportunities and services to
address student needs?

Student Perception: How will you determine

student perceptions on their learning? How will I
know that your students feel as if you help them
learn? How will I know that your students feel as if
you create a safe environment in your classroom?
How will I know if your students feel as if you care
about them and their goals?

I will model integrity in all interactions and

advocate fair, equitable, and appropriate
treatment of all students and families by
creating an honest open communication with
them. I will model respect, kindness, and
integrity at all times. I will be understanding on
where they are coming from and make them
feel welcome to speak to me whenever they
have a concern.
I will regularly facilitate two way
communication with parents about my
expectations and what I expect from all
students. I will send home rubrics so parents
know how their child is being graded and the
areas in which they are struggling in. I will send
home progress reports and allow parents to
contact me with any concerns. I will be willing
to be available at any convenient time for
them. I will welcome all families to come into
the classroom whenever they would like as
long as they tell me at least a day before. I will
continue to make 2 to 3 calls a week so parents
know how their child is doing. I will also
continue to provide parents with daily reports
on their childs daily progress as requested.
I will connect families to opportunities and
services to address students needs by
providing them a newsletter each week with
information regarding was to help their child.
Parents can access the family center for extra
support. I also tell parents that they are able to
access Istation, Skoolbo, Frontrow, and
Tenmarks, at home for their child to receive
extra practice.
I will determine how the student feels about
learning by observing their behaviors, their
work samples, and the meaningful discourse.
You will know how my students feel by asking
them what are they learning? why they are
learning it? and how do they know if they have
learned it?
You will know my students feel as if I created a
safe environment by watching them interact
with each other and myself.

Nevada Department of Education - NEPF

9/19/2014 Teacher Pre-Observation Conference Tool for purposes of training and validation
of 7

Page 6

NEVADA EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK

TEACHER PRE-OBSERVATION CONFERENCE TOOL
You will know if my students feel as if I care
about them and their goals by looking at their
work samples to see if they care about their
work and take pride in it. You will also know by
asking my students questions on their goals
and how they are achieving them.

Growth and Reflection: What have you been

working on to achieve your goals on the
professional responsibilities standards since your
last evaluation cycle?

Since my last evaluation cycle I have been

working on being a better team player and
collecting artifacts to add into my electronic
portfolio. I will continue to reflect and adjust my
educational practices to better serve my
students needs on a continuum basis.

Artifacts to Provide Contextual Information (if applicable)

These can include some or all of the following but
are not limited to this list: teacher notes; meeting
notes; audio/visual/print artifacts.

________________________________________
Teachers Signature and Date

Grade level notes, letters from teachers from

different schools, pictures of clubs, video of
Folk Festival, audio questions to students
about how they feel, Monthly Parson
Newsletter, Academic boards, lesson plans, PLC
plans, rubrics, checklists, video step by step
progress report.

__________________________________________
Administrators Signature and Date

Nevada Department of Education - NEPF

9/19/2014 Teacher Pre-Observation Conference Tool for purposes of training and validation
of 7

Page 7