The Reflective Friends (RF) process has made it to Henrico County’s elementary schools! Before you say anything or before your eyes roll back into your head, Reflective Friends is what we have been wanting for a long time. I am very excited about RF being in the elementary schools this year. The process gives teachers an opportunity to receive positive feedback from observers that are not from their buildings. The observers are looking for the characteristics of a 21st Century Lesson. The students and teachers will be scored on the TIP-Chart that we have become familiar with. This is the same chart that is used to score Henrico 21 projects.
Here is the process broken down:
- 1 teacher from each grade level will be chosen to participate. This gives a good overall snapshot of an elementary school.
- Each teacher plans their lesson using the TIP-Chart. The teachers are encouraged to collaborate with their ITRT with the planning of the lesson.
- Observations last around 30-40 minutes. The observers are other ITRTs from the county as well as principals and other HCPS administrators (including Central Office).
- Other teachers (not officially observed) and students will be interviewed by the panel.
- The data and comments from each of the 6 observations and the interviews are compiled into one report and shared with the admin team at that school.
I am hoping to repeat this process in the spring in order to show authentic student and teacher growth during the 2011-2012 school year.
Here are the teachers that will be participating this year:
