Throughout my career observing other practitioners has been one of the best professional learning experiences that I have ever had. Each time I step foot in a new school or classroom, I learn something new and shift my perspective. As teachers, it is critical to see others teach and reflect on the implications for our own practice.
I have continued to embed these opportunities in professional learning as I work with administrators and teachers. I recently got to work with grade level teams at Mesa Union School to review collective goals, observe their peers in action, discuss a variety of strategies, and explore next steps.
Here were a few key insights that educators highlighted:
- Observation deepened appreciation for colleagues after seeing them teach.
- Observations help ground the conversation about teaching and learning and allow for a much richer dialogue.
- Observations prompt reflection about their own practice--both validating what they do and stretching their thinking.
- To shift practices, teachers must see their colleagues teach to understand the possibilities in their own classroom.
It’s not uncommon for teachers to teach next to one another for years yet never see each other teach. When this happens, many assumptions about what is working and what is not working get made. This culture can proliferate ineffective practices and also prevent great practices from spreading and impacting the school as a whole.
