Data-Seating Chart

RESEARCH BASE: Studies of highly effective teachers found that regular, quality feedback was a factor in increasing teacher performance and determining how long teachers planned to stay at their schools (Allen, Pianta, Gregory, Mikami, & Lun, 2011). These results, in turn, improve student achievement by an effect size of over 0.21 on student achievement in math and reading (Archer, Cantrell, Holtzman, Joe, Tocci, & Wood, 2016; Steinberg & Sartain, 2015).

Researchers agree that when charting observation evidence it is important to focus on the facts and then to later match them to the right indicators of performance. Many popular and robust observation tools exist for this type of observation analysis (Danielson, 2007; Marzano, 2007; McRel, 2011; Pearson, 2010;). The WELS Commission on Lutheran School’s (CLS) Ministerial Growth and Evaluation Program (MGEP) also has a framework and observation tools that focus on the seven most impactful elements common to these frameworks that focus on student learning and what good teachers do. It is recommended that observers master using the MGEP framework when charting data before moving into more complex tools and frameworks.

BACKGROUND: Data-seating chart tools are typically used to capture evidence focused on students’ understanding and engagement by recording common or repetitive classroom practices, teacher’s and/or students’ movements, and objective anecdotes about what was seen and heard (Archer, et al., 2016).

Lasagabaster, D., & Sierra, J. M. (2011). Classroom observation: desirable conditions established by teachers. European Journal of Teacher Education, 34(4), 449-463.

Archer, J., Cantrell, S., Holtzman, S. L., Joe, J. N., Tocci, C. M., & Wood, J. (2016). Chapters on Collecting Evidence, Understanding Bias, and Recognizing Evidence in J. Archer (Eds.), Better feedback for better teaching: A practical guide to improving classroom observations (pp. 127-151, 159-161). John Wiley & Sons.

WELS MGEP Description of Evidence: Observational Evidence Review

WELS MGEP Observation Tools: The WELS Formative Supervision Classroom Chart Tool, MGEP Observation Tools, and an example of Formative Supervision Classroom Chart Tool with evidence

LESSON OUTCOMES: 

1. Collect focused evidence using the MGEP Formative Classroom Chart Tool.
2. Sort collected evidence.
3. Articulate the differences between evidence and interpretation.

RESOURCES:

Books

Archer, J., Cantrell, S., Holtzman, S. L., Joe, J. N., Tocci, C. M., & Wood, J. (2016). Better feedback for better teaching: A practical guide to improving classroom observations. John Wiley & Sons.

Marzano, R., & Simms, T. (2013). Coaching classroom instruction. Solution Tree Press.

Wood, J., Joe, J. N., Cantrell, S., Tocci, C. M., Holtzman, S. L., & Archer, J. (2014). Building Trust in Observations: A Blueprint for Improving Systems to Support Great Teaching. Seattle, WA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Articles

Allen, J. P., Pianta, R. C., Gregory, A., Mikami, A. Y., & Lun, J. (2011). An interaction-based approach to enhancing secondary school instruction and student achievement. Science, 333(6045), 1034-1037. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3387786/

Lasagabaster, D., & Sierra, J. M. (2011). Classroom observation: desirable conditions established by teachers. European Journal of Teacher Education, 34(4), 449-463.

Steinberg, M. P., & Sartain, L. (2015). Does better observation make better teachers: New evidence from a teacher evaluation pilot in Chicago. Education Next, 15(1), 71-77. Retrieved from https://www.educationnext.org/better-observation-make-better-teachers/

Videos

Peer Review of Teaching: The classroom observation (2017).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqshQJ2SkRc

Classroom Observation Strategies: Instructional Coaching (2015).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu20BVKV61c

Weblinks for resources

WELS Teaching Standards

Martin Luther College Course

EDU5302 Supervision of Instruction

EDU5903 Observation & Conferencing