Catherine Beck

Easy and Effective Professional Development: the Power of Peer Observation to Improve Teaching is written by Cathy Beck, Paul D'Elia and Mike Lamond. The quick and easy read offers practical information about establishing teacher-led, job-embedded, highly effective professional development with examples from three different schools.

While we've heard of data teams, PLCs (Professional Learning Communities), WSGs (Work Study Groups) and TLCs Teacher Learning Communities, typically only TLCs share the component of what makes POP so successful and that is teachers observing teachers, with a focus on improving instructional practices. Regular opportunities to be in other teachers' classroom and then debrief the experience from a non-evaluative perspective has shown a huge impact on school and classroom culture, as well as student achievement. These three authors provide the research base for this type of teacher collaboration and the tips for setting up the Peer Observation Process.

The POP is a three-stage process: pre-observation meeting, observation and constructive feedback, all from the perspective of getting better. Within the Peer Observation groups, "teachers were sharing feedback, objective, options and decision making - FOOD" and these "success drivers" seem to be "inherent in the process."

One chapter focuses on the connections and supports for Common Core, which includes a great idea for book studies. Also included are data from the schools where this process has been used/is being used, along with testimonials from participants.

Providing this built-in support network for teacher, both new and veteran, is basically no cost. Finding time for teachers to meet and share is key. Manageable steps, checklist (provided) to help get things started, important information about support, communication and feedback make this book about POP useful to readers.… (més)