Michelle Cordova-Montalvo CI 531-Project Proposal October 13, 2013 Project Proposal: [Action Plan] Peer Observations

For this project I wanted to find a way to get teachers more involved in seeing teaching from a multitude of perspectives. I would also like to bridge the gap between teachers that teach regular education students and have teachers observe teachers that work with gifted and struggling students. Many times I find teachers struggling with how to differentiate their instruction. This feedback typically comes from veteran teachers that seem to have used all of their tricks. Yet, there is a huge gap between teachers and their time observing other teachers. As enrollment climbs and new standards are enacted many of our teachers begin to build a routine that even they feel can become stale and less exciting to teach. My goal is to help my peers get the opportunity to observe a classroom at least once in a semester to give these teachers an opportunity to find fresh and new approaches to differentiating their instruction to create classrooms that encourage an environment were equal learning opportunities take placed on a daily basis. The time for stale teaching can come to an end. What: Allow peers to observe a classroom to find new and interesting ways to approach teaching and experience fresh ideas giving the teacher an opportunity to reflect upon best teaching practices. Where: Early Childhood Education Center- Carlsbad, NM When: TBA After discussing this plan with my principal she has decided to get back to me about a plan of action to begin using this for our professional development. How: At our school teachers have opportunities to work with small teams that help build the lessons, compare and review data, discuss students on SAT, and learn from PD (professional development) activities. Once a semester a teacher will have an opportunity to observe a peer in an area that they feel they would like some new ideas on or to simply observe how another teacher approaches a specific CCSS with their class. This time can be used to gather information and use to towards teaching for learning. Teachers, after their observation, and return to their PLTC (Professional Learning Teaching Committee) and discuss their findings and how they would use their new found experience to enhance, change, or strengthen their teaching practice. After teachers have observed an anonymous survey will be handed to the teachers to see if this exercise was an effective way to reinvigorate the teaching experience and to learn from others. I will interview the principals and see how they feel about this strategy and their staffs overall performance throughout the school year. Interviews from teachers will also be taken to discuss the experience and test the effectiveness of this exercise.