Learning from Each Other: Use These Tools for Peer Reviews in Teaching

If we create a culture where every teacher believes they need to improve, not because they are not good enough, but because they can be even better, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

– Dylan Wiliam


ACTIVITY

For each schoolwide student outcome, have each teacher identify for their peers:

  • 3 strategies going well in their classroom connected to the shared student outcome
  • 2 strategies they are actively working on in their classroom connected to the shared student outcome
  • 1 question they have about implementing strategies in their classroom connected to the shared student outcome
  • Have them also identify any other objectives or goals they would like their peers to look out for during this process

Have peer observers provide concrete evidence for the classroom teaching they observe

  • For the 3 strategies going well and the 2 strategies the teacher is actively working on, have the observer provide concrete evidence (i.e. cite students/teacher dialogue, count hands, count how many students speaking/engaged, etc.)
  • For the 1 question the teacher has about using strategies connected to the shared student outcome, have the observer provide insights/solutions/strategies to the teacher. This should include a follow-up discussion around an action step the teacher can take in the next 7 days to address the question they have.

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