The results are in, observations are not improving teaching and learning. Pertinently, the Gates Foundation’s recently completed, seven year, $200 million effort to improve student outcomes through enhancing the teacher evaluation process failed to achieve substantive improvement. The reason is, observations as currently designed, serve as an obstacle to teacher risk-taking. Teachers play it safe because: 1) they fear negative evaluations when their pedagogy is rated, and 2) they lack faith in being supported by supervisors because a trusting relationship between them and their observer has not been sufficiently built. There is a path though to using observations to dramatically improve teaching and learning, Trust Based Observations, a schema changing evaluation model that understands people perform at their best when they feel safe and supported. It begins with twelve, 20 minute observations per week followed by collegial conversations driven by reflective questions, sharing observed teaching strengths, and the building of safe, trusting relationships with teachers. Add the elimination of rating pedagogical skills, replace it with rating mindset, and teachers trust. Finally, have empowered teachers lead small professional development communities connected to good practice and teachers fully embrace risk-taking and innovation, leading to remarkable teaching transformations and improved student learning.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: Observation Problems and Solutions Chapter 1. So What’s the Problem? What Can Be Done Chapter 2. The Solution: Trust Based Observations Build Safe, Trusting Relationships Tweak Evaluation Additional Solutions Part Two: The TBO System and Making it Work Chapter 3. The System Basics: Continuous, Frequent, Unannounced, and Short Observations Why Unannounced? Why a Continuous Cycle? Why 20 Minutes? Why Observe All Teachers Equally? Troubleshooting Chapter 4. Building System Success: Creating Time and Getting Organized Creating and Prioritizing Time Organization Tools Part Three: The Observation Chapter 5. Trust Based Observations Form: Origins and Development Chapter 6. Starting an Observation Chapter 7. Evidence of… Early Thoughts to Guide Successful Observations Evidence of Learning Target (LT) Risk Taking/Innovative Practice Teacher/Student Rapport and Relationship Classroom and Student Behavior Management Cooperative Learning Working Memory: 10-2 Reflection and Processing Time Questioning/Higher Order Thinking Formative Assessment/Knowing What Each Student Has Learned to Guide Next Steps Descriptive Progress Feedback Specific Differentiation Learning Principles Used Student Interview: (Is Learning Clear to All?) Teaching Intangibles Scripting Additional Pedagogy Questions Suggestions Chapter 8. Questions Chapter 9. Web Links: Trust Based Observations as a Resource Tool Part 4: The Reflective Conversation Chapter 10. Reflective Conversation System Basics Prioritize Reflective Conversations Organization Respect The Conversation Chapter 11. Building Trusting Relationships Vulnerability Empathy and Emotional Intelligence Actions that Build Trust Mindsets or Actions that Inhibit Trust Chapter 12. Listening and Asking the Questions Listening The Questions Chapter 13. Sharing Evidence of Troubleshooting Additional Observer Questions on Sharing Evidence Chapter 14. Offering Suggestions When to Offer Suggestions Preparation What and How Much to Suggest Words Matter: How to Offer Suggestions Explaining What Continuing Support Looks Like and Entails Troubleshooting Challenges to Offers of Suggestions Chapter 15. Specials: Course Connections Accountability Part Five: The Teacher Evaluation Process and Professional Development Chapter 16. Self-Assessment: Trust Based Observation Form Rubric TBO Pedagogy Rubric Action Research Big Goal Chapter 17. Evaluation in Trust Based Observations TBO Evaluation Preparing for the Summative Evaluation Meeting The Meeting Chapter 18. Action Improvement Plans and Difficult Conversations Action Improvement Plans Difficult Conversations Chapter 19. TBO and Professional Development Question of the Year PD PDC and Action Research Big Goals More on PDC’s Further PD Tips, Suggestions, Guidelines Part Six: Bringing It All Together Chapter 20. Building TBO Success Implementation Blending Change Sustaining Success Bibliography About the Author