Instructional Rounds: Expanding the Network One School at a Time

The student achievement presentation, given by Dr. Sheila Maher, associate superintendent for Educational Services, at the May School Board meeting focused on classroom instruction and the practice of Instructional Rounds. C-FB ISD began its implementation of Instructional Rounds in the spring of 2010.

We are all aware that educators have used classroom observations to improve instruction, but through Instructional Rounds, we have gained a structured process based on the professional practice of medical rounds used by doctors in teaching hospitals.  Through the work of Dr. Richard Elmore at Harvard University, C-FB ISD has developed five networks of schools: three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.  Currently, 23 of our 40 schools are involved in Instructional Rounds.  Our goal is to eventually involve all campuses in the Instructional Rounds Networks.

Through Instructional Rounds, the individual Networks visit the schools once during the school year.  The principal and the Instructional Rounds campus team develop a Problem of Practice that their Network will observe during their Network day.  All Network participants follow the four components of Instructional Rounds. When selecting the Problem of Practice, our teachers and principals select an instructional practice that they believe will move their students forward in their learning. (see slide on left)

Principals, classroom teachers and Educational Service staff members visit classrooms in small groups, using expert and precise observation techniques. Once the Network members have observed in multiple classrooms, the Network reconvenes as a whole to share, analyze and come to agreement on what they observed.  The difference between these observations and other classroom observation practices is that the group focuses on factual descriptions of what was seen. There are no personal judgments or viewpoints allowed -- only observed teaching strategies as well as student and teacher behaviors. And, before the day concludes, the Network members provide suggestions for next steps or "next level of work" for that campus.

That is why, we believe the practice of Instructional Rounds is and will have profound impact on student achievement in C-FB ISD.  As Dr. Elmore points out, there are only three ways to improve student performance in school:

·         Increase the knowledge and skill of teachers

·         Change the content (make it more rigorous and meaningful)

·         Alter the relationship of the student to the teacher and the content

In C-FB ISD, we understand that what goes in the classroom is what counts; our teachers matter.  Everything we do should be about helping our teachers be the best they can be.  To know if they believe the Instructional Rounds program is beneficial, the Educational Services Division conducted a survey of our Instructional Rounds' participants.  Here are comments from three teachers.

• "I feel like I learn something every time I go on a Rounds visit. The dialogue that goes on really makes me think about my own instructional practices and ways I need to improve."
• "I have also seen things on other campuses, in other classrooms that I would like to try in my classroom. Every Rounds visit gave me more clarity and knowledge about the core to bring back to my classroom and campus."
• "Not only have I enjoyed the Rounds work, but I have learned so much from my experience. The opportunity to dialogue about the practice of instructional work as well as observe and learn from so many different teachers in a variety of content areas and schools has been invaluable."

You can also hear from McKamy Elementary teacher LuAnne Smith by clicking on this video:

You can also hear from DeWitt Perry Middle School principal Brooke Puricelli by clicking on this video:

I want to thank Dr. Sheila Maher, associate superintendent for Educational Services, for leading the charge in Instructional Rounds. She is one of our bright spots in C-FB ISD.  Thank you to all of our teachers, principals, and Educational Service team members who are a part of our Instructional Rounds practice.  You are influencing our instructional practices, and impacting the learning of our students.

In Focus Points, you have read that we have a culture of continuous improvement in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District. That is why, our teachers, principals and Educational Services staff recognize the benefits of Instructional Rounds.  Our teachers want to improve their craft because everyone in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District understands that we are about one goal:  "high achievement for all students.


The Instructional Rounds PowerPoint Presentation from the May 2012 School Board Meeting is below:

Instructional Rounds Presentation May 2012