ABSTRACT
Observing great instructors can help teachers shape a vision for what they can do differently to produce significantly better results in student learning. In this chapter, teachers talk about what they noticed and how it affected them when they visited elementary school classrooms to see extraordinary instructors conducting reading and writing lessons. Observers are particularly impressed by watching a cluster of teachers collaborating across grade levels using the same methods of instruction. Planning in advance of demonstration lessons helps teachers make the most of these learning opportunities. Selecting the most effective instructors to serve as models, setting aside sufficient funding for substitute time, encouraging visitors to attend in school teams, and establishing an etiquette for visitations can contribute to more productive observations.
