Additional information
by Nicole Saginor (Author)
"The best educators are the best learners. It′s all about teaching, learning, and feedback, and this book brings common sense to common practice."
--Raymond J. McNulty, Senior Vice President
International Center for Leadership in Education
"At last, a diagnostic classroom observation tool that moves beyond generic criteria for examining teaching and learning. This is a must-have resource for teachers, administrators, and professional developers who want to look beyond the veneer of ′best practice′ and use evidence-based, content-focused criteria to get to the heart of deep, conceptual teaching and learning."
--Page Keeley, Senior Program Director
Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance
A complete instructional leadership system for improving classroom practice!
Providing effective classroom evaluation is a critical function of authentic instructional leadership. Diagnostic classroom observation (DCO) is a research-based system that helps principals and other supervisors carry out classroom observations and evaluations to support effective teaching practices.
Based on the Vermont Classroom Observation Tool, the DCO model covers the entire supervision process, from preconference analysis to postconference follow-up, and includes protocols for observing math, science, and literacy instruction. Program users can determine classroom quality and student engagement by evaluating four critical aspects of instructional practice: lesson planning, lesson implementation, lesson content, and classroom culture. Additionally, the author supplies readers with:
- Classroom observation forms to help identify instructor strengths and weaknesses
- Scoring forms to assist with the final evaluation and review process
- Real-world vignettes that clearly illustrate key indicators of quality teaching
- Methods for matching student learning assessments with appropriate instructional strategies
- Guidance for introducing DCO into any school or school district
Diagnostic Classroom Observation offers principals and teacher leaders a thoroughly tested and validated classroom observation system that improves instructional performance and enhances student learning.
Author Biography
Nicole Saginor is a former superintendent in Vermont, leading a school district through the School Improvement Grant process as directed by NCLB. She is the principal developer of the Vermont Classroom Observation Tool (VCOT), which was used by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. in two national studies funded by the US Department of Education to measure teacher performance. In her book, Diagnostic Classroom Observation, she develops the VCOT further and gives vivid images of how good teaching actually looks in real classroom settings. With examples of how to create valid assessments, recognize equity in the classroom, and speak to teachers in a post-conference, she assists school leaders in getting real results from their supervisory practice. Her work has attracted both national and international attention. She currently consults and is currently working with the Ministry of Education in Kosovo to develop their new teacher performance assessment system.
Saginor has spent her 42-year career in education as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, principal, superintendent author and researcher. She was the associate executive director at Vermont Institutes, a nonprofit professional development organization where, for eight years, she directed a number of statewide initiatives to strengthen leadership in the state, providing training and professional development to school leaders, along with opportunities for networking and support. She brought national leaders such as Rick Dufour, Willard Daggett, Jonathan Kozol, Andy Hargreaves, Charlotte Danielson, and Meg Wheatley to interactive leadership forums in Vermont to create a culture of collaborative leadership. She has trained researchers for several national research studies in classroom observation for the collection of data on professional practice and the impact of specific programs of teacher preparation, induction, and pedagogical practices. She received her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Vermont and holds a master′s degree in French literature from Boston University.
She offers One-day speaking engagements, two to five day workshops and onsite coaching for administrators and teachers. www.nicolesaginor.com
- Speaking Topics:
- Implementing the Common Core through supervision and evaluation of instruction
- Leading School Improvement
- Evaluating Instruction in Literacy
- Evaluating Instruction in Math and Science?Evaluating Instruction in Technology
- Formative Assessment
- New Practices to Enhance Teacher Evaluation
- Equity and Classroom Culture
