The sixth edition of Observation Skills for Effective Teaching focuses on observing others and incorporating the right tools, knowledge, and skills into your own practice - key principal means by which you can become an effective and professional teacher. Using this text, you will learn to observe in the following eight areas: learning climate, classroom management, lesson clarity, instructional variety, task orientation, student engagement, student success, and higher thought processes. These eight areas have been found by researchers to be related to desirable cognitive, social, and emotional outcomes in learners. This book will also teach you how to decide what to observe, how to effectively and efficiently observe in the classroom, and how to apply what you have learned through observation to grow as a reflective teacher. In addition, the book provides methodological concepts, observation instruments, and dialogues designed to help you see and practice research-based patterns of effective teaching. General Methods K-8 and Student Teaching

Thoroughly updated for the new era of Common Core Standards, this seventh edition of Observational Skills for Effective Teaching is vital in this time of educational change. It offers a detailed, yet easily accessible, handbook for teachers to prepare for and design their first classroom experiences. Updated with the newest research on effective teaching and learning, the book cogently introduces such topics as learning climate, classroom management, and lesson clarity with the newest findings that lead to desirable cognitive, social, and emotional outcomes in learners.

Classroom Observation explores the pivotal role of lesson observation in the training, assessment and development of new and experienced teachers. Offering practical guidance and detailed insight on an aspect of training that is a source of anxiety for many teachers, this thought-provoking book offers a critical analysis of the place, role and nature of lesson observation in the lives of education professionals. Illustrated throughout with practical examples from a range of education settings, it considers observation as a means of assessing teaching and learning and also as a way of developing teachers’ skills and knowledge. Key topics include: The purposes and uses of lesson observation The socio-political and historical context in which lesson observation has developed Practical guidance on a range of observation models and methods Teacher autonomy and professional identity Performance management, professional standards and accountability Peer observation, self-observation and critical reflection Using video in lesson observation. Written for all student and practising teachers as well teacher educators and those engaged in educational research, Classroom Observation is an essential introduction to how we observe, why we observe and how it can be best used to improve teaching and learning.

A practical, research-based guide for ensuring trustworthy classroom observations that provide teachers with meaningful feedback Better Feedback for Better Teaching is an essential resource for school, district, and state, leaders committed to high-quality classroom observations. This practical guide outlines the knowledge and skills classroom observers need to identify and help develop effective teaching, and explains how leaders can best facilitate the development of classroom observers. The best way to ensure high quality instruction in every classroom is to provide teachers with accurate, constructive feedback on practices proven to enhance student learning. Skilled classroom observers help teachers do their best work, so that they can guide students to their greatest potential. Better Feedback for Better Teaching provides helpful, reliable strategies from leading experts and practitioners involved in the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) project, which carried out one of the largest, most influential studies of classroom observations to date. Among the many topics covered, Better Feedback for Better Teaching describes how to: Build a shared vision of effective teacher feedback among observers Ensure a common understanding of a classroom observation tool Train observers to collect objective evidence from a lesson, efficiently and free of bias Leverage data to improve how observers are trained and supported This comprehensive resource includes helpful starting points, as well as tips to refine techniques and address new challenges. Each section combines clear explanations of key ideas with concrete, adaptable examples and strategies. Self-assessments are included to help you quickly rank current needs and find the most relevant solutions. Filled with valuable, practical tools, Better Feedback for Better Teaching helps educators cultivate high-quality classroom observations that improve teaching and learning.

Soldier Spy is the first true story told by an MI5 officer. A shocking, honest account revealing never-before-seen detail into MI5's operation. 'I do it because it is all I know. I'm a hunter of people and I'm damn good at it.' Bestselling author Tom Marcus is the first MI5 officer to tell the true story of British counter terrorism operations on our streets. Recruited after the 7/7 attacks on London, Tom quickly found himself immersed in the tense world of watching, following and infiltrating networks of terrorists, spies and foreign agents. It was a job that took over his life for months at a time and cost him dear, taking him to the limit of physical and mental endurance. Filled with extraordinary, searing accounts of operations that saved countless lives, Soldier Spy is the only authentic account by an ex-MI5 officer of the round-the-clock battle to keep this country's streets safe. 'Very well written, gives a startling amount of operational detail, the biggest shock of all - MI5 agreed to its publication' Sunday Times 'A blistering, visceral insight into life on the front line against terror, revealed in remarkable detail' Daily Telegraph 'Startling, absolutely fascinating. A footsoldier's account out on the street. A vivid picture of surveillance'Midweek, Radio 4 'Gripping. One of the most successful MI5 undercover surveillance officers of his time' Sun

′Helping Teachers Develop is a positive, uplifting, encouraging publication... very good value for money. It is the sort of publication we need in the profession and it is well worth being part of every head teacher or staff development tutor′s collection of really useful books. I have to confess, even before I had finished reading it for review I was using Helping Teachers Develop with my trainee teachers′ - Peter Stammers, in the Journal of In-service Education `The book explores ways teachers at all levels can mentor others and improve their careers. [It] also contains guidance on ways to cope with having your lessons observed and how to make constructive comments as an observer′ - Michael Shaw, Times Educational Supplement `This is another excellent and accessible practice guide from someone who, unusually, understands both the classroom teacher from long years of practice and the theory. The chapter on "observation of teachers" should be read by every headteacher, deputy and teacher who engages in monitoring classroom practice. Note, a few inspectors would benefit too! It′s one to read and then refer to on a regular basis if you work in schools or PGCE departments′ - Tim Brighouse, Chief Adviser for London Schools Helping teachers develop - whether they′re trainees, newly or recently qualified, in their first three, ten or twenty years, and whether they′re superb or struggling - is vital for the profession, for the millions of children who′ll learn more as a result. Schools have to take greater responsibility for staff′s continuing professional development (CPD) but there is little real help for the people who develop teachers. The best teachers will be expected to mentor trainee and newly qualified teachers (NQTs) and share good practice with all colleagues. Drawing directly on real-life experience and the latest research, this book will help people in a mentoring, coaching, advisory or management role to: o develop teachers, through understanding adult learning and the CPD cycle o meet needs from the range of professional development activities o carry out observations and give oral and written feedback in a range of situations o help and monitor planning and other parts of the job o help teachers develop their careers. Using examples from current practice, Sara will take you though every stage of CPD, from what professional development is to how you can support and monitor staff in your own school. There are photocopiable materials for you to use. The guidance in this book will be essential for mentors, induction tutors, CPD/staff development coordinators, people with advanced skills or excellent teacher status, and all those with a leadership and management role in schools or local authorities. Sara Bubb is the UK′s leading induction expert and has vast expertise in the CPD field. She runs many courses for different levels of school staff, assesses trainee and advanced skills teachers and is the new teacher expert for the Times Educational Supplement. Sara has been seconded from the Institute of Education to the DfES as the consultant for the Chartered London Teacher initiative. She is the co-author, with Peter Earley, of Leading and Managing Continuing Professional Development and Managing Teacher Workload.

Introducing the concept of observation to social work students can be a complex and challenging task. Assessing their observation skills and assignments can be even harder, especially if much of this work takes place implicitly, throughout their training and placements. This book will help students to grasp the fundamentals of social work observation, from the theories and methods to how these can be demonstrated in everyday practice. Skills are covered throughout, as well as effective observation work with different client groups and in different settings. The authors argue that an observant social worker is an effective and resilient one, and demonstrate this through case study material and research summaries.