Learning Walks: Creating Opportunities to Browse, Borrow, and Build Based on Lauren Renick’s work, University of Pittsburgh – Presented by Christina Steinbacher-Reed

Today’s Essential Questions How are learning walks part of a schools learning community? What are the protocols that guide learning walks? How are learning walks part of a school’s complete professional development cycle? How do we prepare our staff for learning walks?

LearningWalks are... A tool for getting smarter about teaching and learning Used to plan PD and learn how it is translated into practice Opportunities to browse, borrow, and build NOT: An administrative evaluation “I got’cha” A pony show A stand-alone event

Learning Walk Defined The LearningWalk is an organized walk through a school’s halls to observe the instructional core through the eyes and voices of students Read and respond to Resnick’s description of LearningWalks

LearningWalks in a Nested Learning Community Must be situated within a Nested Learning Community characterized by continual learning and two-way accountability Within this context, it is used to plan professional development and learn how it is translated into practice

Student Achievement Focused PD and analysis of student work LW Focused PD and analysis of student work LW

The Most Important Thing Read pg On the “Notes” page (p.12) –The most important thing about LW is ______. –It is _________________. –It is __________________. –But the most important thing about LW is ________.

What are the protocols of LW? Orientation of School Staff Orientation of Walkers Classroom Visits Hall Talk Debrief Reflection to Staff

LearningWalk Protocols Read pg Picture what each section would “look like, and sound like” in your building. Record “Sketch Notes” as your read each section.

How do we prepare our staff for learning walks? Given what you have learned thus far, what would you do to prepare your staff for LearningWalks?

Did you include... ? Introduction to the core instructional program Definition and purpose of LearningWalks LearningWalk protocols Understanding the difference between evidence and unwarranted judgement or evaluation

Preview of the Rest of Book

Vignette One: Clark Street Elementary The orientation The classroom visit Hall Talk Feedback letters

Reflections What aspects of LearningWalks make sense to your context? How might you modify LearningWalks to meet your needs? What benefits do you foresee with implementing LW in your school? What challenges do you anticipate?