Observing in Classrooms

The Standards-in-Action (SIA) 2.0 classroom observation system is designed to be formative and forward-looking for your administrators, teacher trainers, and instructional leaders where the observer is invested in the teachers' success. The training addresses three basic questions:

  • How well are lessons aligned with your state-adopted standards?
  • How can lessons — including instructional practices — promote higher and deeper levels of student learning and more relevance to adult learners?
  • Based on observation feedback, what are the professional development needs to strengthen standards-based instruction?

Learn how to assess how well your instructors are aligning their instruction to standards and employing effective instructional strategies through structured classroom observations. The goal is not to pass judgment on instructors. Instead, the goal is to coach them on more effective practices and to create a way to identify needed improvements.

SIA offers classroom observation training and tools for English language arts (ELA)/literacy, mathematics, and English language acquisition. Ready-to-use training materials include: (1) annotated PowerPoint presentations for ELA/literacy and mathematics; (2) content-specific SIA Classroom Observation Tools; (3) SIA Classroom Videos (4) SIA Video Resource Packs that include descriptive annotations of the classroom videos; (5) lesson plans and a sequence of planned activities; and (6) supplemental video-viewing resources.

SIA 2.0 Observing in ELA/Literacy Classrooms

The SIA Classroom Observation Tool for ELA/Literacy concentrates on six Core Actions:

  1. Lesson content is rigorous and relevant for the level defined by the state-adopted standards.
  2. Questions and tasks are text-specific and cognitively demanding.
  3. Lesson content and activities productively engage students.
  4. Lesson content is intentionally sequenced to develop students' skills and knowledge.
  5. Students' levels of understanding are checked throughout the lesson, and instruction is adjusted accordingly.

One additional Core Action applies when English learners are in the classroom:

  1. Lesson activities offer strategic scaffolds to provide English learners access to lesson content.

The SIA ELA/Literacy classroom observation system includes:

Experienced SIA trainers are available to provide this training to states and programs. For more information, please email the LINCS Technical Assistance Center at training@lincs.ed.gov

SIA 2.0 Observing in Mathematics Classrooms

The SIA Classroom Observation Tool for Mathematics concentrates on six Core Actions:

  1. Lesson content productively engages students.
  2. Lesson content is rigorous and relevant for the level defined by the state-adopted standards.
  3. Learning activities are cognitively demanding and maximize opportunities for students to master the lesson content.
  4. Lesson content is intentionally sequenced to develop students skills and knowledge.
  5. Students levels of understanding are checked throughout the lesson, and instruction is adjusted accordingly.

One additional Core Action applies when English learners are in the classroom:

  1. Lesson activities offer strategic scaffolds to provide English learners access to lesson content.

The SIA classroom observation system for mathematics includes:

Experienced SIA trainers are available to provide this training to states and programs. For more information, please email the LINCS Technical Assistance Center at training@lincs.ed.gov.

SIA 2.0 Observing in English Language Acquisition Classrooms

The SIA Classroom Observation Tool for English Language Acquisition concentrates on six Core Actions:

  1. Lesson content is rigorous and relevant for the level defined by the state-adopted standards.
  2. Lesson activities prepare students to access the content of the lesson.
  3. Lesson activities productively engage students in understanding the content.
  4. Lesson activities solidify or extend students’ understanding of what they are reading, writing, and learning.
  5. Lesson activities build and expand students’ academic vocabulary and syntax.
  6. Lesson activities provide strategic scaffolds to provide learners access to lesson content.

The SIA classroom observation system for English language acquisition includes:

Experienced SIA trainers are available to provide this training to states and programs. For more information, please email the LINCS Technical Assistance Center at training@lincs.ed.gov.