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INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS

Clinical Field Experience A: Informal Observations

Joshua D. Winn

College of Education, Grand Canyon University

EAD-530-O501

Dr. Dawn Johnson

December 21, 2022

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INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS

Informal observations is a way a principal or other school leader can check in on the

learning environment of a classroom and see how classes are progressing towards the goals

outlined in the School Improvement Plan. I had the opportunity to interview my principal, as

well as walkthrough two classrooms. This essay will be a reflection about my interview and

walkthroughs.

To begin, my principal mentor provided me with a great amount of information regarding

my school’s informal observation process. He told me that his goal in conducting informal

walkthroughs is to build information to have for ongoing coaching conversations with staff

members. Walkthroughs are typically very focused with the administrative team looking for

specific things that they are focusing on that week or month. My principal mentor has created a

“no distraction time” for assistant principals where their radios are off and they aren’t to have

any scheduled meetings. During this time, they have the freedom to conduct informal

walkthroughs where they try to be in classrooms at least twice a week. My principal’s goal is that

each teacher will see an administrator in their classroom at least once a month. He said feedback

should be at the school level, department level, and individual level. Once at the individual level,

feedback should be more narrative.

My walkthroughs were very different. I went into a 7th grade math class where the teacher

was preparing to give a test. She did not have control over her class and she barely said anything

to the class. She had the attendance roster on the Smartboard and was distributing the testing

materials. She did not even tell the class to begin taking the test; some of them started and others

continued to talk to one another and goof around. The other class I observed was a 6th grade

Language Arts class. This class was extremely organized and on task. The teacher had her
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INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS
expectations on the Smartboard as well as a timer to keep herself on track. The class was

engaged and she drew popsicle sticks to randomly call on students to answer questions. When a

student needed to use the restroom, she raised her hand and used a hand signal to which the

teacher nodded her head to give permission without skipping a beat in what she was saying. I

was very impressed with how well the class ran.

Standard six, part d of the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders says

educational leaders “foster continuous improvement of individual and collective instructional

capacity to achieve outcomes envisioned for each student” (Professional Standards for

Educational Leaders, 2015). After conducting my walkthroughs, I thought about how I would

provide feedback to each teacher. It was evident that the math teacher I observed needed support.

She is a career changer and was hired around the start of the second quarter. She would benefit

from having a teacher mentor and possibly observing how other teachers conduct their

classrooms. As an administrator, I would be sure to stop by her class more often than not to

provide feedback and coaching to help her develop in her new career. The Language Arts teacher

I observed needed praise and positive feedback for what I saw. In my opinion, it is equally as

important to celebrate the good as coach the areas of growth so teachers know what they are

doing a great job and to continue doing what they are doing.

To conclude, this was an extremely interesting and informative clinical experience. I look

forward to doing more walkthroughs as a future administrator and helping teachers grow in their

profession.
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INFORMAL OBSERVATIONS
Reference

Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. (2015). National Policy Board for Educational

Administration. http://www.npbea.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Professional-

Standards-for-Educational-Leaders_2015.pdf.