A Comparison of Classroom Observation Instruments for Middle School Mathematics

• In Event: Roundtable Session 100
  In Roundtable Session: Current Issues in Classroom Observation and Assessment

Abstract

Research has documented the influence of teachers on student achievement. However, the specific characteristics of effective instructional practice are less clear. Currently, more measurement tools are needed to reliably measure the quality of classroom instruction at scale. We compare the results from two classroom observation protocols. One includes math-specific rubrics. Both are currently in use by researchers and practitioners. We investigate whether the subject-specific protocol provides similar rankings of teachers’ instruction compared with the more general protocol. We also ask whether rubric results are predictive of teacher value-added scores.

Authors

• Karin Katterfeld, Westat

• Rebecca Anne Schmidt, Vanderbilt University

• Anne Garrison, Vanderbilt University

• Daniel Berebitsky, Vanderbilt University

• Thomas M. Smith, Vanderbilt University