Mandatory 35 Hours of Observation For Education Specialists Level 1, Mild/Moderate

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1 To: Re: 2005/2006 Education Specialists Mandatory 35 Observation Hours for Education Specialists Education Specialists are required to do 35 hours of observation before they file for their credential. This is a requirement of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This document is intended to give education specialists all the information they need to do their 35 hours of observations as well as provide them with the needed forms. This document is not for interns working toward their Multiple- or Single-Subject Credential. ******************* Frequently Asked Questions ******************* Why are observations required? As noted above, this is a requirement of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The philosophy that guides this requirement is that teachers learn about teaching, students, and schools by watching other teachers interact with students; by being on different school campuses; and by talking to colleagues about teaching, students, and schools. Specifically, observing other teachers teach in various settings helps the intern to Gather specific ideas to try in his/her own classroom; Analyze his/her own teaching style and practices; Develop personal beliefs about teaching and learning; Broaden his/her perspectives of schooling; Expose him/her to range and variety of settings and services; Understand the past and future educational experiences of students. Are there rules and regulations regarding where Education Specialists can do their 35 hours of observations? Yes. Education Specialists need to have 20 hours in special education settings in o infant/toddlers o preschool o elementary o middle/junior high o senior high school o adult education o community college

2 o community advisory council o full inclusion settings o special educators: Language/Speech specialist, occupational therapist, school psychologist, behavior specialist, program specialist) 15 hours in general education settings in o K-3 o Grades 4-6 o Middle/Junior high school o High School o Bilingual/ESL class o District Professional Association (Union) meeting o School Board meeting When visiting a classroom, each visit should be a minimum of one hour and should include observation of a teacher in-action and time to conference with the observed teacher. Interns are only allowed to do two classroom visits at the same school site. This includes the intern s own school. A single classroom visit, however, can be more than one hour in length. Can interns visit other interns? Not unless explicitly directed to do so by their CGU Faculty Advisor. In this case, the Faculty Advisor needs to sign the observation form, not the peer. Should the visitations be recorded in a particular manner? Yes. Attached is a packet of forms that are designed to help Education Specialists log their 35 hours of observation. Also notice that you need to fill out an Observation Report Form for each visit and need to get a witness (i.e., the observed teacher) to verify your visit. When do Education Specialists need to complete the 35 hours of observation and where do they submit their forms? Education Specialists need to finish their 35 observation hours by the Monday after the job fair if they want to apply for their credential by August. Make a copy of the completed observation form packet. Give the original to CGU s Credential Analyst. Keep the copy in your own file as a backup.

3 How do interns go about arranging visits? It is up to the intern to make all his/her visitation arrangements. To find good teachers/schools to visit, interns are encouraged to talk to their CGU advisor; their district mentor teacher; their principal; and other teachers and interns. Interns can also call CGU s Teacher Education Office to get a list of Outstanding Teachers Recommended for Observation. Once an intern has identified a teacher or school he/she wants to visit, the intern should telephone that specific teacher or school and set up a visitation. The intern should identify him/herself as an intern in Claremont Graduate University s Teacher Education and explain that he/she is required to by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to observe other teachers. Admittedly, it can be difficult for interns to find the time to do these required visits. In the past, many interns use their personal days to complete their observation hours. Often interns have also arranged to visit year-round schools during their Winter or Spring Breaks. In some instances, interns have had very supportive principals who, when reminded that the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing requires interns to do 35 hours of observation, have allowed their interns to clock some visitation hours as professional development. What should an intern do once he/she gets to a site to do a visit? When doing a visit, interns need to check in at the school office. They should have a picture ID ready to present and should tell the office personnel that they are an intern from Claremont Graduate University s Teacher Education Program and that they have come to observe (teacher s name). Can interns utilize hours logged in EDU 300G? How about hours logged in EDU 170? Interns who attended EDU 300G in the Spring can apply five (5) hours of the observations done in that class to optional site hours. This option is not available to interns who took EDU 170 in the Spring. Where do interns go if they have questions? Interns should see CGU s Credential Analyst if they have questions.

4 Observation Instructions for Education Specialist 20 hours with special education large group, small group, individual, bilingual 15 hours in general education Required Observations of Special Education with Students with Disabilities (20 hours) 1. Infants/toddlers 2. Preschool 3. Elementary 4. Middle Junior High 5. Senior High School 6. Adult Education class 7. Community College 8. Community Advisory Council 9. Full Inclusion classroom 10. Special educators (Language/Speech Specialist, Occupational Therapist, School Psychologist, Behavior Specialist, Program Specialist) General Education classrooms 15 hours 1. General Education elementary K-3 and General Education--middle school 3. General Education high school 4. Bilingual ESL class 5. District Professional Association (Union) Meeting 6. School board meeting

5 Mandatory Observation Hours: Special Education (20 Hours) Setting Type Date of Visit Time In Time Out Name of Place Witness Name & Title & Phone # Witness Signature *Form # Infant Toddler Preschool Elementary Middle School High School Adult Education Community College Community Advisory Council Full Inclusion Special Educators: LSS, RSP, OT, Psychologist, Program Specialist, Behavior Specialist YOU WILL LIKELY NEED TO MAKE COPIES OF THIS FORM.

6 Mandatory Observation Hours: General Education (15 Hours) Setting Type Date of Visit Time In Time Out Name of Place Witness Name & Title & Phone # Witness Signature *Form # K Middle School High School Bilingual/ESL Professional (Union) Meeting School District Board Meeting YOU WILL LIKELY NEED TO MAKE COPIES OF THIS FORM.