Cycle Two of the Delaware Mentoring and Induction program focuses on Planning and Preparation and Instruction (Components One and Three of Delaware's DPAS II Framework/Domains One and Three of Danielson’s Framework.) The purpose of the cycle is to help you to get a clear picture of how these components are interrelated and how they are also connected to all aspects of the framework.  

Cycle Two - Procedures/Forms

 1. Preparation for Pre-Observation #3 Meeting -Schedule a meeting with your mentor to review lesson plans. Prior to this meeting you should review the Guiding Questions for Planning and Preparation.  This document provides potential questions that may be asked of you by your mentor or an administrator. You are not required to answer the questions in written form; however, you should think about how you would respond if the question were to be asked of you. Choose a lesson plan that you will be implementing to bring to the meeting. You do not need to create a new lesson plan specifically for this meeting as it is assumed that you plan in enough detail that someone can read any of your lesson plans and understand your goals, objectives, activities, and assessments for that particular lesson.

2. Pre-observation #3 Meeting - During this meeting, you will review your chosen lesson plan with your mentor and he/she will complete a discussion log. After your discussion, you should highlight your current level of performance on each of the elements of Component One: Planning and Preparation.

The lesson observed in Observation #3 may or may not be the lesson that you use to complete the instructional observation part of this cycle (Observation #4). That will be determined by you and the mentor. Identify a date on which you will be observed for instruction of this lesson or one in the future. 

3. Observation #3 - Your mentor will observe 30 minutes of your instruction. He/She will either video or create a written record of the lesson that you have elected to use for instruction. Your mentor will record what he/she sees and hears during this observation on the Observation Form for Cycle Two.  If you are not using the lesson plan that you previously reviewed together, give a copy of your current lesson plan to your mentor before he/she comes in to observe.

4. Preparation for Post-Observation #3 Meeting - Your  mentor will schedule a meeting soon after Observation #3 to review your performance and evidence of practice in instruction. Prior to this meeting you should review the Guiding Questions for Instruction.

5. Post-Observation #3 Meeting - During the meeting, your mentor will discuss your performance in instruction with you. After considering the elements of Component Three (Instruction), select one element in which you would like to refine your practice. An example may be that I see that you do not wait very long when asking questions. Thus, you may select this as your area of focus. Before closing your meeting, decide what you may need from the mentor and try to select a date for Observation #4 about three to four weeks after this conference.

6. Video Streaming - You should plan to focus on refining your skills in the selected element for a period of 2 to 4 weeks. During that time, you will review video streaming clips ranging from 3 to 10 minutes that will provide you with examples of best practice from which you may seek strategies or clarifications related to your area of focus. Your site coordinator will provide a username and password so you may access the videos from Educational Impact Online Academy. Complete the New Teacher Video Form and share and discuss your responses with your mentor.

7. Observation #4 -  Your mentor will schedule a time to observe you during instruction for the fourth and final time. Your mentor will record what he/she sees or hears during this observation on the Observation Form for Cycle Two focusing only on the element from Component Three that you chose to work on.

8. Post-Observation #4 Meeting - Meet with your mentor to discuss the last observation, review his/her notes regarding your practice on the discussion log, and any questions that you wish to share. Together, you will review the Framework Rubrics and highlight your current level of performance on each of the elements for Component One (Planning and Preparation) and Component Three (Instruction) which will determine your next steps in the mentoring process. If it is determined that your current level of performance is in the “Proficient” range, you should move on to Cycle Three. If you still identify as “Basic” in an element(s) you may want to refine your practice in these areas while working with your mentor. It is advisable to remain in Cycle Two until the majority of the elements of Component One and Three are at the "Proficient" level.

Your mentor is there to provide support and feedback. He/she may see improvement in the component you selected, but may want you to consider refining other areas before you move forward. Such suggestions are made to help assure that you are ultimately successful in your formal evaluation. However, in the end, it is your decision as to whether you leave this cycle or work on improving your level of performance in the elements of Components One and Three.

9. Workshop Requirement - At some point during Cycle Two, you will be attending a workshop on Engaging Students in Learning. You will bring several tasks that you are currently using in your classroom to this workshop. During the workshop, you will explore the meaning of engagement and analyze your tasks to determine if they meet the criteria. When your mentor comes in to observe your instruction during this cycle, he/she will be looking for the features of engagement as seen in instruction. (Helpful Resources for this workshop: Engaging Students in Learning PowerPoint Presentation, Discussion Log-Engaging Students, Engaging Students in Learning Workshop Packet)

10. Verification/Cycle Two Sign-Out - At the end of Cycle Two, you are to complete a Verification of Services Form for New Teachers. As you were advised in Cycle One, this form is a personal statement and should not be completed while you are meeting with your mentor. You only need to check off the statements and sign the form. You are provided an opportunity to note any concerns on the form. It is important that you be honest. If you feel that you need to be matched with a different mentor, please indicate that you would like a change. Send the completed form to your Lead Mentor/Site Coordinator as indicated by your school/district. (Click here for Cycle 2 Verification of Services Form for Mentors)

Documentation of Cycle Two Completion

You will be issued a certificate of completion for Cycle Two which must be kept for a period of three years.

Please place the following items in your portfolio as documentation for Cycle Two:

• Copies of discussions logs given to you by your mentor
• New Teacher Video Form
• Certificate of completion for Cycle Two

Click on link for access to the following for New Teachers: Initial Phase  / Cycle One  /  Cycle Two  /  Cycle Three  /  Cycle Four

Click on link for access to the following:  Cycle One for Mentors  /  Cycle Two for Mentors (coming soon)