Cycle two of the program is Domain One and Three of Danielson’s framework. The purpose of the cycle is to help new teacher get a clear picture of these two domains are interrelated and how they are also connected to all aspects of the framework. In addition the connections of all four domains are explored to identify how no one domain can stand alone when teaching is effective.     

Just as in cycle one, the journey is a personal one. The length of time that the new teacher may take to complete the steps is not prescribed. You should be concerned with helping new teachers see how planning and preparation. You will again provide the evidence which the new teacher will use to identify his/her current level of performance on the rubrics.

Documents used in this cycle:

Guiding Questions- These are there to provide potential questions that may be asked by you and/or an administrator. New teachers are not expected to respond to the questions in written form. However, you should ask a variety of these questions during your conference to help new teachers build confidence in responding to such questions. In addition you should assist them in identifying and presenting artifacts that serve to strengthen their evidence of practice. 

Planning
Engaging Students in Learning
Instruction

Discussion Logs (3 filled out by the mentor) -   These one page documents you complete during your conferences with the new teachers. You should give a copy. It is this document that will help the new teacher reflect on their successes and challenges and set goals for refining practice.  

Planning Logs
Engaging Students in Learning Log
Instruction Log one

Video Streaming Review Sheet – The video streaming described previously now allows new teachers to view instructional practices, hear analysis of practice, and potentially find strategies that they may wish to implement. They should discuss what they gained from seeing the clips with you at the conference related to instructional practices.

Video Streaming Review Sheet #2

Procedural Steps

1. Set the initial meeting with the new teacher. At that time the new teacher should bring a copy of a lesson plan that he/she will be implementing.  They should not create a lesson plan for the mentoring program. It is assumed that the plan they share will contain enough detail that someone can read the plan and understand the goals, objectives, activities, and assessments to be used and how they would impact learning. You review the plan together and discuss its potential to be effective. You complete the log for planning at this meeting. This may or may not be the lesson that the new teacher will use to complete the instructional observation part of this cycle. That will be determined by the two of you at that time. If this will not be the lesson, you should remind them that you will need a copy of the lesson you will observe.

2. You will determine if the lesson will be videoed or if you will only be able to observe and script. You should be there at least 30 minutes.  

3. As soon as possible set up a meeting at which you will both review the lesson. Remember to complete the first discussion for instruction. Please remember to bring your Framework book with you. Considering the elements of the domain, the new teacher should select one component on which to focus.  An example may be that he/she sees that they do not wait very long when asking questions. Thus, he/she may select this as the area of focus. Check with the new teacher to determine any additional support or resources they may need from you.

4. The new teacher should then work in refining he/her practice on this one component. This should take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks on refining your skills on the component that you selected. During that time, they should review some of the video streaming clips to seek strategies or clarifications related to your area of focus. Implement your plan and think about changes that you are seeing.  If they do not contact you after four weeks, there may be a need for you to check in to see how you can help.
 
5. The new teacher should contact you when he/she is ready for the second observation.  Again, you may video this class session. During that time the focus is only on the area of focus identified by the new teacher.

6. Conduct your final meeting for this cycle as soon as possible after the observation. Complete the discussion log, review of the lesson to identify changes in the component.  The new teacher should review the scoring guides in the Framework book and mark where he/she believes their current performance level is on each of the components for Domain I and III. 

At this point the new teacher will determine his/her next steps in the process. If his/her performance is in the “proficient’ range he/she should move on to the next cycle.  If the performance still contains some areas of “basic” performance, you may want help them consider working on areas that are still not under control. You would use your questioning techniques and coaching skills to help facilitate the review of the evidence. Remember to point out what you see and hear and ask the new teacher to discuss any evidence that he/he may have that would strengthen your view of their practice. However, in the end, it is the new teacher’s decision as to whether he/she leaves this cycle or works on other components.

Workshop Requirement

Sometime during the second cycle you will be instructed to attend an Engaging Students in Learning workshop. You will be asked to bring some tasks that you are currently using in your classroom. At the session the two of you will explore the meaning of engagement and analyze your tasks to see if they meet the criteria. After this session it is assumed that new teachers will demonstrate an emerging ability to construct and implement learning tasks and lesson that will engage their students in learning. .  
(Link to Engagement Documents)

Sign Out

At the end of this cycle you are to complete the Verification of Services form. This should not be done while the two of you are meeting. This is a personal statement.  You need only to check the statements and sign the form. There is an opportunity for you to note any concerns that you may have related to the new teacher’s decision to move forward. . It is important that you be honest about your feelings. Send this form to the lead mentor/site coordinator as indicated by your school/district.  Make certain that to complete and submit any other documents that your site might require to initiate your stipend pay.        

Verification of Services Form- Cycle Two

Document Collection

Documents to be completed by the new teacher- 1-4 depending on the site. Those would include the video streaming sheet and the Verification of Services form.  They will be given a certificate for this cycle.

The basic documents should be kept in a portfolio and your Danielson book should reflect the marking of the components of practice.

Documents to be completed by the mentor- 2-6 depending on the format of the observations (video tapes require no notes, but the discussion of the video may lead to notes). Site may have mentors bring forms to the Engaging Students In learning workshop session. You will need to discuss how your site wishes you to document your hours of contact with the site coordinator. You will be given a certificate for serving as mentor on which your clock hours will be indicated.