The Three-Minute Classroom Walk-Through: Changing School Supervisory Practice One Teacher at a Time

by William K. Poston, Carolyn J. Downey (Editor), Betty E. Steffy (Editor)

Change the entire school culture with this collaborative method of supervision! For years, the classic supervision model has frustrated both principals and teachers by fostering superior-subordinate relationships, focusing on teacher conformity rather than growth, or producing checklist data that are irrelevant to the curriculum.  The Three-Minute Classroom Walk-Through  offers a practical, time-saving alternative that impacts student achievement by cultivating self-reliant teachers who are continuously improving their practice. This method answers principals′ key

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Leadership

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2004

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fine, but the last half of the book dives pretty deeply into the various theories the model is built on. It’s good to include that, of course, but I’d like a bit more emphasis on practical application. In the other hand, there are a few gems in the more philosophical section that really stopped me and made me think about my approach to not only classroom observation, but teaching as a whole. Even if you decide not to adopt this model (which I can’t do for a variety of reasons), there’s a lot here to challenge your thought processes around the practice.

[Lynne Beavers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to agree that you can in fact collect valuable data in very brief visits to classrooms -- provided you make lots of visits!! This book reminded me a lot of John Antonetti's walkthrough philosophy. I also liked the fact that it focused on WHAT was being taught as much as HOW it was being taught.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely Helpful but also Frustratingly Repetitive

Helpful, but oh so repetitive. I did learn from this book but it could have been like 50 pages shorter bc a lot of the info was very redundant. Covered an interesting way to conduct walk throughs, though, and I can see myself using some of what I learned here in my future career as an administrator.

[Anthony A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I made it about half-way through this book as part of the requirements of my class. That first half of the book was valuable if you, as an administrator, are going to use the walk-through as part of your teacher evaluation process. Good detail and examples.

[Gretchen Pike · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT! Have already begin to put the principles in this book into practice. Must read for any instructional leader/principal.

[Eileen Lennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good idea, but probably not feasible in the NYCDOE. Oh well.