Classroom observations are an optional component of Project FOCUS. If we will be conducting classroom observations at your school, this page will give you detailed information about the process. If you have any questions about this process, please contact our Observations Coordinator, Kristi Baker.
For us to conduct classroom observations, you must be able to identify and obtain parent consent for 2 students per grades 1-5 who are receiving tier 3, special education, and/or dyslexia instruction. (10 students total)
Classroom observations are focused only on the instruction received by students identified for observation. Teachers will not be evaluated.
The classroom observations process includes:
- Identify a week for our observations team to conduct observations at your school.
Observations will be scheduled in blocks so as to complete as many as possible each day. In the case of absences, an alternate consented student will be observed or the observation will be rescheduled for another day
- Identify students for observation.
2 students per grades 1-5 who are receiving tier 3, special education, and/or dyslexia instruction is required. We recommend identifying and getting Parent Consent Forms for 3-4 students per grade so alternates will be available in the case of absences the day we are there for observations.
If your school houses fewer grades but you have been accepted as a partner school, we will require 2 students per grade in the study’s grade range at your school (eg. school has grades k-4, 2 students per grades 1, 2 and 3 will be required, a total of 6)
- Obtain a Parent Consent Form for all students to be observed.
Parent consent is required for all students who will be observed in order to comply with FERPA regulations and our research review authorizations from Southern Methodist University and your school district.
- Complete the Student Demographic & Scheduling Form.
This form collects important information we need to conduct a reliable analysis after all data is collected. It also provides space to enter each consented student’s reading instruction information (teacher, teacher email, room number, days and times of instruction and tier level). We will use this form to create the most efficient observations schedule possible to ensure minimal disruption.
- A research staff member will come to your school to pick up all parent consents and the Student Demographic & Scheduling Form the Monday prior to the week scheduled for observations.
On this day, we are also happy to meet with teachers to answer questions so they are comfortable having one of our researchers in their classroom the following week.
Please do not send Parent Consents or the Student Demographic & Scheduling Form to us via email. Electronic communications are not secure and sending a document through email with a student’s full name is a FERPA violation.