How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

I have been observed once and an AP recently said she wants to observe me soon and to let her know when is good.

So, that makes 2 so far.

How many times do I have to get observed? Also, what if they forgot? I mean I thought it was 4 times a year but does that mean I will get observed 3 more times before the end of the school year??!! If they forget, am I obligated to remind them?

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

i believe you're in the city, right? my husband is untenured in the city and has been observed 3 times each year.

when i was in the city, i was NEVER formally observed. how weird is that? but i always received satisfactory evaluations and a positive report at the end of the year. i kept asking the principal to come in and he said, "Don't worry about it!" weird, right?!!! However, i left the city before 3 years, so ti didn't matter to me.

in my suburban district, i was formally observed 3 times for 3 years. there were a few informal observations as well and check-ins, but they were not written up or anything like that. the principal was the type that walked around the school a lot anyway.

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

I have heard that you can be observed up to 5 times as an untenured teacher in the city.
But I was never observed more than twice a year.

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

Thanks to both of you! And yes, I am in the city.

I am surprised that as a new teacher its been fairly quiet throughout the year... however they ALWAYS threaten that they will be coming around! I can't tell you how many times they made a HUGE DEAL about how people who be coming around, etc... put teachers under an IMMENSE amount of stress.. and then it's for no reason

In any case, if they do not request another observation after this 2nd one, I am definitely going to keep my mouth shut!

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

When I first started I was observed 6 times a year (5 by AP, 1 by principal)

For some reason they decreased it to 5 a year for untenured teachers (4 by AP, 1 by principal)

Tenured teachers get observed 2 times a year (by AP) in my school.

ETA: This is in NYC and these are all formal observations I'm talking about.

Message edited 5/10/2009 12:38:24 AM.

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

Every school I have been at has different.

At my first school, I was observed 4 times unannounced . . . 3 of those observations occurred back to back as per the contract (Apparently they wanted to see how your unit developed).
At my second school, I was observed two times announced.
This year, I was observed 3 times unannounced.

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

I teach in the city and untenured teachers are observed up to 6 times a year. Two are formal with AP and one is formal with the principal. The rest are unannounced. That being said I've been there five years and with the exception of my tenure year I have never had that many.

Message edited 5/10/2009 8:58:36 AM.

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

Pre-Bloomberg, observations were a joke, at least in the two schools I worked in. I had one formal observation in 3 years at my first school, and I don't think I was observed at all during my first two years in my current school. Now we get one formal a year and I don't recall my last informal- they're not done in my school even though I think they can be a good thing.

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

My first year i was observed 3 times...2 by ap and one by principal..

Last year I was observed once maybe twice...

This year is my tenure year and i have been observed once...and in two weeks the teacher i coteach with is gettin so observed.... but i considering me gettin observed also....

Don't say anything to them...they dont come that's their problem...they can't give you a U if u arent observed as much as you should b ...don't worry u will get that S at the end of the year ;)

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

the least amount of official observations is 2, thats whats in the contract....meaning pre-observation meeting, observation and post observation meeting with a rating of Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory and put into your file.

However as we know they can walk into your room at anytime and observe unoffically.

Re: How many times a year are new un-tenured teachers supposed to be observed?

Posted by drpepper318

When I first started I was observed 6 times a year (5 by AP, 1 by principal)

For some reason they decreased it to 5 a year for untenured teachers (4 by AP, 1 by principal)

Tenured teachers get observed 2 times a year (by AP) in my school.

ETA: This is in NYC and these are all formal observations I'm talking about.