Definitions

Definitions

Definitions:

 * Collaborative Assessment Log** – a formative assessment tool based on the Ohio Standards for Educators, developed by the Ohio Department of Education, for use as a framework and a focus for interactions between the resident educator and mentor.


 * Formal Observations** - Mentors will schedule and conduct two formal classroom observations of their mentee during the school year. Following each observation, a scheduled meeting for reflection and discussion of the observation will be conducted. These are documented events.


 * Goal Setting Process** – a formative assessment tool developed by the Ohio Department of Education, in which the resident educator, with support from the mentor, reflects on his/her practice, determines an area of focus, sets specific goals and develops a collaborative plan to reach these desired outcomes.


 * Informal Observations** - observations which occur as needed but are not formally structured. A resident educator or mentor may request an informal observation to focus on a specific aspect of teaching or of a lesson. Information gathered during the observation is shared and discussed. An informal observation is never used for evaluation purposes.


 * Instructional Mentoring Session** – a scheduled meeting between a mentor and resident educator to plan, or discuss issues pertinent to their settings. The Collaborative Assessment Log is used to guide the meeting.


 * Mentor** - A mentor is a veteran teacher with a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience. A mentor should have a willingness to spend time coaching, listening, modeling and supporting the resident educator. There are two categories of mentors - Full Mentor for resident educators and Touchbase Mentor for educators new to the district having a five year professional license.


 * New Teache**r - All teachers who are new to the school district, regardless of the number of years of experience are considered new teachers and will be assigned either a Touchbase Mentor or Full Mentor.


 * Pathwise** - is a observation tool used by mentors to provide feedback and promote the ongoing examination of classroom practice. Pathwise is based on Charlotte Danielson’s work in which she identified the four domains of professional practice. It is not an evaluation tool. Information is between mentor and resident educator only. However, the resident educators may share the report with any person they wish.

0 years experience, new to the Upper Arlington School District and holds a two year provisional license; or meets other eligbility requirements as set by the Ohio Department of Education.
 * Resident Educator** - An resident educator is a teacher with