The day will be about 6 hours long, divided into three parts:

• A 90-120 minute opening session where we unpack the look fors and walk through the process with your leaders
• About 2 hours to observe 4-6 classrooms, spending about 15 minutes in each room and with 10-15 minute "hallway huddles" between each observation
• A 2-hour closing session to unpack trends and identify next steps as a leadership team

• Subsidy available for a Learning Walk looking for levels of Differentiation. See here for options.
• Other Learning Walks available on the following topics (without subsidy)

Data Snapshots from Learning Walks in Jewish Day Schools

Our fabulous Instructional Coaches come to your school to facilitate.

	Craig Lubner Craig is an Assistant Principal in the Jewish private school sector in New York. Craig is a trained Molecular Biologist, is a graduate of Educational leadership programs from Harvard University, Bar Ilan University and the William Davidson Graduate School of Education. Craig holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Molecular Biology from the University of Cape Town and is a doctoral candidate at the Azrieli Graduate School of Education.
	Odelia Schlisser A BetterLesson Instructional Coach, and a skilled and talented educational professional, with over 22 years of experience in the field of teaching, educational administration, and consulting She has a Master’s in Education from Touro College and a Master’s in Clinical Sociology from University of North Texas. Odelia has been a Principal at several educational facilities including Yeshiva of Central Queens, Yeshiva Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, and The Clifton Cheder.
	Meirav Kravetz Meirav Kravetz is an experienced Hebrew teacher and World Language Coordinator at Miami Hebrew Academy. She facilitates expert webinars for The Center for Educational Technology in Israel, BetterLesson, and others. She holds a Master's degree in Education from Nova Southeastern University.
	Morgan Atkins Morgan Atkins is an instructional coach for BetterLesson who strives to help teachers and leaders transform their classrooms with student-centered learning and social-emotional support. She hopes to help make education more “human.” Morgan taught in Rochester, NY for 6 years, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Education and a Master of Science in Special Education, and has taken classes with Mindful Schools, which she uses to implement mindfulness programs for children and educators. Her passion is teaching, learning, and growing alongside other educators who also believe that education can change the future of our world.
	Joan Vander Walde Joan has served as an outstanding leader and educator in Jewish day schools for over 4 decades at CESJDS, at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Shevet Achim School Twinning Program in MD. Joan holds a BA degree from Brandeis University and an MA in Ed. degree from George Washington University.

These are some of our fabulous Learning Walk Facilitators. Contact Smadar Goldstein at Smadar.Goldstein@betterlesson.com, 347-620-4086, or WhatsApp: 972-523-656867, for more information to share your specific needs and we will match you with the facilitator to best match those needs! Once provided with a date and start time, BetterLesson will reserve a facilitator. 

We request that the Learning Walk is scheduled 4 weeks in advance. Click on this observation schedule to identify the classrooms you want to visit during the walkthroughs, as well as the times that fit best for each classroom. If you need to shorten the opening or closing sessions from two hours to 90 minutes, you can simply indicate that on the observation schedule. We would ask that you have the observation schedule completed at least two weeks prior to the Learning Walk, and let us know if you have any questions as you complete it. 

Here are some email templates we've prepared for you to help you prepare your staff for the Learning Walk.

Pre- Learning Walk Email Template

Hi team,

Over the next <<Time Frame (few days, few weeks)>>, we will be taking several Learning Walks throughout our classrooms. The purpose of a Learning Walk is to have a non-evaluative, low-stakes way for us as a leadership team to grow our capacity in supporting teachers in implementing strategies related to <<Focus Area>> in a manner that is effective for our students and team.

During the Learning Walk, we may visit your classroom to watch the components of your lessons in action for about 10 to 15 minutes. The goal of this time is to identify high-level trends of success and growth, so we will not be providing any direct feedback to teachers as a result.

You do not have to prepare anything for this time. We will not disrupt instruction, we are there to be silent observers! After the Learning Walk, we will share the trends we identified throughout the Learning Walk in a follow-up email.

Thank you in advance for opening up your classroom for our team. We are grateful for your willingness to participate in this learning experience. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
<<Your Name and Title>>

Post- Learning Walk Email Template

Hi team,

<<Time Frame (earlier today, over the past few weeks)>>, we took a Learning Walk to identify trends in the area of <<Focus Area>>. We had the pleasure of visiting several classrooms and used this <<Learning Walk Tool>> to identify specific look-fors in <<Target>>. 

We wanted to share some of the overall glows and grows we identified as a result of our classroom visits, as well as a few potential areas of support. Stay tuned for more information as we are planning opportunities for support around these trends, and perhaps additional Learning Walks in the future!

Glows:

Grows:

Possible Areas of Support: 

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you,
<<Your Name and Title>>

□ Provide the estimated duration of security procedures

□ Ensure the Wi-Fi password is readily available

□ Have a wall-to-project/SMART board

□ A spacious room

□ Prepare poster paper and post-it notes

□ If lunch is provided, kindly consider including your BetterLesson facilitator

In the realm of Jewish educational institutions, continuous improvement isn't a mantra but a necessity. The landscape of teaching and learning constantly evolves, demanding educators to adapt, innovate, and refine their practices. Learning Walks have emerged as powerful tools for professional development and teacher training.

Learning Walks, offered by BetterLesson with generous support from CAJE and the Mayberg Foundation, provides a structured and positive approach to observing teaching practices within a school setting, celebrating strengths, and collaborating on how to support teachers to grow based on trends collected that day. 17 Learning Walks in Jewish Day Schools across North America have been facilitated this year by BetterLesson with more planned for the 2024-2025 school year. 

What is a Learning Walk?
Learning Walks are structured, non-evaluative observation processes conducted in collaboration with expert BetterLesson coaches. These walks offer leaders the opportunity to delve into specific changes in teaching practices that support institutional initiatives and provide personalized professional learning for educators. By working together to observe lessons, share feedback, and create data-informed learning plans, schools embark on a journey of discovery and growth.

Outcomes We Seek
The primary aim of Learning Walks is to identify areas for improvement and recognize exemplary practices within the educational ecosystem. From pinpointing gaps in differentiation strategies to applauding schools for their commitment to pedagogical excellence, Learning Walks provide invaluable insights that inform future professional development initiatives.

How Can it Improve Teaching Methods?
Learning Walks serve as catalysts for transformative change in teaching methods. By uncovering trends and patterns, schools can tailor support and workshops to address specific needs, such as curriculum development or pedagogical training. Additionally, the collaborative nature of Learning Walks fosters a culture of reflection and continuous improvement, empowering educators to refine their practices and enhance student learning experiences.

Previewing Learning Walks
The day is divided into three parts, lasting 5-6 hours: 

• Opening Session -  unpacking the “look for’s” and walking through the process with leader,
• Observation Period - visiting 4-6 classrooms, with brief "hallway huddles" between each observation, and a
• Closing Session - where we unpack trends and identify next steps as a leadership team.

One of the key strengths of Learning Walks lies in their robust feedback mechanisms based on observable indicators. Administrators evaluate outcomes such as 'Designing or adapting student-centered formative assessments' based on criteria like visible thinking, alignment with learning tasks, depth of analysis, guidance provided to students, and reflection on feedback. The data from all 4 to 6 classroom observations are collated and presented digitally in a private website, allowing for comprehensive analysis and reflection. While each Learning Walk is designed to focus in narrowly on specific desired outcomes and indicators, schools who use Learning Walks can choose from various outcomes and indicators in differentiation, competency-based learning, and accelerating growth, thus ensuring a holistic approach to professional development 

Tailoring Professional Development
The culmination of a Learning Walk day is a collective debrief and reflection session, where participants engage in frameworks like "Pluses and Deltas" or "3-2-1" to outline future professional development plans. By scaffolding learning experiences and providing practical next steps, schools can catalyze sustainable growth and foster a culture of continuous learning. Learning Walks represent more than just a walkthrough of classrooms; they embody a journey of discovery, reflection, and growth. Through this iterative process, Jewish Day Schools can cultivate vibrant learning communities where educators thrive, students flourish, and excellence becomes the norm. Learn more about BetterLesson Learning Walks here. 
Learn more about some of BetterLesson’s development towards Differentiation and PD on Station Rotations here, and Establishing Roles and Goals for Professional Learning Communities here. 

Reviews
“This was incredible- Our team took away so many valuable tools and resources"
“…this is such a helpful tool to implement for helping me help teachers think about their own lessons and formulate goals for how we help our classrooms become student-centered.”

Conclusion
Learning Walks offer a transformative pathway toward enhancing professional development and elevating the standards of Jewish education. With a commitment to collaboration, reflection, and continuous improvement, Learning Walks pave the way to deliberately design and implement engaging and excellent teaching and learning in Jewish Day Schools.