The Observation Debrief

The debrief is the lesson, not the observation

An observation without a useful conversation afterwards is surveillance. The conversation is where the change happens, so protect twenty minutes for it within two days, while the lesson is still vivid.

Open with their read, not yours

Begin: "Where did the lesson go how you wanted, and where did it not?" Most colleagues name the real issue themselves, and an issue you named yourself is not a threat. Now your job is to make it precise.

One action, chosen by them

End with a single, specific, observable action for the next two weeks. Not "improve questioning" but "ask the question, wait five seconds, then name a student." Two actions become zero.

Say what worked, with evidence

Praise without evidence sounds like management. "Your recap took four minutes and every student wrote something" is a sentence they can repeat deliberately. Specific praise is instruction.

What to leave out

Everything you noticed that is not this cycle's action. Your complete list of observations serves your thoroughness, not their practice.