Teacher Observation Templates / Texas / T-TESS Walkthrough Form
Free template for Texas campus leaders
T-TESS Walkthrough Form: Domains 2 and 3 Template
A ready-to-use T-TESS walkthrough form for the eight dimensions you can see in a classroom visit. Rate each one on the five T-TESS performance levels, add comments, photos, or video as evidence, and send the feedback to the teacher before you leave the room.
Enter your email and we'll send you the template, plus everything you need to get started.
At a glance
Framework
T-TESS, the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System
What it covers
Domain 2 Instruction (5 dimensions) and Domain 3 Learning Environment (3 dimensions)
Rating
Distinguished, Accomplished, Proficient, Developing, Improvement Needed. No points are added up.
Evidence
Comments, photos, and video on every dimension
What is on the form
One item per dimension, written in the Texas Education Agency's own words from the T-TESS rubric. Read the official T-TESS rubric overview from TEA.
Domain 2: Instruction
2.1 Achieving Expectations
The teacher supports all learners in their pursuit of high levels of academic and social-emotional success.
2.2 Content Knowledge and Expertise
The teacher uses content and pedagogical expertise to design and execute lessons aligned with state standards, related content and student needs.
2.3 Communication
The teacher clearly and accurately communicates to support persistence, deeper learning and effective effort.
2.4 Differentiation
The teacher differentiates instruction, aligning methods and techniques to diverse student needs.
2.5 Monitor and Adjust
The teacher formally and informally collects, analyzes and uses student progress data and makes necessary lesson adjustments.
Domain 3: Learning Environment
3.1 Classroom Environment, Routines and Procedures
The teacher organizes a safe, accessible and efficient classroom.
3.2 Managing Student Behavior
The teacher establishes, communicates and maintains clear expectations for student behavior.
3.3 Classroom Culture
The teacher leads a mutually respectful and collaborative class of actively engaged learners.
When to use it
Walkthroughs between formal observations
The T-TESS rubric lists walkthroughs as an evidence source for each dimension. Short, frequent visits give you a fuller picture than one formal observation.
Evidence for conferences
Every visit is saved with its notes, photos, and ratings, so you walk into conferences and conversations with the teacher with real examples, not memory.
A shared look-for list
Use the same eight dimensions across your appraisers so everyone on campus is looking for the same things and speaking the same language.
Why only Domains 2 and 3
T-TESS has four domains. Domain 1 (Planning) and Domain 4 (Professional Practices and Responsibilities, which includes Goal Setting) mostly happen outside the lesson, so you can't see them in a ten-minute visit.
This form keeps only what you can see in the room. Once it is in your account, you can edit it, add Domains 1 or 4, or change the wording to fit your campus.
How to get it
1
Click Get this template
It opens the T-TESS form in the Education Walkthrough template library.
2
Enter your email
We add the template to your account. If you are new, we email you the template and how to sign in.
3
Walk your first classroom
Open it in the Education Walkthrough app on your phone or tablet, or in your web browser. Rate what you see and send the feedback to the teacher.
From walkthroughs to the whole picture
On premium plans, every T-TESS walkthrough you save feeds Report Builder. Pick a report, and it pulls your walkthrough data together and explains what it means.
1
Walk
Rate what you see on the eight dimensions, with notes, photos, or video.
2
Feedback
Send the teacher your feedback right after the visit.
3
Patterns
Report Builder pulls every visit together, by teacher, school, or district.
4
Conference
Walk into each conversation with real evidence, not memory.
Teacher coverage
See who has been walked and who hasn't, so no teacher goes the year without a visit.
Individual Teacher Report
Every walkthrough for one teacher in one place, with how often each area showed up, ready before the conference.
Qualitative Insights
The themes in your walkthrough comments and the language observers use most, explained in plain language.
Year in Review
A board-ready summary of your walkthrough year, including the instructional themes that came up most.
Sample reports shown with example data. Report Builder is included with premium plans.