Teacher Observation Templates / Georgia / TAPS Walkthrough Form
Free template for Georgia principals and assistant principals
TAPS Walkthrough Form: Quick Georgia TKES Walkthrough Template
A ready-to-use TAPS walkthrough form with one question for each of the ten Georgia performance standards. Rate each one Exemplary, Proficient, Needs Development, or Ineffective, add comments, photos, or video as evidence, and send the feedback to the teacher before you leave the room.
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At a glance
Framework
TAPS, the Teacher Assessment on Performance Standards in Georgia's Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES)
What it covers
All ten TAPS performance standards, in two sections: Standards 1-6 and Standards 7-10
Rating
Exemplary, Proficient, Needs Development, Ineffective. Proficient is the expected level.
Evidence
Comments, photos, and video on every standard
What is on the form
One question per standard, with the standard names used in the Georgia TAPS Performance Standards and Rubrics (July 1, 2014). Want Georgia's description of every level on the form? Use the full TAPS rubric template instead. Read the official TKES Implementation Handbook, with the TAPS rubrics, from the Georgia Department of Education.
Standards 1-6: Planning, Instruction, and Assessment
Standard 1: Professional Knowledge
Demonstrates an understanding of the curriculum, subject content, pedagogical knowledge, and the needs of students.
Standard 2: Instructional Planning
Plans using state and local school district curricula and standards, effective strategies, resources, and data for all students.
Standard 3: Instructional Strategies
Uses research-based instructional strategies relevant to the content to engage students in active learning.
Standard 4: Differentiated Instruction
Challenges and supports each student's learning by addressing individual learning differences.
Standard 5: Assessment Strategies
Chooses a variety of diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments that are valid for the content and student population.
Standard 6: Assessment Uses
Gathers, analyzes, and uses data to measure student progress, inform instruction, and provide timely, constructive feedback.
Standards 7-10: Learning Environment, Professionalism, and Communication
Standard 7: Positive Learning Environment
Provides a well-managed, safe, and orderly environment that is conducive to learning and encourages respect for all.
Standard 8: Academically Challenging Environment
Creates a student-centered environment in which teaching and learning occur at high levels and students are self-directed.
Standard 9: Professionalism
Exhibits a commitment to professional ethics and the school's mission and participates in professional growth opportunities.
Standard 10: Communication
Communicates effectively with students, parents or guardians, school and district personnel, and other stakeholders.
When to use it
The walkthroughs TKES calls for
Georgia's handbook calls for Walkthrough Observations of at least ten minutes, four of them for teachers on the full Formative process. This form is built for those visits.
Evidence for the Formative
Walkthroughs inform Georgia's Formative Assessment, where all ten standards are rated. Every visit is saved with its notes, photos, and ratings.
Commentary on each standard
GaDOE strongly recommends specific commentary on the standards you rate. Comments on every standard let you capture exactly what you saw.
How to get it
1
Click Get this template
It opens the TAPS Streamlined template 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 TAPS 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 ten standards, 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 every teacher gets the walkthroughs TKES calls for.
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.