Describe the practice and evidence you need. Makeform builds a coaching observation form with context, notes, look-fors, reflection, and next steps.
Route observation records to Google Sheets, Slack, and Zapier.
Sample prompts for the builder
Choose a complete prompt, adapt it, or send it to the Makeform builder.
Audience
Instructional coaches observing classroom practice
Format
Evidence log with focus-area rubric
Prompt size
269 chars
Example form structure
Evidence log with focus-area rubric
Teacher, lesson, and selected focus area
Time-stamped low-inference evidence
Which instructional look-fors were observed?
Evidence-based rubric rating
Action step, owner, and target date
Suggested routing tags
Evidence captured
Debrief scheduled
Follow-up due
Separate low-inference evidence from interpretation so the post-observation conversation can start with what was seen and heard.
Step 1
Focus
agree on one practice and useful look-fors
Step 2
Observe
capture context, timestamps, actions, and responses
Step 3
Debrief
separate evidence, interpretation, and reflection
Step 4
Follow up
assign a small next step and revisit date
Evidence before evaluation
Capture enough context to interpret the moment and choose a specific next step.
Start with the selected practice, goal, and observable look-fors.
Record timestamps, exact actions, and responses before interpretation.
Finish with an action, progress evidence, owner, and follow-up date.
Adapt the observation
Match field length and rating detail to the visit's purpose.
Use quick choices, not-observed options, and two evidence prompts.
Connect the pre-conference focus to evidence, debrief, and next step.
Give observers shared definitions, anchors, and required evidence fields.
Pair timestamps with teacher moves and learner responses for review.
Observation workflow
Begin with the decision the evidence needs to support.
Name who is observed, visit length, purpose, framework, and practice focus.
Use observable behaviors, add not observed, and require rating evidence.
Note time, adult move, learner response, and relevant artifacts.
Record reflection, one experiment, support, success evidence, and review date.
Choose the right record
The best format depends on whether the goal is fast pattern spotting, developmental reflection, or a formal evaluation process.
Field guide
Use these six sections to preserve context, distinguish observation from judgment, and make the follow-up concrete.
Visit context
Record enough context to interpret the evidence later without collecting unrelated details.
Focus and look-fors
Translate a broad goal into behaviors the observer can see or hear, while allowing unexpected evidence.
Evidence log
Connect each timestamp and adult move to the learner response. Keep interpretation in a separate field.
Ratings and patterns
Define each scale level in observable terms and require evidence. Include not observed for short visits.
Reflection and feedback
Capture the observed person's interpretation beside the observer's noticing and questions.
Action and follow-up
Choose a next step, define progress, name support, and set the evidence review date.
Related tools
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Open toolFAQ
Practical answers for instructional leaders, coaches, and school teams designing an observation cycle.
It is a structured record for watching a teacher or coach in action. It captures context, an agreed focus, low-inference evidence, reflection, feedback, and a next action for the coaching conversation.
Include people, time, setting, objective, selected focus, look-fors, time-stamped evidence, responses, and interpretation. Finish with a strength, reflection question, next step, owner, support, success evidence, and follow-up date.
Record exact words, questions, actions, counts, timestamps, and resulting responses. Note what happened instead of labeling participation good or poor. Put conclusions in a separate interpretation field for discussion.
Yes. Keep the evidence cycle but change the look-fors. Teacher fields may cover questioning and student response; coach fields may cover listening, inquiry, participant ownership, and confirmed actions.
Ratings are optional. Use them when levels have observable anchors and reviewers apply them consistently. For short visits, evidence and reflection may be more useful. Include not observed and require supporting evidence.
Agree on one manageable action. Record what will be tried, progress evidence, support, owner, and target date. Schedule the next check-in, then decide whether to continue, adapt, or change focus.
Yes. Makeform is unlimited free for generating, editing, and publishing your coaching observation form. The paid tier removes the Makeform badge; it does not unlock additional response capacity. You can start with any sample prompt, revise the fields and language for your coaching model, and publish when the form is ready.
Define each focus, use observable look-fors, show rating anchors, require evidence, and include not observed. Have reviewers score the same sample, compare notes, and revise fields they interpret differently.
Observe with a focus. Follow up with evidence.
