Teach Primary

What Teach Primary is

Teach Primary is a free classroom observation tool designed to help countries gather information about teaching practices in grades 1–6 and improve teaching quality. It measures time spent on learning, practices that support cognitive and socioemotional skills, and aspects of the learning environment. Observers take three snapshots lasting 1–10 seconds to assess time on task, then observe two 15-minute lesson periods to score teaching practices. Its framework covers Classroom Culture, Instruction, and Socioemotional Skills through nine elements and 28 behaviors, with a cross-cutting focus on inclusive, responsive teaching and whole-child development. The modular tool can be adjusted by adding locally relevant elements or excluding ones that do not apply; local video footage can help contextualize observer training. Suggested uses include system diagnostics, monitoring and evaluating education policies or programs, and identifying teacher strengths and support needs. Companion materials cover consultation, training, field collection, analysis, and reporting. Data can be collected digitally through SurveyCTO or on paper with later Excel entry. The resources include Stata programs, a five-day training manual, and a reliability exam. The World Bank recommends protocols and training for reliable observations; the Observer Manual says the tool was not developed for high-stakes teacher evaluation or decision-making.