A validation process for observation protocols: Using the Revised SMPs Look-for Protocol as a lens on teachers’ promotion of the standards

The Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs) describe mathematical behaviors and habits that students should express during mathematics instruction. Thus teachers should promote them during classroom-based mathematics instruction. The purpose of this article is to discuss the validation process for an observation protocol called the Revised SMPs Look-for Protocol. An implication of this study is that users with a robust understanding of the SMPs may feel confident using the protocol as a validated and reliable tool in research and school-based settings. We discuss opportunities and challenges for mathematics teacher educators engaging in classroom observations, in light of this observation protocol.