Classroom Mosaic vs Teach Primary

Classroom Mosaic is an observation platform for K-12 instructional leaders supporting teacher development and retention. Users can customize forms, import existing ones, or select from a form library. Dashboards organize real-time observation data with aggregation, duration tracking, filters, and trends over time. Evaluation tools include task workflows, rubrics, scripting, e-signatures, scoring, and due-date reminders. After an observation is submitted, summary emails go to the observer and teacher; email-integrated dialogue threads keep teacher replies with the observation. The app supports offline observations and syncs them when internet access returns. It runs on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows, and listed authentication options include Google SSO, ClassLink SSO, and SAML. The Individual plan costs $40 a year, billed at $40 per month annually, and a 45-day trial is offered. There is no free plan. Classroom Mosaic was founded in 2011.

Teach Primary is a free classroom-observation tool for collecting evidence about teaching in grades 1–6 and supporting efforts to improve teaching quality. It records time spent learning, teaching practices linked to cognitive and socioemotional skills, and aspects of the learning environment. Observers use three brief snapshots of 1–10 seconds for time on task, followed by two 15-minute lesson observations for teaching-practice scores. The framework covers Classroom Culture, Instruction, and Socioemotional Skills through nine elements and 28 behaviors. Inclusive, responsive teaching and whole-child development are cross-cutting concerns. Users can add locally relevant elements or remove unsuitable ones, and local video can contextualize observer training. Suggested uses include system diagnostics, policy or program monitoring and evaluation, and identifying teacher strengths and support needs. Resources cover consultation, training, field collection, analysis, and reporting. Data collection can use SurveyCTO on phones, tablets, or computers, or paper with later Excel entry. Stata programs support cleaning and analysis. A five-day training manual and reliability exam are included. The tool is not intended for high-stakes teacher evaluation.