Tips For Classroom Teachers To Earn “Excellent” Rating

Dr. Richard Voltz, Associate DirectorIllinois Association of School

Administrators

Do you believe students of today learn differently?

What effect has technology had on student learning?

Are there more distractions today?

A Vision of Students Today

Dr. Wesch Video

Teacher Quotes

“Teachers can no longer afford to close their doors and hope to ‘live through’ their dog and pony show every two years.”

“If this is done correctly, is will improve every

teacher and student achievement will

naturally increase.”

“We want to understand how we

will be measured and how we can achieve

excellence.”

“We don’t want this to be about ‘got ya;”

we want it to be about truly helping people improve.”

Are some teachers changing?

No more…

Increased observations

It needs to look more like a Gallop Poll, random and 10 times per cycle.

What are the benefits of an administrator visiting a classroom frequently?

The more frequently a principal visits...

- The more accurate a picture of daily instruction- The safer for teachers - accurate sampling- The more thoughtful the feedback- The better the quality of instruction

What are the detriments of infrequent classroom observations?

The less frequently a principal visits a classroom...

- The more chance for an inaccurate impression- The riskier for teachers - caught in a bad moment- The more teachers do their own thing- The more teachers get into bad habits

The more frequently a principal visits...

- The more accurate a picture of daily instruction- The safer for teachers - accurate sampling- The more thoughtful the feedback- The better the quality of instruction

What are the detriments of infrequent classroom observations?

The less frequently a principal visits a classroom...

- The more chance for an inaccurate impression- The riskier for teachers - caught in a bad moment- The more teachers do their own thing- The more teachers get into bad habits

What you need to do to be rated

As an evaluator I expect all teachers to…

Have high expectations for all students

2b.

Manage classroom procedures well

2c.

Manage student behavior well

2d.

3c: Engaged Learning

Danielson definition of engaged learning…

The student is intellectually engaged in

the work.

Think about this…if you were an evaluator how would you record

evidence of student engagement?

Develop a definition of what engaged learning looks like for your subject, grade level and students. Share this with your

evaluator.

When a teacher is engaged in a teacher centered activity how can the evaluator record evidence of

student engagement?

3c. Engaged Learning

• Virtually all students are engaged• Students take initiative to modify a learning task

to make it more meaningful• Students have extensive choice on how to learn• Students are involved in group work and

suggest modifications to grouping patterns• Students have reflection and closure on the

lesson

Strategies

• Small group work without teacher• Project based work• Flipped classroom approaches• Hands on assignments for students• Labs• Student decision on how to demonstrate

knowledge of lesson goal• Use of group response strategies instead of

individual response strategies

Who says lecture is right for all students?

Flipped ClassroomHow does this work for all learners?

Video

5Essentials Questions

• This class really makes me think.• I’m really learning a lot in this class.

3b. Using Questioning & Discussion Techniques

• Use open ended questions• Encourage students to initiate higher-order

questions• Use wait time to encourage (demand) all

students to participate• Encourage students to ask questions• Encourage students to answer other student’s

questions

It is the evaluator’s responsibility to record all questions asked and categorize by level of difficulty.

What does this mean for you?

3b. Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques

• If the teacher is checking for understanding, try to use whole group responses

• Discussion occurs that allows students to talk to one another without teacher mediation

• Teacher calls on students who do not volunteer

5Essentials Questions

• My teacher challenges me.• I have to work hard to do well in this class.• My teacher asks difficult questions on tests.• My teacher asks difficult questions in class.

Respect & Rapport

2b. Establishing An Environment of Respect and Rapport

• Teacher demonstrates knowledge and caring about students’ lives beyond school

• Teacher and students are uniformly respectful to each other

• There is no disrespectful behavior• Teacher greets students as they enter room

and makes contact with individual students when leaving the room

What does having high expectations for all students mean

for you?

How do you demonstrate this in your teaching?

Do you ever think that some students can’t,

won’t or don’t want to learn?

What do you do about it?

5Essentials

• My teacher helps me catch up if I am behind.• My teacher is willing to give extra help on

schoolwork if I need it.• My teacher notices if I have trouble learning

something.• My teacher gives me specific suggestions about

how I can improve my work in this class.• My teacher explains things in a different way if I

don’t understand something in class.

5Essential Questions

• My teacher expects everybody to work hard.• My teacher expects me to do my best all the

time.• My teacher wants us to become better

thinkers, not just memorize things.

5Essentials Questions

• I feel it is important to come to school every day.

• I feel it is important to pay attention in class.• I think that doing homework is important.• I try hard to get good grades.• This class really makes me think.• I’m really learning a lot in this class.

Student Motivation

• I usually look forward to this class.• I work hard to do my best in this class.• Sometimes I get so interested in my work I

don’t want to stop.• The topics we are studying are interesting and

challenging.

3a. Communicating With Students

It is critical that no content errors are made

when communicating with students.

Communicating with students

• Teacher points out possible areas of misunderstanding

• Teacher states clearly what the students will be learning not what they are to do

• Teacher uses metaphors and analogies to explain content clearly

• All students understand the presentation• Teacher invites students to explain the content

3d. Using Assessment In Instruction

Formative Assessment

• Teacher is sophisticated and continuous in monitoring student understanding during the instructional process

• Teacher makes appropriate adjustments as needed

• Feedback is specific and timely• Students monitor their own understanding

Summative Assessment

• Students clearly understand what they are to learn

• Teacher has a plan for those students who do not learn and those who already know

• Teacher differentiates assessment• Teacher takes into account needs of each

student• Feedback is provided for all assessments

5Essentials Questions

• I learn a lot from feedback on my work.• It’s clear to me what I need to do to get a good

grade.• The work we do in class is good preparation for

the test.• The homework assignments help me to learn

the course material.• I know what my teacher wants me to learn in

this class.

4a. Reflection on Teaching

Do you engage

in reflection

about your teaching?

We learn by thinking

about what we do.

Reflective questions

“If you had a chance to do it over, would

you do it the same or differently?”

• What do you want students to know and be able to do?• How will you know if

students know and are able to do it?• What will you do with

students who do not get it?• What will you do with

students who already know it?

4d. Participating in a Professional Community

PLC

• Teacher regularly participates and leads professional discussions

• Teacher has supportive and collaborative relationships with colleagues

• Teacher volunteers

4c. Communicating with Families

Families

• Teacher communicates with families on a regular basis

• Students develop materials to share with parents about what is happening in class

• Teacher maintains accurate records• Students maintain their own records and

share with families

Planning & Preparation

• Teacher demonstrates knowledge of content• Teacher demonstrates knowledge of students• Teacher teaches to district curriculum• Teacher plans for differentiated instruction• Teacher plans for questions• Teacher predicts student stumbling blocks and

plans accordingly