A few more tips I use regularly is Chunking my lessons. Break up your lesson is small parts. For example: Bellringer, bellringer share, introduction to lesson, mini lesson, question and answer, etc. Observers like to see variety. Don't spend the whole lesson doing a lecture or independent practice. Vary your instruction.
I have a class ambassador, but I must say I probably went though 6 kids before I found one that wasn't a) shy enough to approach an adult and b) paid enough attention to realize someone has entered a room. TIP #11 have a class questioner. I have a student who's job is to ask, "How do you know?" This also helps kids pay attention bc they love to do the teacher's job of challenging others.
I was actually observed by my principal and assistant superintendent this morning. I just watched your tips yesterday! When they came in I remained calm and kept doing what I always do. That even meant doing a dance brain break (I teach K). It went really well! Thank you.
I make sure to be open with my students about what is being observed and why. I usually tell them that the principal is coming in to see if I am doing a good job teaching and to see if they are getting ready for first grade. I also am not above bribing students with treats and so forth for those certain students who like to act different when an administrator comes in :)
I have done that too. Sometimes I say our principal doesn't believe that you guys can (insert skill) and challenge them to show our principal what they can do lol
My hubby is a principal and he's a big guy. He has had some awkward moments trying to figure out where to sit in classrooms. As a result, I've created a guest area. It's actually a small table and chair. They often have to document observations and need a place to set their iPads etc...
Good morning. We’re on The Lightning Thief. My struggle is reading, there are way too many pages to read and get through the handouts (notecatcher and exit ticket) in one day.
What evaluation system do you use? We use Marzano, and it always turns out to be a dog and pony show because what is expected to be seen aren't things we can realistically incorporate into EVERY LESSON!
I post my learning targets as questions (Marzano) that the students answer at the end of class. Also check out Making Thinking Visible (Ritchart, Churchill and Morrison, 2011) these thinking routines are structured to support thinking and understanding in the classroom to encourage engagement with concepts across subject areas and questions coming from students to further deepen their understanding.
Nicole Lamoureux I second the routines and strategies in 'Making Thinking Visible.' They're easy to adapt to your lessons and the students deepen their understanding and questioning the more you use them.
Excellent tips. In New Mexico our observations count for 35% of our teacher evaluations. They have to see all of the components in the 1 or 2 lessons that they observe. My principal has actually used those words that he wants to see our horse and pony show. Bring it all. Just ups the stress level. The more that each of the components are included in our daily routines, the more natural it will be when observation time comes.
Love your videos!! I'm a freshman in college majoring in early childhood and special education. You are always lots of help! Also, I grew up in PA and I had no idea you were teaching in this state! So cool!
Thank you for this video. I will create the ambassador job straight away! I will NOT lock eyes with my administration...promise. I needed this yesterday and I didn't think to look up these types of videos. You rock!
Observations are a joke, at least in my experience. I told my Vice Principal that I couldn't care less about his observation or review. None of the administrators have any idea what it is I teach, and they came in for 10 minutes and judged me? I told him it was like he wrote a full review of a movie, but he only watched the teaser trailer. I also love how they have to give you advice, and when you tell them you already do it, they won't take it off of your review because they need to look like they know something about teaching. I love it when they give advice that absolutely won't work for your class. Once I get the copy, I immediately throw it in the trash because the review is meaningless, and it doesn't affect my pay anyways.
Great video...yes I agree... don't look at the administrator... focus on the lesson and kids...ja....but I would love to see how you come up with your objectives video and how you introduce/display them...thank you! Blessings! ☺
Loved this video I feel very encouraged. We use the Danielson rubric in my school district. Thankfully my last evaluation went very well. My AP is a person who is very dishonest/unethical. Thankfully there were other teachers in the room as well so she couldn't lie on me!
Beforehand, I like to tell my administration what I want them to focus on. A quick run down of my activities and what I'm hoping to achieve lets them give me specific and useful feedback. Also I encourage them to talk to the kids and look through their books.
Thanks for the tips. I've all had of my observations for the year thankfully, but I will still use these tips to help improve my daily teaching plus for next year. One thing I want to try more of is using higher level questions. I do with some things, but not with every single lesson so I know I can incorporate that more. I also want to have the kids talking more. I do turn and talks and we do like 4 corners like walk around the room go to the corner you think is the answer and talk with the group why, etc and then we share, but I just think my class could benefit more from talking and more whole brain type things so that's going to be a focus of mine.
Great tips!!!!! Thx for sharing! Looking forward to more videos. I love your videos. I discovered you by chance and I'm starting to watch all of your amazing videos!
Thank you for your videos :) they are inspiring to me and have helped to energize me as I am in my 13th year, 6th school & 3rd state. I am in a happy place now and I would love to start vlogging too!
Great tips but I'm a bit stuck on #9. If I don't know when the Administration is coming to observe me, that means I'll have to stick to a routine for an undetermined period of time. Wouldn't this become a stale procedure for the kids?
How would you like being watched ALL the time via surveillance cameras while you are teaching? Where everything you say and every move you make is being monitored and scrutinized from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave. There are some people who advocate for this kind of thing. Reminds one of what it's like living in North Korea.
+Stacy Amsden - Yes. It's a bit shorter than the first one, but they are still more difficult to edit. I'll probably post it on Tuesday. I have a surprise built into the first one! 🎁
How do you differentiate the time when students SHOULD/NOT greet guests? For example, the guest has time to stay or they are just there to hand something to the teacher?
We are always notified when we will have visitors in the classroom. We always tell our students when they are coming, but we encourage students to always greet someone at the door.
Life in Kafoople Land it's actually not so bad. Our principal is pretty amazing and there is no dog and pony show needed. She actually only does it for each teacher ever couple years. I'm sure I'm up next year, since I haven't had one in three years. Still though after ten years at this school and 13 years teaching as an fte, I much prefer the informal observations :)
I've taught PK-6 and when I am in lower grades (I am in 1st now) I use "I can" or "we will" kind of statements for the kids to understand. They help keep me focused and the kids who can read can refer back!
