This year is my sixth year teaching. I have been evaluated 4 out of the 6 years! In California, teachers are evaluated your first and second year teaching, and then every other year after that. This year was another evaluation year.
For my first year teachers out there, here's a little insight to what to expect from your Administrator. During an evaluation year you are constantly observed by your admin. They do unannounced walk throughs constantly (weekly) and a formal observation. If this is your first year teaching, expect to have 2 formal observations, one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Prior to the formal observation you are expected to set personal goals based on the CSTP's In California, teachers are evaluated on all CSTP - California Standards for the Teaching Practice.
The standards are:
1. Engaging and Supporting All Students in Learning
2. Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning
3. Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning
4. Planning Instruction and Designing Learning Experiences for All Students
5. Assessing Students for Learning
6. Developing as a Professional Educator
Within each standard, there are more specific expectations. Your principal will take notes of the standards he or she notices during each observation and walk through.
During September you will have a
Goal Setting Meeting with your Princpal. This meeting will cover what your professional goals will be for the year. You will most likely be asked to pick at least 2 CSTP's to focus on for the year. I would recommend choosing Standard 1. Engaging and Supporting and Standard 2. Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments. These focus a lot on your basic classroom management techniques and routines (something first year teachers are focusing on already). Plus, when you have another evaluation later in your career you will not be advised to choose these standards, as you are expected to already have met or exceeded expectations.
If you are a first year teacher, you will set up your first
Pre-Observation meeting with your principal, in the fall. It will be dated about a week
before your Formal Observation. You will be ask to have your lesson plan ready for the observation. The principal will look over it. He or she will ask how you intend to meet your goals during your lesson. Be prepared to answer more specific questions that vary about your teaching style, meeting your goals, and your observation lesson.
Then you will have your
first observation. Sounds scary?
Well if your like me, I get incredibly nervous teaching or speaking infront of any adults, I can teach and speak infront of a crowd of kids any day but not adults. Definitely be prepared... rehearse your lesson prior, have all your materials ready and out, prep your students to be on their best behavior.
***Here's a teacher tip: when having a formal observation and you want your students to be on their best behavior, first let them know that they principal is coming to observe them and how they are behaving in class. Second, you could also bribe them to be on their best behavior. I have tried both and they both work great. Some years, I have had amazing classes and didn't have to do either.
During your
Formal Observation, I recommend showing off all your tricks. DO NOT try anything
NEW. Show off your routines, transition skills, include manipulatives and realia, partner or group collaboration, point out objectives and/or standards, and have a good balance of teaching and student participation. Also, include any aspects of teaching that your district or school is focusing on at the moment.... And BE YOURSELF!
A few days after your formal observation, you will have another meeting, Post Observation Meeting During this meeting, you might be ask how YOU think you did during your lesson. What went great and what you think could have gone better. Then your principal will discuss his/her notes and what CSTP's were observed. They may have you read them to yourself or they may go through each CSTP with you. You will walk away with a knowledge of what you can do to grow as an educator and things you should continue to do because your doing great.
First year teachers will do this a second time in February or March. This is when most educators are evaluated. It will be the same experience as the observation mentioned above.
The last part of your evaluation will be your final Evaluation Meeting. It usually takes place during April. Your principal will have notes about your teaching all year long. During this meeting you will look over all the notes based on the CSTP's. Next to each standard you will have Exceeds, Meet, or Needs Improvement. Don't fret if your a first year teacher and don't have an Exceeds. Most principals have a hard time giving them out to newbies. You will sign your name and will be done.
Then you can breathe!
As you go on with each teaching year, you will become more comfortable and confident in being observed and evaluated. Contructed criticism is there to helps us grow and become better educator.
I hope this helps. Each state is different, if yours is different I would love to hear. Let me know in the comments below ↓
Happy teaching!
