Can Evaluations and Observations help teachers learn and improve their teaching strategies for Academic Learning?

 

    The purpose of the evaluations for teachers is for staff members to learn and grow so school sites can achieve more academic success. One aspect about the observation process is the growth of many teachers within the classroom.  As a future Administrator, I have learned that there are key elements to managing an effective teacher. Some of these elements are being able to coach teachers to more production and allowing teachers to learn through their experience. Some aspects that I will look for are student engagement, pacing of the class, the interaction between the teachers and students, and for checking of understanding. These are a few components that are important, but teachers need to include classroom management skills, align the standards, use instructional strategies, timing, feedback, and develop a positive student relationship. I feel that the more Administrators do pop ins into the classroom the more of a feel that they get of their teaching staff even if it is not a formal assessment. Putting emphasis on the California Performance of Teacher Expectations (CTSP's) plays a large role within the standards and aligning up the curriculum.

     As a future Administrator, I have already experienced observing teachers and knowing what to look for in the classroom setting. The experience of going in and seeing what an exceptional job some of our teachers are encountaring is very positive.  I have also learned that student engagement is such a big key for success within the educational realm. I feel that I can pinpoint specific points of emphasis within the teaching cycle which allows me to make an average teacher a very good teacher.  Together as a staff we can make learning a valuable experience inside the classroom and within the academic achievement.

The Pre Observation Meetings can help with standards, questions, and setting goals for the overall school year. 

    The Pre Observation is an experience that I like to make connections with my staff.  I allow plenty of time to meet and go over all the processes and procedures of an evaluation process. I take this time to connect with the teachers and allow them to understand that I am here to coach to improve the overall learning and achievement for students. When I meet with teachers I like to open the table to the teachers. I want them to talk about specific goals or criteria they would like to achieve.  I also like to open my ears and see what the teacher is looking at to strive for in each category. My job is to give insight and guide them in directions that they want to achieve. The CTSP's will be discussed and elaborated on how to best fit the daily lesson into the standards and goals that the teacher wants to accomplish. These meetings are very important for the teacher as it allows the teacher to realize that these observations go into their professional file. 

    The context of the lesson is generally a large topic in the pre observation meetings.  Going over what they want to cover and demonstrating that criteria in a classroom setting is what allows future administrators like myself to get an idea of what is being covered within the course content. It also allows for teachers to set goals and their standards for what they want to achieve. This process is very important because it allows teachers to make a decision on what teaching strategies they want to use within the context of the curriculum. This is also important for an observer to go over because the administrator will then know what has been covered in the class and what the students should already know for the content.  It also establishes what direction the class is going in moving forward. All of these standards help future administrators like myself become better observers for content area as well.

The Post Observation can help teachers reflect, feel accomplished, and gain future knowledge in the direction in which they want to go as a teacher.

    The Post Observation Conference is designed to give feedback and allow the teacher to self reflect on what went well and what needs to be improved.  It really gives teachers an opportunity to see if they met their goals to standards and to  see how their own performance within those standards match up to the administrator's views. As a future Administrator, I plan on coaching teachers through different strategies and techniques that help enhance the learning and engagement of students. My goal is bring smiles to teachers faces for them to realize I am supporting and not criticizing when I fill out the suggestion box for improvement.  This is a conversation that the teacher and myself will have at every meeting.  I always like to start out my meetings with self reflections before I go into the matters of CTSP's and if teachers achieved their goals.  My philopsphy is pretty simple with teachers in that the more comfortable they feel the easier the process of the evaluation process will be to evaluate teachers. The fact that I build relationships will also help as well.

    I have also learned to pre script questions for the teachers to make sure they are fully meeting their goals within the classroom. I always want to open the table and allow for teachers to review and comment on what was observed within their classroom.  It allows them to see what direction I am coming from so they can include any comments or anything else that the teacher want to expand on within the lesson. I want to focus on the positives and then strategies to help deliver the message of the curriculum content better. My goal as a future administrator is to make sure teachers feel comfortable with suggestions while maintaining their standards.  Many teachers do not like this process and want to go in another area when they receive their tenure status. I feel that having teachers know that their is a relationship built and the suggestions go as coaching tecniques really go along way with making suggestions.  Teachers can get the opporunity for Administrators to collect data on their observation both formative and summative.  This information means that there is more information that can help them now and down the road. All the information that can be communicated can only help enhance the performance in the classroom. 

What to expect of Myself as a Future Leader and the Motivation!

    As a future leader there are several aspects that I will bring to the table as a leader.  One of the top ones is building relationships with students and staff.  I want to set the bar and attack obstacles that I can lead my school site in the right direction.  I want to be a leader who inspires other teachers to give their best day in and day out. Professionalism is important to get the maximum amount of energy out of my leadership. All goals and standards helps motivate me to be a team leader.  To highlight the motivational piece as a future administrator is the student success. The student's succeeding in any form drives me to be the best possible leader that I can be for them and my school site. 

    As a future administrator one important aspect that I know that will motivate the staff is incentives.  Setting those goals and achieving these goals is one of the most satisfacting accomplishments for our students in education.  Another area that motivates staff is challenges to set the bar higher for curriculum and standards.  This can be academic challenges or professional challenges within the school site.  A final aspect that motivates staff is resources.  When a staff has the necessary resources to be able to accomplish what needs to be acoomplished, then higher achievement in learning standards can be maintained. Resources add the tools that are necessary to achieve the goals and set the standards that need to be accomplished. When teachers add the guidance with the resources then that adds to it as well. 

    Building goals can really motivate staff and the administrators to work together as one component. Showing concern and opportunities for your staff really helps with motivation as well.  Again, going back to building that rapport and individual relationship really plays a huge key.  Some aspects that I have learned as a future leader is to maintain the rapport and make sure when I take over to not make to many big changes to quickly.  As a future leader, I want to make sure that don't forget about my veteran teachers who do a great job within the classroom.  Another aspect of my leadership that I want to include is keeping everyone on my staff informed of all major changes within the school system. This way no staff member feels left out of our team. The motivation can stay consistent within the team.