Just Another Polite Rant About Teaching

Our school district is having all teachers learn the Charlotte Danielson Framework for teaching this year.  We will be using this starting next year as our basis for evaluating teachers.

I know I should be grateful to be in a place where I am not evaluated on my standardized test scores.  I know from reviewing my scores each year that I would be a wildly successful teacher one year and mediocre the next.

What is really painful is the process of learning the new framework means watching videos of poor teaching techniques.  I was complaining to my husband, and we were relating it to sports training.  Professional athletes spend hours watching videos of people doing it right and practicing correctly.  I would love to watch videos of lessons that inspire me to come up with my own creative lessons.

That's my idea of professional development.

Teacher Evaluation -- What Makes a Good Teacher?

Photo Credit: Timken Rolling Bearing, Co 1950 Calendar

"Teacher at Desk"

This morning we have an all district inservice to learn about the new teacher evaluation system we will be implementing in our district.  I am grateful to work in the state and district where I work. 

Our district has decided to adopt the Charlotte Danielson framework.  Everything I have read so far about and by her tells me that she respects teachers and our work. 

Washington State requires districts evaluate teachers based on student growth, but not our standardized test scores.  We are not sure what will be used to measure this, but we are allowed to bargain with our district.

Even the way that this inservice is planned feels respectful to us as professionals.  Representatives from administration and the union will be presenting the information together.

I hope I am as encouraged coming out of this meeting as I am going in.

A Good Teacher is...

(Portrait of June Christy, circa 1947, Library of Congress photo)

This weekend I attended a Jazz Festival where my teenage stepdaughter was performing.  I was most fascinated with the vocal clinic one of the local performers taught.  Each student who signed up gave a solo while their peers watched.  Then the coach would give advice based on the performance.

She was an amazing teacher.  She engaged each student and worked with them on areas she recognized in the few minute sample of their work.  She addressed her comments to the audience as well as the individual on the spot.  I was inspired by her to go home and try some improv.  Her enthusiasm for her subject was contageous.

Contrast that with a woman I know who wants to become a teacher and spent five hours taking a standardized test designed to screen out undesirable candidates.  I doubt the test could have measured the passion of the first woman.

What is good teaching?  How do we make sure that our students are in the hands of people who will inspire them?

Asking Good Questions

I read Seth Godin's blog every day.  I wanted to share with you the post called Q & A from yesterday, because it inspires me as an educator.  He believes that children lose the ability to ask good questions as they get older.  I want to keep asking good questions.

Update: 2/11/13 Questioning strategies is a part of the Charlotte Danielson Framework.