#OHEdChat was started by an ad hoc group of Ohio educators and other interested people. For information and updates about the chat, visit https://ohedchat.wordpress.com/
Pencil in a TON of tweets from me in the next hour as I help moderate #ohedchat from my hotel room in Effingham, IL getting ready for a presentation tomorrow . . .
Catherine from Fresno CA. College grad who is applying for a master's. So excited to be here and ready to be AMAZING with you EDUCATORS. Lets chat away!
#ohedchat
Tricia Ebner, gifted consultant & coordinator in NE Ohio, looking forward to learning about evaluation tonight with @MCUSDSupe & @Jacki_prati on #ohedchat
Hi everyone in #ohedchat! I'm Jake, Tech Coach in NEOhio. Excited to.join the chat tonight! I don't have to do evaluations, but as a coach, it's good for me to learn about good feedback, etc.
During the evaluation process - each party has the responsibility to pay close attention to their feelings. Tear down the inner walls stalling growth #ohedchat
A1-eval is about growth when there is trust between the evaluator and the teacher---open honest conversations that focus on what we can celebrate and where we need to grow. #ohedchat
A1-eval is about growth when there is trust between the evaluator and the teacher---open honest conversations that focus on what we can celebrate and where we need to grow. #ohedchat
A1) Good questions that help the educator reflect on their practices. E.g. Why did you decide to use MAP data to design your groups? How did you choose these resources for this lesson? #ohedchat
A1: A starting point is relationships--having that trust and communication is key. Then let's look at where we are, and where we want to GROW. #ohedchat
A1: I always want to know what exactly I need to do better. A score on a paper tells me that I don’t know something but not what I don’t know or give me any feedback on how to get better. That’s why I enjoy acting with @EHDramaTeach because we get tips on how to improve #ohedchat
#ohedchat MIchele Hill from NJ jumping in The best evaluations are ones that don’t count but are chock full of feedback that celebrates great lesson and offers ideas to improve!
#ohedchat MIchele Hill from NJ jumping in The best evaluations are ones that don’t count but are chock full of feedback that celebrates great lesson and offers ideas to improve!
A1. We should gear our feedback as an evaluation for growth and not a gotcha factor. When a Ss can see how far they have come, celebrating their successes with them, encourages them to strive and work harder for their goals.#ohedchat
Yes - for the conversation to be meaningful it cannot happen in the isolation of the pre and post. The investment in the teacher must be REAL #ohedchat
A1: Evaluators can’t just drop in based on a requirement. Engage with your teachers often, do walkthroughs, have ongoing conversations. Build the trust. #ohedchat
A2-My absolute BEST advice came from an amazing mentor of mine when I first became a principal. She said, "you must be a safety net for your staff...they have to know they can try and even fail and that you'll be there for them..." #ohedchat
A2) Don’t rush to answer a question. Buy some time and tell the person you’ll think about the question and get back to them the next day. Several things can happen and most of them are good. But mostly you can think! #ohedchat
A2: Admin asked me, “How do you know they’re learning?” Sounds simple, but Ts get so caught up in the plan, we often miss this. #MakeLearningVisible#ohedchat
A2 "The success you are doing right now, will leave your footprints for other future generations so they can follow your footsteps and be you one day" #ohedchat
A2 As a Tech Coach, I often go back to the phrase "building capacity," which my friend @christa_krohn once mentioned to me, in deciding what to focus on. #OhEdChat
A2 As an evaluator, talk less and listen more. Don't make the evaluation something you "have to get done" give the process purpose (growth and professional conversation). #ohedchat
A2 "The success you are doing right now, will leave your footprints for other future generations so they can follow your footsteps and be you one day" #ohedchat
Our words can be so inspiring - be intentional, be thoughtful, be optimistic - sometimes you have to believe in others before they believe in themselves #ohedchat
Our words can be so inspiring - be intentional, be thoughtful, be optimistic - sometimes you have to believe in others before they believe in themselves #ohedchat
I am often reminded of the POWER OF WORDS! And when I became an administrator I was reminded even more about the power. Must be intentional and purposeful with our words b/c they matter #ohedchat
Our words can be so inspiring - be intentional, be thoughtful, be optimistic - sometimes you have to believe in others before they believe in themselves #ohedchat
A3 I wish the rubric (and therefore the entire evaluation) could focus on what each individual educator needs... and that the decision of what they need was based on conversations between the admin & teacher. #ohedchat
A3: I'd find a way to make the rating secondary to the improvement so that improvement always drives the conversation about improving teaching and learning... #ohedchat
A3: I simply hope that people quit hating the process. Life is all about mindset. The mindset around evaluation (for both sides) is largely negative. Let's change that conversation #ohedchat
A3: I simply hope that people quit hating the process. Life is all about mindset. The mindset around evaluation (for both sides) is largely negative. Let's change that conversation #ohedchat
That's awesome! Just like when you do an observation, grade student writing or step in to coach someone - pick one or two things to focus on. That darn rubric waters down the process by spreading our attention out. #ohedchat
It is so important for us to remembers as evaluators - we DO NOT create change in someone else - we simply create the environment for change #ohedchat#makingevalmeaningful
A3-My thoughts are that if a T has a lesson that doesn't go so well for an official eval they should be able to get some feedback and do another eval-seems like a great way to show growth. (I've done this w/ Ts before and I think it shows that the eval isn't a gotcha) #ohedchat
A3: To reduce the emphasis on its score-driven nature. The provision of meaningful feedback and applicable strategies that can be brought back to the classroom are far more important than a number. #ohedchat
A3: More informal observation would improve the evaluation process. If an admin dropped in once a week for 10 minutes randomly and gave me feedback that would be great. #ohedchat
It is so important for us to remembers as evaluators - we DO NOT create change in someone else - we simply create the environment for change #ohedchat#makingevalmeaningful
Plus that part isn’t valuable. If I’m getting a golf lesson, I want to hear what I’m doing right and what I’m doing wrong. Don’t want to wait for a written report. #ohedchat
A3: If I had a magic wand, I’d go back in time and have educators involved in the development of the process. Too often, they get left out in the cold on critical policy decisions. #ohedchat
A3:as a veteran educator, I find my evaluation always seems to be towards the end of the cycle. I’d like to have feedback sooner so I can have the time to work on the feedback during the year. Old dogs can learn new tricks 😉. #ohedchat
1-"Wired to Resist" is on my to-be-read; 2-we have to ensure when we have the opp to bring new people on the bus they have the mindset right..we can teach pedagogy & content easier than mindset #ohedchat
Evaluations should reflect what we care about. Design your perfect teacher and start with the end in mind. It does not have to be as complicated as we make it #ohedchat
Simple EVAL write-up help:
Nugget (The assertion)
Evidence (The data)
Relevance (Why it is important/how the teacher can improve)
Done - QUIT writing
Get NERD-y #ohedchat#MakingEvalMeaningful
A4. If we change how/why we test, what drives our content, and what is REALLY important to us... then our evaluation process will have to change #ohedchat
Standards-based grading makes so much sense to me. For those of you who have implemented SBG at the secondary level, what has been the greatest benefit and biggest challenge you’ve encountered? #tlap#kidsdeserveit#ditchbook@GTeacherTribe#dtk12chat#ohedchat
Amen to that! I have no idea giving some feedback very soon after the eval and trying again. Most of the time, the T already knows how they can improve. #Ohedchat
Evaluations should reflect what we care about. Design your perfect teacher and start with the end in mind. It does not have to be as complicated as we make it #ohedchat
A3: To reduce the emphasis on its score-driven nature. The provision of meaningful feedback and applicable strategies that can be brought back to the classroom are far more important than a number. #ohedchat
To be one of the special ones, you’ve got to want to take that shot – you’ve also got to be willing to fail, learn from it, come back and take that shot again. – Jason Terry
Plus that part isn’t valuable. If I’m getting a golf lesson, I want to hear what I’m doing right and what I’m doing wrong. Don’t want to wait for a written report. #ohedchat
Couldn't agree more. I would argue that learning physics from a teacher who is respectful, responsible, caring would be more important than academic competence.#ohedchat
Most problems in evaluation come down to two issues - Relationships (trust) and time.
If we believe in growing teachers - then our schedule must reflect our priorities #ohedchat
If the only time you are talking about performance is an evaluation meeting - the problem is not the evaluation process . . . #ohedchat#MakingEvalMeaningful
As @Joe_Sanfelippo says - culture is built in 30 second increments. We are crazy if we do not think evaluation has a definitive impact on culture #ohedchat
What we care about has to be the Learning standards and the key focus strategies of your district, ie. Informational Text, Writing in all Content Areas, Depth of Knowledge and A Culture of Empathy! #ohedchat
Evaluations should reflect what we care about. Design your perfect teacher and start with the end in mind. It does not have to be as complicated as we make it #ohedchat
A4: If admins don't set the stage for a growth and improvement model in a safe manner, it will define the culture. We have to take a proactive approach and create a trusting space for Ts to grow. #ohedchat
There are times when you need to stop "officially" evaluating and begin looking at the time spent as a coaching session. This is when personalized professional development must be designed and implemented. #ohedchat
A4: If it’s a gotcha process it will eat away at the culture of the school. If it’s a process rooted in trust, it will help move the school and it’s culture forward. #ohedchat
If the only time you are talking about performance is an evaluation meeting - the problem is not the evaluation process . . . #ohedchat#MakingEvalMeaningful
A4 #OhEdChat The relationship between admin & teachers is a huge part of the school's culture . . . and whether evaluations are collaborative growth process or summative, formal evaluations will decide that.
A4 Again, about culture. If Ts fear the rating & distrust the process, for whatever reason, evaluation becomes compliance at best, toxic at worst. If Ts trust the process, #growthmindset becomes the culture. #ohedchat
A4: Are you checking boxes to make a culture of compliance? Or giving thoughtful feedback to make a culture of learning? Admins set the example of quality of work #ohedchat
A4:they show what is accepted and tolerated. If the admin goes in to just check boxes and the teacher is just putting on a show mediocre is the culture. If effort, thought, and passion in order to develop improvement are the focus the culture is focused on what matters
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A4: Are you checking boxes to make a culture of compliance? Or giving thoughtful feedback to make a culture of learning? Admins set the example of quality of work #ohedchat
A4: The evaluation process can be one vehicle to assist with accountability. Teachers want their colleagues held to the highest expectation. Culture is impacted by tough conversations. #ohedchat
A4) The evaluation process can provide great opportunities to reiterate and reflect on the culture of the building/district by revisiting our goals and focus for the year. We can discuss the implementation of or strategies. ALL STUDENTS being key! #ohedchat
Without it - the process AT BEST - mildly negatively impacts the culture. Trust is the key. Time is the key to developing trust. Comes back to prioritizing growing our people #ohedchat
#ohedchat A4 The evaluation process should enhance the wonderful things happening in a school. It should be a model of growth and excellence—that’s great culture!!
A4 #ohedchat If the evaluation is truly evidence based, setting aside bias, with feedback which is supported by evidence and collaboratively discussed-the culture is collaborative focused on students
A4-It goes back to what is valued during the eval process and the conversations that occur. The message of the leader must be clear and consistent always and can't change during evals #ohedchat
A4: It's the authentic two-way conversations, the investment in people and the commitment to continuous improvement through on-going professional articulation that make the process worthwhile. #ohedchat
A4: If admins don't set the stage for a growth and improvement model in a safe manner, it will define the culture. We have to take a proactive approach and create a trusting space for Ts to grow. #ohedchat
A5: Whatever an evaluator feels most comfortable with is typically their focus. Not intentional bias - but we discuss what we have confidence in #ohedchat
A4: evaluation impacts culture positively if it models the process the school desires. Feedback that is timely, effective, and positive will lead Ts down the same path for Ss. #ohedchat
A5: Process, formalities and deadlines are often over-emphasized while dialogue, opportunities and continuous improvement and growth are under-emphasized. We must change this paradigm. #ohedchat
A5: I think learning environment is not stressed enough - if a child does not feel valued or comfortable in the room, how in the heck are they supposed to learn? #ohedchat
A5 - Unsurprisingly and not unlike our own feedback to students (too often) the final 'grade' is over-emphasized while the teacher's reflection and self-awareness is often under-emphasized. #ohedchat
A4. The evaluation process should be collectively evidence-based, demonstrate culture in building, district goals, but should concentrate on the the Ss learning in the classroom. #ohedchat
A5 #OhEdChat I fear that in many schools the over-emphasis is on *getting it done*. That's it. Just getting it done. Actually identifying an area of growth and supporting the process of continual improvement is under-emphasized because it's "pushed out" by time constraints.
A5) The final summative rating is overemphasized and the stuff that really counts, like relationships & risk-taking, don’t have any measures. #ohedchat
A5 Over emphasized "getting it over with" Under emphasized "shifting mindset to use the process for improvement/growth." No matter how much we tweet about how it should be or should not be-what are we doing to change the perception? #ohedchat
I agree Angie! Basing a teachers rating on standardized tests that were taken by the Ss they had the PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR...does NOT make sense at all #ohedchat And is way overemphasized.
A5: Overemphasis on evidence of too many indicators in one lesson. Should TRULY be about growth over time with teacher set goals based on stds. It might be this on paper, but it rarely plays out like this. #jackofalltradesmasterofnone#ohedchat
A5: There is also too keen a focus on compliance instead of growth . . we try to change behaviors instead of changing the way people think
We think our ways into new behaviors when change lasts #ohedchat
Agreed. Just like a student waiting for a test score, the teacher enters the office waiting for that final rating. It's like the kids who don't want to look at what they "got wrong," just the grade atop the test. (and it's not the teachers fault - it's systemic) #ohedchat
Gold. "You're not differentiating your instruction, yet." ... "You're not asking higher-level questions, yet." ... "Your wait time isn't long enough, yet." #ohedchat
It's interesting that there is still a disconnect between what we do in National Boards--and what I think is the most valuable part--and what tends to be the focus in evaluations. #ohedchat
So true---build classroom culture and relationships---also are kids REALLY LEARNING---not just turning things in or getting As, but really, really learning. A Ts true impact is measured by generations---it takes years to truly measure our impact. How can we do THAT? #ohedchat
A5: the now is over emphasized and the process (or growth) is underemphasized. You see a snapshot (we all know we visit whenever we can) but its great to see as the feedback is implemented & the reward starts to show.
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Precisely - we know better. We know how to make this better - I just believe we need to have open minds and critically think through the process #ohedchat
A6: Ask for feedback in one or two specific areas--"I've been working on X and would like some feedback on how you I'm doing with it from your perspective." #ohedchat
A6: Be supportive and listen...ask reflective questions and not give the answers that I believe are the right ones- create the meaningful space #ohedchat
A6: Listen, assume good intentions, be unafraid to voice concerns, and ask for help when I need it. If I do that, the process and the outcome should shake out pretty well. #ohedchat
A6: have feedback be timely. Don't wait to tell Ts what was observed. Ask what should be observed...ask where growth is needed before evaluating. #ohedchat
A6: Be specific in feedback. One of my best eval meetings was when my admin pointed out I tended to favor one side of the room over the other in asking questions--actually showed me tally marks. I had no idea I was doing that! Easily corrected. #ohedchat
You knocked it out of the park tonight, @MCUSDSupe ...thanks to @jonbartelt for the invite, and thanks to #ohedchat for letting IL sneak in on your chat this evening...inspiring conversation!
A6: Create and plan for a more focused goal setting/pre conference up front. Be very clear about teacher requested look-For’s in combination with the evaluation rubric. #ohedchat
Thanks @MCUSDSupe Also -I used NERD to write an eval after our training and it is probably the most confident I've felt in writing one and the best one I've done as far as growth/feedback! #ohedchat
Thanks @MCUSDSupe Also -I used NERD to write an eval after our training and it is probably the most confident I've felt in writing one and the best one I've done as far as growth/feedback! #ohedchat
A5. When doing eval, open-minded, diff ideas, and use critical thinking during process. Diff tech. used by each teacher in presentations, doing various subjects, how Ss are learning material in clsrm is important. #ohedchat
Great topic from a great book, how could you not chat about it? Thank to the members of my team who were out there tonight! And thank all of you at #ohedchat for the learning tonight!
A6: Post-conference dialogue and future planning is also very important in bringing closure to the process (even though it should be on-going). #ohedchat
