A new study shows that struggling teachers who receive performance evaluations can improve. (HuffPo)
An acclaimed Chicago teacher explains why extending the school day isn’t the solution. (CNN)
The city’s special education reforms are new here, but reflect a trend that exists nationally. (SchoolBook)
A band teacher calls for a rethinking of traditional high school music and band class. (Urban Ed Music)
In Sunset Park, some students are spending their summers studying or playing handball. (Schoolbook)
Members of the new union caucus MORE are focusing criticism on union-district negotiations. (Ed Notes)
The CDC says students are smoking fewer cigarettes, but surprisingly, more cigars. (Ed Week)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002397245457 Mary Conway-Spiegel
Missed this last night…?
Nycdoenuts
That huffpost piece is a definate must read. Important to note, the success seems to be based on practice-based performance evaluations, not results-based. It’s also based on a system that had ben in place, and refined, over a long period of time. Both of these principles are absent from NYS’ APPR, which is A) going to rate a teacher ineffective if the test results aren’t there (observations be damned) and B) going to implemented state-wide and all at once with no pilot period and little chance of refining along the way.
Not to diss the APPR, I think some parts are really good, but it’s interesting that the two things that are celebrated in the piece about performance reviews don’t seen to be present in NY’s performance review.
Vote NO!
There is NOTHING positive about the APPR form a teacher’s perspective. It was created to FIRE teachers…”PERIOD!”
Anonymous
Current teacher eval via Danielson framework is inappropriate. It is actually outcome based, the ultimate outcome being not just 100% engagement but students productively taking over and driving the instruction. It was never meant for eval, only teacher reflection and improvement. Smart principals may focus on goal-setting and true development, but it has lots of gotcha elements and was never meant for this purpose nor has it been altered in any way to adapt it. I also believe and have evidence of principals being pushed into gotcha mode using this eval.
So demeaning, AND in tandem with the biggest curriculum change (perhaps depending on the subj) in decades. AND in the midst of not just failing reform and tattered budgets, malicious deform and budgets cut to the bone with amputations.
(sorry, backed myself into a corner with that tattered budgets lead)
Barry
Teacher evaluation does need to be done properly to protect our students and our teachers. Evaluations should drive teachers to continue to improve their craft and always make needed changes in order to benefit their student. The Danielson framework is a great tool to help teachers improve their classroom performance, but I feel it needs to only be a part of the teacher evaluation system.
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