Thread: I'm being evaluated this week and I have a question.

My opinion of evaluations: Do what you would normally do in the normal manner you would do it and you will do fine. Less stress for you and an honest picture of what your teaching is like.

As for instructional level, think about the students you will be teaching. Do you think they are where a second grader should be in their musical knowledge? Are they above it or below it? I assume you need to give a written response so just discuss this. I am not a Music teacher so do not know how to assess this and if you have not you most likely will not be able to by your eval so don't worry about it. Go with your gut, but justify it with examples. You might mention the resource kids and how you modify your lessons for them. Administrators love that kind of stuff.

My mom is a music teacher and she says admministrators do not understand music teaching anyway so she does not worry about it. Does her thing and moves on.

Ok, thanks. That's very helpful. What about "To what extent does your class make-up reflect the overall school population"?

Originally Posted by stephw651

Ok, thanks. That's very helpful. What about "To what extent does your class make-up reflect the overall school population"?

My class is representative of a typical population of our school. I have a mixture of ability levels and genders. One of my colleagues teaches the same grade, the same class, and the same mixture, BUT she has all of her classes gender grouped. That's NOT typical of our school. Likewise, our band class is NOT typical because students CHOOSE to be in that class.

Like someone else said, just do what you normally do. We have a mixture of "know ahead" and "just show up" observations, and we're observed by administrators, central office people, other teaching professionals, and other teachers from our building. There's no telling who will be walking in to watch. Once my principal came in for an observation and my students were writing stories and reading if they were finished. Not much "teaching" to watch that day, but he was able to observe classroom management very well.

Good luck!

You asked if you should do a more traditional lesson..or something you might not be as comfortable with. I think that administrators like to see us take chances as well as know that we do teach the traditional way. I think if you are able to show something that you might not usually do, and even if you do fall flat on your face...know that you can always explain how you would recover from that fall. We are constantly reflecting on how we should alter a lesson, or teach it differently the next time. In my opinion..and I could be totally off the wall here...I think you should do something you might not usually do...take a chance.

I wish I could tell you some good advice- but this is a real problem area for me. I get real nervous when observed, and it really screws things up. I agree with the others- go ahead with what you got planned, but make sure you have something that the admins like. Mine love conversational discussions with students, I think- not my forte, unfortunately. Good luck to you anyway.

My take on evals...

I am teaching, my students are learning. There is NOTHING that goes on in my room that I can't justify. If I feel that the admin watching didn't like what he/she saw, I'll request a conference to discuss it with him/her.

I do not plan anything special when the my evaluator comes. I do try to make sure that they come on a day that there will be a lesson, or a cooperative activity, rather than a test.

Do what you normally do. If you have to make something up special, then you really need to reflect on what you're doing every day. There should be good solid learning happening every single day in the classroom.

i teach social studies but am an instrumentalist at heart. admin will be looking for classroom management as well as your lesson. i am 100% comfy with some admin and nervous with others. just be you, and do what you would normally do. whatever you choose to do, be comfortable with it. i would suggest not trying something that you are not certain of the outcome. have additional activities as well. for me, when i get nervous, i talk faster and the lesson tends to be over in less time than i anticipated.

good luck and remember it is just part of it!

They want to see how you normally teach. I would not plan anything new and showy - just do your usual stuff. It will be fine.

Originally Posted by Mathematical Mary

If you have to make something up special, then you really need to reflect on what you're doing every day. There should be good solid learning happening every single day in the classroom.

Please don't misunderstand, I didn't mean I was going to make up something to try to be extravagant. The lesson I was referring to as creative was one I have taught before, and is grounded in my stated content standards. Music is different than other subjects. It is based on creating, performing and responding. Sometimes to teach those things you have to design lessons where the outcomes may not be as apparent to someone who is not a music educator themselves.

I should have worded the question differently. I meant to ask whether I should do a lesson where the outcomes are obvious to someone who is less familiar with the state content standards for music? Actually, I've already made my decision, so the point is moot anyway.

Everyone's advice/suggestions have been helpful. I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who gets nervous, and that you can mess up and still have a job.