I spent my first years as an educator in excruciating pain. I wallowed for months in hopelessness, reading and rereading torturous words that held my career as an educator on the tip of a gleaming sword: "Improvement plan required." For many teachers, these words don't resonate. They have never seen them. But for those of us who have felt the shame and confusion of a horrible teacher evaluation, this article is for you.
We have all been in that moment of pre-evaluation panic—deciding what to wear, promising to smile more, and possibly going so far as to bribe our students to behave during that once-or-twice-a-year visit. And no matter how well we knew the administration, our nerves were a mess and we'd sweat in places we didn't know we had glands. When it was over, we could breathe again, go back to being the teacher our students loved, make mistakes, and enjoy our jobs.
That is, until it was time to meet with administrators and discuss the evaluation. Then, the panic returned as the perfectly stapled, flawlessly typed pages appeared with our names in bold like they were being shouted. Although there were areas in which we shined, there were also those that unmasked our inadequacies and told us how terrible we really were. We'd leave the office downtrodden, nearly lifeless, and wondering which local grocery chain was hiring. Evaluations should help you carve out a path forward, not leave you in a constant state of angst over past performances. From someone who's received bad reviews before, here's how to use your evaluation to move forward.
1. Look at your evaluation system as a tool for improvement.
Although some people view these rubrics as tools for judgment, you should be one that doesn't. Read through each comment. Think critically about the mistakes you made or what you left out of your lesson. Learn to love your rubric. Make it part of your lesson planning process, adding components that you know are imperative for student success. Don't be afraid of it either. Tell yourself that you will improve. Remind yourself that you are a lifelong learner.
2. Know your evaluation rubric like the back of your hand.
Most of the evaluation rubrics are based on years of research on mastering teaching. Once you know how to get to the highest level, you can take the necessary steps to get there. Sometimes these rubrics seem a little out-of-date or even out-of-this-world. Think back to all of those teachers who inspired you, who helped lay the groundwork for your future—what did they do? How close would they come to being an excellent teacher? More often than not, you will find that the same teachers that inspired you will be those who exemplify the rubric.
3. Make small yet detailed goals.
If you need to improve in multiple areas, start small. Select those areas with the lowest marks or the components you think will improve other areas of teaching and learning. Make attainable goals that can provide you with concrete evidence. Goals such as "I am going to go from ‘Unsatisfactory’ to ‘Excelling’ by the end of the year" or "I am going to move to an ‘Excelling’ in classroom procedures" are too broad. Create goals that are specific and detailed, such as "I will make specific procedures for getting drinks and sharpening pencils, teach them to my students, and reinforce them daily." As you are creating these goals, explain the steps you will take to accomplish them. Include the possible resources you will use to help you, such as other teachers, coaches, blogs, and research.
4. Find master teachers.
Seek out master teachers, coaches, and mentors who can assist you in reaching your goals. Once you are aware of your areas of need, seek out teachers who have mastery in those specific areas. You may need to ask your administration what teachers they recommend. Ask those master teachers to come in and observe you. Peer feedback can be such a gift. Do not be ashamed of asking for help or acknowledging the flaws they might see in your classroom. Ask them to model for you. Visit other teachers' classrooms to see exemplary teaching in a natural, day-to-day environment. Often, watching something in another classroom will give you amazing ideas on how to use it in your own classroom.
5. Research areas in which you want to improve.
Even if you do locate master teachers, use online research to support your face-to-face learning. Sites from professional learning providers such as ASCD and Solution Tree have award-winning books by renowned authors and consultants. As you browse the book listings, look for readily available sample chapters and free printable organizers that accompany each book. Be selective about the research you consult and use in your classroom. Read other teachers' blogs and find out what they are doing. Chances are you aren't the first teacher to be at this point in your career.
6. Start keeping a journal.
Try to take a half hour out of every other day to write about how you are feeling about your personal improvement process. Remember, this is for your eyes only. Do not publish it to a blog or social media site. Keep a log of key points found in the rubric that you need to master. Include your goals in your journal so you won't spend extra time hunting for them when you want to revisit them. Write down what you are currently doing (or what was observed in your evaluation) and then make a detailed list of what you need to do to move to the next level.
7. Sing your praises.
Sing your own praises to your administration. More often than not, our principals and assistant principals get so involved in the never-ending multitude of school-running duties that a quick e-mail letting them know how well it is going is just what they need to brighten their day. Let leaders know that their staff members take pride in their work and care enough to improve their practice. This can emphasize the shared goal of success between you and your administration. Do not forget your students. Share what you are doing with your students as well. It isn't necessary to go into the details of your personal evaluation, but explain to students that you also get graded, have to study, and try new things. They will learn from your candidness that lifelong learning is real and important. It is an exceptional gift to give your students.
8. Celebrate your growth.
Reward yourself for your accomplishments. Tell the world how far you have come. Show administrators your notes and research, and let them know you are ready for another visit. Celebrate with your students. Show them the process you went through to accomplish your goals. Let them throw you a party and honor your greatness. After all, they will benefit most from all your hard work.
Evaluations and their processes don't have to be unknown specters that haunt your teaching a few times a year. Get to know the expectations and how you match up, inside and out, and then start the daily work of improving. A poor evaluation can be crushing, but your mind-set and work ethic can determine whether a bad review is your destination or just the first set of directions on your improvement journey.