M-STAR Survival Tips for Educators

M-STAR: Some Quick Tips on What You can Do to Survive Your Evaluation

Mississippi Statewide Teacher Appraisal Rubric is the new method of evaluation classroom teachers in Mississippi. M-STAR evaluations include two formal evaluations and at least five walk-through evaluations. This system is designed to help teachers reflect upon their own teaching methods and to provide quick, meaningful feedback. Whether you are new to the classroom or a veteran educators, the new system can be confusing. Instead of constantly worrying about your evaluation, use some of these tips to plan ahead.

Individualized Teaching

M-STAR is all about making the student the focus of learning. One of the main things you will want to do is to individualize your teaching to fit each of your students. Have activities for your visual learners, your kinesthetic learners, and your auditory learners. Have a center where you are stationed to help your struggling learners.

Technology

You can’t escape the computer age. The new teacher evaluation system wants to see you use technology in your classroom. So, incorporate the computer, promethium board, netbooks, or eBooks into your lesson plans. There are tons of computer programs that you can use to do this. You can also have your students take interactive quizzes on line. Make sure that when you are being evaluated that you show your evaluator that you do work with technology.

Print Rich Environment

It doesn’t matter which subject you teach. Having a print rich environment is a must. Create a print rich environment in your classroom by having books, magazines, posters, ankle charts, and other reading material on your subject area readily available and in plain view. You can even opt to section off an area of your room where books and magazines on various topics are displayed. Your students are bound to come across something that they may want to read.

Across the Curriculum

It has been said that no man is an island. Well, teaching is no longer a one man show. Teachers are no longer expected to just teach their own subject area and move on. You are now expected to teach across the curriculum. You must be sure to integrate other subject areas into your lessons. It is also a plus when you hang posters or student work that displays the incorporation of other disciplines.

Make Connection to Real World

Students always want to know what the subject has to do with them or why they have to learn something. So, it is important to make a real world connection. If you are teaching a book, be sure to compare the book to a real life situation or experience that you have had. Then, allow your students to briefly share their experiences that connect with the subject of your lesson.

Explain the Objective

Before you dive into the lesson for the day, explain what you will be teaching. Explain why it is important, and make those real world connections.

Questions Please

The new M-STAR evaluation requires teachers to think about the way they question their students. Instead of asking questions that require simple responses, M-Star encourages educators to ask questions that require students to use their critical thinking skills and creativity.

Safety

As teachers, most of us are more concerned with teaching the lesson than checking out our classroom. Well, we must begin to do a quick evaluation of your classrooms. Check to see if the room is safe for students and yourself. Are there book bags in the aisles? Are there other things that can pose safety hazards? These things must be addressed before your evaluation.

No Down Time

Do not allow any downtime for the students. Activities should flow smoothly. So, plan accordingly.

Make Corrections

Be sure to handle any disciplinary problems in your classroom quickly and promptly. Post classroom rules throughout your room, and make sure that they are visual. Refer to your rules throughout your class.

Procedure

Make sure that you have taught your students classroom procedure. The person doing your evaluation will look for these things as they are observing your class.

M-STAR evaluations can be scary. Know what to expect and plan accordingly.

http://mpbonline.org/News/article/inside_mississippi_teacher-evaluations
http://home.mds.k12.ms.us/docs/rocurement-library/m-star-system-guide.pdf

Things Administrators Look for When Doing Classroom Observations

All teachers get them-those nice little walk-through and formal evaluations. So, what exactly is your principal looking for when he or she stops by? Check out the following list.

Objectives

One of the first things that your administrator will do when he or she enters your room is check to see if you have your objectives posted. These can be your objectives for the day or for the week. It is crucial that you have these posted and in a place of high visibility. And, make sure you go over these objectives with your students each day.

Classroom Engagement

The principal or administrator will also check to see if your lesson is engaging. Are your students actively involved in the lesson or if you are doing only lecture? So, try to plan lessons that will require your students to be involved and actively engaged.

Teacher Location and Movement

The principal will check to see where you are when he or she enters the room. Are you sitting at your desk or walking around monitoring your classroom? Not many of us can stand on our feet all day long. However, your principal will want you to spend the majority of the day walking around your class. This will help to decrease the amount of behavioral problems in your class and ensure that you students stay on task.

Classroom Organization

How is your class organized? Are your desks in straight rows or are they set up in small groups? Administrators want you to encourage correlative groups. So, try to plan group work for a majority of the time.

Time Management

Another big issue is time management. Your principal will observe your time management skills. He or she will check to see how you use the time you have to get the most out of your class. They also want to make sure that you stay on task. Most want you to teach from “Bell to Bell”. This means form the time that the students enter your class to the time that the bell rings for them to be dismissed. Although you may can’t accomplish this all the time, make sure if your boss is present that you do this.

Student Work

Not only will your boss check to see you are on task and your students engaged, he or she will check to see if you have any of your students’ work displayed. Be sure to hang some student work somewhere in your classroom or outside of your door.

Meaningful Lesson

Your principal will also check to make sure your lessons are meaningful and relevant. Some lessons are cute, but they don’t go with your curriculum. If this is the case, don’t waste your time teaching them. They will count as a strike against you.

Readily Available Lesson Plans

Keep your lesson plans in a place that you can find them at a moment’s notice. Your principal may ask to see these when he or she stops by to evaluate you.

Don’t be caught off guard. Be prepared for walk-through and other evaluations from your principal.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7666347_teach-lesson-evaluation.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/tips-being-successful-teacher-11906762.html