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