Hope everyone’s summer is getting off to a great start!

I just wanted to clear something up that appears to be confusing some people…

I received a phone call from Dave Perry from APL Associates about my ebook eTeach: A Teacher Resource.

You see, several years ago when I first started teaching I was extremely fortunate to be able to attend two workshops with APL Associates. I kid you not when I say that these workshops forever changed the way I teach. I just wouldn’t be the teacher I am today if it hadn’t been for these workshops.

Therefore, it makes sense that my ebook, eTeach: A Teacher Resource was influenced by APL Associates. In fact, one of the first chapters in the book is heavily based on the strategies I learned from APL Associates. I make it very clear in the book who taught me these strategies and provide a link to the APL website. Again, if your school is looking for a workshop for their teachers this is a no-brainer…just simply the best.

However, here’s where the confusion comes into play…

APL Associates has recently come out with their own book called, Teaching: The Book. This is NOT the same book as my eTeach: A Teacher Resource. In fact, you cannot even buy their book unless you attend one of their workshops. That’s right…they don’t sell it anywhere else.

The problem is people are attending the workshop and thinking that they already have “the book” because they have mine. I just want to set the record straight that they are not the same book AND if you are lucky enough to attend one of the APL workshops then it would be silly not to get their book as well.

Hope that clears up any confusion.

And again, if you or your administrators are looking for a great workshop for next school year, send them to: www.aplassociates.com

Enjoy your summer…you deserve it!

Best Wishes,
Adam

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Don’t get stale this summer…stay fresh and brush up on some the most effective teaching strategies anywhere!

Read eTeach: A Teacher Resource for Learning the Strategies of Master Teachers @ www.TeachingTeacher.com

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A twist on the teacher evaluation…

I hope everyone has tried (or is planning to try) using the teacher evaluation form…it will really open your eyes and can certainly make you a better teacher in the long run.

The other day, I was having a discussion about this with one of my colleagues and she explained something she does which is a little more creative then my boring and impersonal evaluation form.

At the beginning of each school year, for her very first assignment, she has her students write a letter to her. In the letter the students must tell her a little about themselves…likes, dislikes, goals (both personal and specific for the class) etc. This is a great assignment as she is able to truly foster the student-relationship from day one…and, if you know anything about my teaching style, then you know I believe the student-teacher relationship is a critical piece in improving academic achievement and reducing classroom management problems.

Well, at the end of the year, for her very last assignment, she has her students write another letter to her. In this letter the students are writing about the class and about her teaching style…basically, the students are evaluating the teacher in a letter format.

While this approach doesn’t have the anonymity that my teacher evaluation form has, it is certainly a much more personal approach. And, in the end, the teacher can make adjustments to how she teaches based on the comments and feedback of her own students.

Just thought I share that with you…another way (a more creative way) to have students evaluate their teacher.

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Do you need end of the year awards and certificates?

Every student deserves some form of recognition for good attitude, hard work, academic excellence and outstanding performance.

Classroom Awards, Certificates and Passes contains 73 colorful and visually attractive pages that make it possible for teachers of all levels to recognize and reward students, without having to design the pages from scratch.

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Last week I mentioned how teachers should have their students evaluate them. Yes, let the students evaluate the teachers…In doing so the teacher gets a real insight to what worked and what didn’t from the perspective of the student. Who better to ask then the ones you’re teaching everyday?

Needless to say, I received many emails asking me if I had a copy of the form I use. The truth is I use an old evaluation form that one of my education professors passed on to me many years ago. I’ve thought about updating a bit, but just never have…

Since I don’t have the original in a word document I decided to scan it into the computer and convert it to a .pdf file so everyone can print it out and use it in their own classroom. Or, at least get an idea of what I use and make one of your own that may better fit your grade level/subject area.
(Sorry about the quality…that’s the best I can do right now…when I make a new one I’ll post here as well.)

I guess I should give credit to Barry Raebeck as he is the professor that originally gave me the form, but I have no idea where he got it from. Just one of those things that’s been passed on from teacher to teacher for a long time now.

If you look at the bottom of the form you’ll see an “additional comments or suggestions” section. This year I really stressed to my students the importance of completing this section and to be as specific as possible. I really ended up with some good tips for expanding/changing some of the projects we did this year.

Here’s the link to the evaluation form:
http://www.teaching-tips-machine.com/teacherevaluation.pdf

**Simply left click to open and print or right click to save to your computer.

Best Wishes,
Adam

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Do you need end of the year awards and certificates?

Every student deserves some form of recognition for good attitude, hard work, academic excellence and outstanding performance.

Classroom Awards, Certificates and Passes contains 73 colorful and visually attractive pages that make it possible for teachers of all levels to recognize and reward students, without having to design the pages from scratch.

Share