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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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 Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 12:58 am Post subject: |
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I offer my student teaching observation evaluation sheet(s). When I finished my student teaching practicum, my supervising instructor did a midnight runner (from Canada). She didn't leave any forwarding contact information or letter. It is the best I can do, as Canadian employers want an endless number of references  |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:05 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| As for including an observation in an application package, I'm not sure. I'm thinking of the form we use, and the fact that an observation is not complete without a form from the observer, a self-evaluation from the teacher, and an overall report co-authored by them both....it's getting both rather bulky and quite sensitive to form a part of an application package. |
Bulky if printed but not if it's scanned/emailed.
But what about the actual observation report/assessment? Would it carry any weight when determining whether to hire a particular job candidate over others? |
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damn_my_eyes
Joined: 13 Jul 2013
Posts: 225
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:28 am Post subject: |
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If you have a glowing reference from an employer with a good reputation isn't it a bit superfluous to have an observation report as well. It should be taken as read that your teaching is up to standard and a few interview questions could reinforce that.
And if your school is an unknown quantity potential employers probably won't give it much weight. Especially if it looks like you worded it yourself  |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
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| I think it could help but the observer needs to be able to speak English and be a teacher, or at least have taught in the past. I've had non-English speaking people who have never taught in their life observe my classes |
Honestly, a letter from Ms. Chineselady, who is something other than a professional educator, wouldn't carry much weight with any reasonable hiring committee anyway. |
Actually it was the director of a German school and people on the committee. They were not Chinese.
The school owners I worked for in China were American (born there. Her parents were as well) and Singaporean (who didn't speak Chinese very well). |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| I was writing hypothetically, not literally. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2014 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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spiral78 wrote:
As for including an observation in an application package, I'm not sure. I'm thinking of the form we use, and the fact that an observation is not complete without a form from the observer, a self-evaluation from the teacher, and an overall report co-authored by them both....it's getting both rather bulky and quite sensitive to form a part of an application package.
Bulky if printed but not if it's scanned/emailed.
But what about the actual observation report/assessment? Would it carry any weight when determining whether to hire a particular job candidate over others? |
I think it's bulky either way in terms of the demands on reading through it. Also rather sensitive; regardless whether the teacher has done well or not, it's a confidential conversation between two colleagues and making either/both sides public in even a limited way would take some thought and agreement.
So far as whether an assessment report would make a difference in my occasional hiring decisions, maybe. Somewhat. I'd have to know quite a lot about the context and the assessor to know to what degree the information would be useful. I'd be far more likely to hire someone on a temporary contract which can be canceled if s/he bombs out.
Also, someone who did very well in one teaching context might - or might not- do well in mine, so the data from another context is of limited value by definition.
Overall, if someone presented me with an assessment - it might or might not be of much use. Depends. |
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adaruby
Joined: 21 Apr 2014
Posts: 171
Location: has served on a hiring committee
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| Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:03 am Post subject: |
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As a frequent observer and occasional employer...
....I would never advise the recruitment of a teacher who isn't open to observations and subsequent professional development (a CELTA would also give the applicant a big advantage).
Observations at a good school from teachers who know what they're doing are essential for the employer and the employee's development. |
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dessiato
Joined: 06 Feb 2007
Posts: 9
Location: Portugal
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| Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 10:47 am Post subject: |
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| adaruby wrote: |
As a frequent observer and occasional employer...
....I would never advise the recruitment of a teacher who isn't open to observations and subsequent professional development (a CELTA would also give the applicant a big advantage).
Observations at a good school from teachers who know what they're doing are essential for the employer and the employee's development. |
The other side is that a bad one can devastate an otherwise good teacher.
My wife is a teacher, she has recently been observed and told that her teaching is not good enough. This is despite three years loyal service, including being the key holder responsible for opening and closing the school every day as well as any emergencies. This in itself, of course, doesn't make her a good teacher, but looking at her external exams(Trinity) pass rate at 99% implies that she can do the job well.
Today she is in tears, and desperately wondering if she is going to be fired, as was threatened. She'll still try to do her job, but I wonder how well she'll be able to do it with this threat over her. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 11:27 am Post subject: |
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Sorry to hear that.
Wasn't she observed at any other time in the last three years? |
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dessiato
Joined: 06 Feb 2007
Posts: 9
Location: Portugal
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| Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 11:33 am Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
Sorry to hear that.
Wasn't she observed at any other time in the last three years? |
On three occasions, all with good feedback. Something has changed at the school and there are two new ADOS who both have less experience and fewer qualifications than my wife, this, we suspect, might be part of the issue. |
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WanderingGentile
Joined: 17 Nov 2008
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Unless you have a teacher who is a total screw-up and the subject of numerous student complaints, observation is usually a waste of time, particularly when the observer has less experience/knowledge than the observee. I once had an observation from a non-native speaker who happened to be the head of something or other at the school. The feedback was good, but there were grammatical and spelling errors in the feedback report she gave me. If it had been negative, I suppose I might have marked it up and requested she resubmit it with corrections made. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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| dessiato wrote: |
My wife is a teacher, she has recently been observed and told that her teaching is not good enough. This is despite three years loyal service, including being the key holder responsible for opening and closing the school every day as well as any emergencies. This in itself, of course, doesn't make her a good teacher, but looking at her external exams(Trinity) pass rate at 99% implies that she can do the job well.
Today she is in tears, and desperately wondering if she is going to be fired, as was threatened. She'll still try to do her job, but I wonder how well she'll be able to do it with this threat over her. |
Obviously, the process and procedures for class observations vary, but generally, there's a pre-observation meeting with the observer and teacher to discuss the observation criteria and any concerns the teacher may have. Within several days after the observation, the teacher is provided a written classroom observation report indicating strengths and areas needing improvement. He/she would then submit a written response to the observer's comments. The teacher and observer subsequently have a post-observation meeting to discuss the reasons for both their feedback/comments as well as suggestions and a plan for improvement.
Did your wife go through a similar process? Was she at least given a written observation report and the opportunity to discuss the feedback with the observer? If not, she should set up a meeting to (diplomatically) discuss the results of the observation with the observer. She's owed that much. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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| WanderingGentile wrote: |
| Unless you have a teacher who is a total screw-up and the subject of numerous student complaints, observation is usually a waste of time, particularly when the observer has less experience/knowledge than the observee. I once had an observation from a non-native speaker who happened to be the head of something or other at the school. The feedback was good, but there were grammatical and spelling errors in the feedback report she gave me. If it had been negative, I suppose I might have marked it up and requested she resubmit it with corrections made. |
A non-native's use of English wouldn't really be an indication of the efficacy of observations.
There are plenty of threads already which thrash out this theme. But none with the added element of teaching shirtless : ) |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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| dessiato wrote: |
| Sashadroogie wrote: |
Sorry to hear that.
Wasn't she observed at any other time in the last three years? |
On three occasions, all with good feedback. Something has changed at the school and there are two new ADOS who both have less experience and fewer qualifications than my wife, this, we suspect, might be part of the issue. |
I don't mean to pry, but in what way is the part of the issue? Are they jealous, or something similar? What are her quals, if you don't mind sharing?
In any case, if she has any written reports from her previous observations, it might be useful for her case to present them to the new observers - if what they say is now at varience with her previous feedback. She can rightly claim that she has been adhering to previous guidelines from her superiors. If those guidelines have somehow changed, then that is no fault if hers. Retraining would be the obvious course. Not termination.
At least, that's my feeling based only on what we've read here. |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| dessiato wrote: |
My wife is a teacher, she has recently been observed and told that her teaching is not good enough. This is despite three years loyal service, including being the key holder responsible for opening and closing the school every day as well as any emergencies. This in itself, of course, doesn't make her a good teacher, but looking at her external exams(Trinity) pass rate at 99% implies that she can do the job well.
Today she is in tears, and desperately wondering if she is going to be fired, as was threatened. She'll still try to do her job, but I wonder how well she'll be able to do it with this threat over her. |
Obviously, the process and procedures for class observations vary, but generally, there's a pre-observation meeting with the observer and teacher to discuss the observation criteria and any concerns the teacher may have. Within several days after the observation, the teacher is provided a written classroom observation report indicating strengths and areas needing improvement. He/she would then submit a written response to the observer's comments. The teacher and observer subsequently have a post-observation meeting to discuss the reasons for both their feedback/comments as well as suggestions and a plan for improvement.
Did your wife go through a similar process? Was she at least given a written observation report and the opportunity to discuss the feedback with the observer? If not, she should set up a meeting to (diplomatically) discuss the results of the observation with the observer. She's owed that much. |
I second what Nomad stated. |
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