21st Century Learning and Teaching

Food for thought

Great teachers empower their students to engage with the content.  These classrooms can often appear noisy as students discuss and argue, get excited and share.  Our traditional teacher observation and evaluation instruments undermine real great teachers. These instruments often focus on what the TEACHER IS DOING not on what the students are doing. Administrators are often looking for teachers who are directing the learning, standing in the front of an orderly classroom talking and asking questions. Teachers who are on the side, guiding and facilitating are often marked down because administrators do not observe the behaviors of the checklist.  We need to change the way teachers are observed - and the feedback they receive - from the administrators that determine their contracts.  We need to find ways to encourage our REAL GREAT TEACHERS.