Ugh. I was SO proud of my little guys (1st grade) since school started til now..they've been able to: *line up (all 30 of em) quietly facing forward *20 mins of stamina during daily 5 *unpacking quickly and quietly *transitioning better...(not perfect) My principal observed the whole school this week for classroom management. It's been horrible. Today was my day...she got me because they were "wiggly" and "couldn't sit still for too long." Ugh. Otherwise it was positive, but 10 days of school??? I feel so defeated.
I was observed by the superintendent on my very first day last year...first day in a new school and in a new position! I wasn't expecting that.
In my former district, I had a formal observation on the 8th day of school. It was my first year too. He complained that my room was dull and boring. Hello? I've only been with these kids for two weeks. How much student work should I have up? Or how much did he expect me to spend on classroom decor?
I don't think that "couldn't sit still for long" should go on your eval. What should be evaluated is how you reacted to their wiggles.
I understand your frustration, but I would prefer to be observed now, when the kids and I are still are hanging on. That's better then later on in the year when things start to fall apart.
I already had my first observation. As I told myself, I am absolutely fine with an average score on my first observation. It allows me to improve through the year.
My first observation was on the sixth day of school. My P said that she did this evaluation so early so we would have a baseline to start on. I appreciated that she observed me so early, so we could nip some problems in the bud ASAP.
[gr3teacher], I was very pleased to be in your classroom yesterday. The room looked clean and organized. Your students have already learned routines. I was impressed with how they were getting snack silently as the discussion about class rules continued. Keep it up! The note my admin left from yesterday. Considering that organization and classroom management were the two things I got dinged for on my evaluation, I'll take it. Of course, I'm not actually on evaluation again until 2015-2016.
in one job, I was observed by the principal on day 1 just for 10 minutes or so. In the next job, the district superintendent observed briefly on day 1 of my first year (I had been hired 3 days previous so not a ton of planning done, but it was OK when he showed up) The next two years, no unplanned observations at all-not one minute of anyone stopping by! Literally no adult set foot in my room ever except for the one formal, pre-arranged evaluation observation. The next year, the principal and the superintendent showed up on day one and the supe. took photos. Last two years, nobody has stopped by, even on the "walkthrough" days. I get observed when it's my year to be evaluated. Otherwise, nothing. I know some teachers feel harassed when admin stops by all the time, but on the other hand, I feel a bit invisible. I think admin should be in the classroom regularly.
Oh my gosh...first graders being wiggly and not able to sit still?! SHOCKING!!! Seriously...that's insane. I teach first. Wiggly is an understatement at this point in the year. 20 minutes stamina, WOW! We've only gotten up to 12 so far, and I have 10 less kids than you do! I would hate being observed this early in the year. We just aren't established in the routines yet. Keep going and focusing on the successes your kids are making.
Five years ago, I was observed as I was facing a pregnancy scare, 10 days into radiation treatments. "Autopilot" doesn't begin to describe how I taught that lesson. It went fine, and thankfully the pregnancy test came back negative, but it's a good thing I don't believe in putting on a show for observations. I would never have been able to pull one off.
Gross! I'm sorry you got observed so soon. One year I was observed on a Saturday snow day makeup. Seriously?! :|
Um, aren't first graders ALWAYS wiggly? My 9th graders have a hard time sitting still most of the time!
Don't feel too defeated. I don't think completely squelching the wiggles of your first graders should really be the goal! As someone who isn't actually a teacher I find it interesting that there seems to be so little uniformity in when and how the evaluations are carried out. It seems like the idea of 'getting the first one out of the way' definitely has merit. When you've only had a few days with the kids it's hopefully reassuring that you have plenty of time to work on anything that was commented on negatively.
At my previous school, I once had 3 observations in one WEEK. Then, did not see the admins for another month or so. It made absolutely no sense, just as the way some schools handle observations do not. Not that evaluations don't have merit, but I think admins feel inclined to find an area for improvement at the start of the year, even if it's a stretch. Don't let it get you down. You'll help your first graders grow, and not because of what was on your evaluation, but because you're a teacher who obviously cares and that's what teachers who obviously care do!
It sounds like you and your grade 1s are off to a great start. It's a full moon tonight and wiggly was an understatement in my room today! I wouldn't worry about it!
I was definitely nervous today... between my principal and AP, they made their fourth appearance of the week in my room today. Luckily, I found out from my teammates that they've been in all their rooms at least as often (my brand new teacher teammate has gotten six pop-ins this week... EEK)
Does she realize they are in FIRST GRADE??? Too wiggly? Whatever! You sound like you are doing a great job.
That's ridiculous. I don't think wiggly kids and kids who can't sit still for long has anything to do with classroom management! Kids are wiggly, kids don't sit still. That has very little to do with their learning. You can't assume that they wiggly kid doesn't know what's going on, just like you can't assume the kid sitting up perfectly has all the answers.
