Our suggested topic for today:
Discuss one “observation” that you’d like to improve on for your teacher evaluation.

This is a difficult topic for me to address. I have been inundated with evaluation over the last few weeks. Wisconsin is going to an effectiveness evaluation this year for teachers. One observable area I want to get stronger in this school year is differentiating within formative assessments that are tied to activities. Every one of my students will have a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) completed by the end of September. Today I wrote on the board, “Different rules for different people,” and I explained how I heard Shaka Smart break down that quote at a Nike Coaches Clinic last spring. People who are great at a skill still need to be pushed, whereas, people learning the skill require more attempts and possible varying degrees of scaffolding.

Differentiation to me means, “Different rules for different people,” in action. And if I can get buy-in within the learning space that each persons goals and “rules” are tied to their PLP, then there will be a ton of success and positive group culture.

I want more than one possible assessment per group per activity. Also, I want to completely open-up & extrapolate the term “formative assessment”. During my third year as a teacher, I went through a similar process with checking for understandings (CFU’s). I am hoping for a similar outcome as that school year. I want real conversations with colleagues. I want to be challenged. I want to get better at teaching and helping youth get connected with what they are passionate about.