Teachers prepare progress reports and report cards for students, but you can also give yourself a teaching progress report. Yes, there are formal observations by your principal or coach, but that is just a snapshot of one lesson, one moment in time. You, who are in the classroom day after day, have access to a deeper level of understanding about your work. You are the best person to give yourself a teaching progress report.
We think that it is valuable to take stock of what you are doing well and to use those strengths to grow even better. In that light, here are twelve things you are probably doing well. How would you rate yourself?
1. You are a teacher for the right reasons, you care about students and want to help them learn and grow.
2. You show up every day and are responsible in attending to your assigned duties, attendance, lunch count, and progress reports.
3. You plan your lessons carefully, balancing the curriculum with the needs of the students, rather than just winging it.
4. You use student assessments to guide your lesson planning.
5. You are building a learning community in your classroom.
6. You often help students one-to -one.
7. You care about the safety of students and try to build a safe environment.
8, You communicate with parents and provide valuable information about curriculum and assessments.
9. You model a love of learning. When you are enthusiastic about the subject, students will likely be as well.
10. You have identified a tribe of fellow teachers and mentors who can help and support you in your work.
11. You hold high expectations for yourself and for your students.
12. You evaluate the effectiveness of your choices and actions and learn and grow from your mistakes.
Teaching is a multi-faceted profession and at any given time you have many balls to juggle. You work with many people- adults and students, with many needs and many demands on your time. It is easy to feel a lack of success when your work is never done and there is always another mandate to fulfill.
We believe that you will be encouraged by all the things you are doing well. Teaching well is an ongoing process, even master teachers learn and grow in the profession. We hope you will acknowledge your progress, celebrate your achievements, and recognize how far you have come rather than just focusing on how far you need to go.
Our best,
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