Show 10

During this show, we discussed teaching as a job or a calling. We moved into a conversation about working with preservice teachers. Does it change how we work with them if we think of teaching as a calling? as a job? This rousing discussion included Lisa Thumann, Barb Gilman, Alec Couros, Scott Shelhart, and Peggy George.



The audio and chat can be found here.

Show 9 - Evaluating Teachers

During this show, we discussed the process of evaluating teachers. There were many questions about this topic. How are teachers evaluated and does the process work? What is the purpose of evaluation and is it the same for all teachers in each school? Does teacher evaluation improve teaching and learning for students? Should the process be changed and if so, how can it be changed?

Thank you to Ginger Lewman and Shannon Smith for joining us in our skype call. Thank you also to the folks in our chat room. Unfortunately, our chat log was not saved due to a glitch in the system.

The audio for the show can be found here.

Thanks to Peggy George, we have a partial chat archive:

[Cathyjo] Im just a mentor--not an eval.
[sharon_elin] Refining our teaching increases our time management, too
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[sharon_elin] Ineffective teachers create more (meaningless) work for 
themselves
[BethH] Yes, time is an issue but we all have the SAME amount of 
time. Some are willing to spend time on our profession - others are 
not. Can you IMAGINE a physician saying, "I don't have time to learn?"
[GingerTPLC] Does tenure protect the ability to NOT continue to learn?
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[Cathyjo] The admin @GingerTPLC are dcmenting everything that she is 
doing/not doing in accordnace w/ her improvement plan
[PeggyG] time becomes an issue when it doesn't feel like it is being 
used well on priority issues-if working on your goals is meaningful, 
time isn't used as an excuse. Look at the goals.
[Cathyjo] Im just sort of a coach
[bcdtech/Maureen] @beth I agree...but unless admin says you have to 
do , many will not
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[sharon_elin] GingerTPLC, I do think unions are enabling & protecting 
bad teachers.
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[sharon_elin] I know that's not a popular opinion
[GingerTPLC] @CathyJo: is she that bad? or are they just trying to 
retire her?
[MariaK] We'd like some other voices in this conversation - who can 
we bring in - volunteers?
[BethH] GREAT article by Clay Shirsky about the issue of TIME. http://
www.herecomeseverybody.org/2008/04/looking-for-the-mouse.html
[PeggyG] that's such an important point, Maria. It's not about 
counting hours working on something--it's about what you are learning 
and how you are changing your practices to meet student needs
[GingerTPLC] @sharon: I signed in to this job knowing I had no tenure 
protection here and I'm ok with that. If I rely on tenure to keep my 
job, I need to leave that job!
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[sharon_elin] amen
[jansmith] Now, we've all been in situations where the perspective of 
others don't reflect fairly. I see my union on my side. If I suck, my 
admin has the power to get rid of me
[Lisa Parisi] Ginger...when will you make too much money to be kept 
in your job?
[mrshbryson] We don't have tenure where I work. We also don't join 
unions either.
[Lisa Parisi] One more time...anyone want in to the skype conversation?
[mrshbryson] having said that, rarely does a teacher NOT get a 
contract renewal.
[GingerTPLC] @Lisa: now. That's happening now. But again, if tenure 
is what's protecting me, then I need to leave that job. If they don't 
want to pay me what I'm worth, they will lose me.
[jansmith] NO skype, I'm in my pj's
[Lisa Parisi] No video jan

[derrallg] glad I could finally listen in to this great group
[Cathyjo] hey derrall
[derrallg] hi Cathy
[Lisa Parisi] Glad you made it. Long time no speak.
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[GingerTPLC] g'morning Derrall!
[Lisa Parisi] Hello Paul.
[bcdtech/Maureen] For my computer classes- my admin has no clue- 
cannot help with goal setting. I think that may be true for other 
disciplines- does your admin know how to teach reading/math/etc..?
[loonyhiker] i was told many times to stop doing all that i do becuz 
i made the others look bad
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[PeggyG] I think over achiever implies that you are a person that 
goes above and beyond what is "expected"
[bcdtech/Maureen] I'm not an "over-achiever" I just get told that I 
don't have a life.
[sharon_elin] overachievers raise the bar and not everyone wants to rise
[Lisa Parisi] Maureen...aren't good practices, good practices 
regardless of the skill being taught

[derrallg] glad I could finally listen in to this great group
[Cathyjo] hey derrall
[derrallg] hi Cathy
[Lisa Parisi] Glad you made it. Long time no speak.
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[GingerTPLC] g'morning Derrall!
[Lisa Parisi] Hello Paul.
[bcdtech/Maureen] For my computer classes- my admin has no clue- 
cannot help with goal setting. I think that may be true for other 
disciplines- does your admin know how to teach reading/math/etc..?
[loonyhiker] i was told many times to stop doing all that i do becuz 
i made the others look bad
User paulh has logged out.
[PeggyG] I think over achiever implies that you are a person that 
goes above and beyond what is "expected"
[bcdtech/Maureen] I'm not an "over-achiever" I just get told that I 
don't have a life.
[sharon_elin] overachievers raise the bar and not everyone wants to rise
[Lisa Parisi] Maureen...aren't good practices, good practices 
regardless of the skill being taught
[derrallg] @lisap glad my real life is finally leaving room for PD
[derrallg] @ginger you survived the hotel?
[GingerTPLC] @derrall, I did! Was a fun time!!
[Cathyjo] @derrall   something has to give right?
[jansmith] @loonyhiker that can really be alienating
[bcdtech/Maureen] @lisa How does admin know "best practices" in 
different subject areas? I'm talking about specifics.
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[Lisa Parisi] I mean for learning Maureen.
[loonyhiker] @jan made me angry enuf to NOT stop doing what i was doing
[Lisa Parisi] For teaching.
[sharon_elin] That's why peer coaching is useful as content-specific 
feedback
[derrallg] @cathy yeah couldn't hold back from connecting anymore 
with friends
[Lisa Parisi] Hello Joel
[PeggyG] @Lisa-I agree with you-good instructional practices are not 
unique to the content/subject matter. I'm not an expert in band or 
art but I know how to evaluate whether their teaching practices are 
effective in student learning
[Lisa Parisi] Yes, Peggy. That's what I mean
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[jansmith] @loonyhiker you go! Your energy can bring others along--
they can draft on you.
[paulh] Hi guys
[jansmith] Hi paul!
[bcdtech/Maureen] @peggy@lisa I guess I mean- when I am setting goals 
for computer classes- other than the general ISTE type guidelines, 
how can I get help from someone who does not use tech?
[paulh] Hi
[PeggyG] slightly off topic but related-it always bothered me that 
PE, band, art, music specialists thought learning about the math or 
reading curriculum/standards were not important to them.
[Lisa Parisi] Maureen..your admin should know how to get you support 
in that area
[Cathyjo] My husband is an admin too--so I get that prespective too
[sharon_elin] one of the solutions is peer pressure -- from 
professional learning communities

Show 8 - Teacher Stereotypes

This week, we were joined by Joel Zehring and Chrissy Hellyer for a conversation about teacher stereotypes. We discussed what some were, how they came to be, and what we can do to dispel them. This lead to a discussion about teacher evaluations. It was decided to continue this conversation next week. Join us to discuss how teachers are evaluated and should we be doing our own evaluations?

Audio and Chat can be found here.