TEI Evaluations - Student Input

With it being evaluation season, we're gearing up to student surveys around the district. This morning, I talked about the evaluation of the classroom. It went well and was all filmed. What was the student part of that? They hated being filmed. They didn't want pictures taken of them. Some even became visibly and verbally upset with the AP. The kids don't like being observed, but most will tolerate it FOR their teacher. Some kids even try and put on a show FOR their teachers. "Isn't mister x just the best teacher?" "Yeah, I learn SO MUCH ALL THE TIME!"

The surveys are another story. We're passing out notices to the parents via the kids now to let them know what's coming up. How will my students review my class? Can they accurately assess how I'm doing? Will they be vindictive and say bad things just to get me in trouble? The questions aren't set up that way and shouldn't be able to be manipulated in such a way, but what if? Is it fair to tie my pay to the opinions of a teenager?

I personally don't have a problem with it because I believe in the relationship I've built with my kids and my test results show that I'm having an impact; however, there is a lot of room for error and I can understand the apprehension from the teachers.

Good luck teachers. Believe in your kids and they'll believe in you...well at least some of them.