Administrators often ask instructional support staff to conduct observations of teachers to provide feedback that can be used in teacher evaluations. However, there is often confusion about the relationship between these two types of feedback. In this blog post, we’ll explore the difference between teacher evaluations and teacher observations and how they can be used together to help improve instruction.
What is a Teacher Evaluation?
A teacher evaluation is a formal process that is typically conducted by an administrator at the end of a school year. It is a summative assessment of a teacher’s performance that considers factors such as student achievement data, stakeholder feedback, and observations. The purpose of a teacher evaluation is to provide feedback that can be used to help improve instruction.
What is a Teacher Observation?
Teacher observation is an informal process that is typically conducted by an instructional coach or other instructional support staff member. It is a formative assessment of a teacher’s performance that considers factors such as classroom management, engagement with students, and use of instructional time. The purpose of a teacher observation is to provide feedback that can be used to help improve instruction.
How are Teacher Evaluations and Teacher Observations Related?
Teacher evaluations and teacher observations are both tools that can be used to provide feedback to teachers about their instruction. However, they serve different purposes. Teacher evaluations are summative in nature and are typically conducted at the end of a school year. Teacher observations are formative in nature and are typically conducted throughout the year. Both types of feedback can be used to help improve instruction.
Teacher evaluations and teacher observations are both important tools that can be used to provide feedback to teachers about their instruction. However, it’s important to understand the difference between the two types of feedback in order to use them effectively. When used together, teacher evaluations and teacher observations can provide a well-rounded view of a teacher’s performance and help identify areas for improvement.
