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Subjects

• Arts & Humanities
  --Language Arts

Grade

• 3-5
• 6-8
• 9-12

Brief Description

Students create a “teacher report card.” Then they grade the teacher.

Objectives

Students

• think critically about the work of teaching.
• think critically as they grade the teacher and provide written comments.

Keywords

report card, critical thinking, critique, teaching

Materials Needed

• "teacher report card" form (students create the form, or an online form is printed for use)

Lesson Plan

Students will receive their report cards in the next few days. Since you have taken a great deal of time to grade their performance, why not take this opportunity to give them a chance to grade your performance?

You might begin this lesson by talking about some of the things you consider as you grade students' efforts. Or you might turn over the responsibility for this discussion to them by asking What are some of the things that you think I consider as I determine your report card grades?

After students have talked about elements of the teacher grading them, turn the discussion toward the work that you do. You might pose this question: If teachers were to get report cards, what are some of things that might be considered when a teacher is graded? Students might offer suggestions such as…

• knows the subject/material
• conveys material in an interesting way
• answers students' questions clearly
• writes neatly/clearly on the chalk/whiteboard
• is aware of what's going on in students' other classes
• shows patience when students don't get it
• handles classroom discipline fairly
• makes class interesting
• is generally enthusiastic about teaching
• is enthusiastic about the material being taught
• motivates students' to want to learn
• gives clear directions
• spends time preparing lessons/activities
• explains assignments and projects thoroughly
• has high expectations for students
• helps students succeed
• respects students
• respects students' opinions, questions, and comments
• has good rapport with students

Note: Write down all student ideas as they are given. Some ideas might be redundant, but redundant ideas can be weeded out later. Students can do that, or you might do that if you create the final list of characteristics on which your teaching will be graded.

The list of characteristics that students come up with can provide the basis for a "teacher report card." Students might rate you on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) in each of the categories of teaching that they deemed important. If you create this "teacher report card," you might want to include an area below each cateogory for students to write comments. Teachers can learn a lot from students' comments.

A Few More Thoughts
You might emphasize that you

• would like students' input because you are interested in becoming the best teacher you can be.
• will take time to read all students' report cards and comments.
• are looking for constructive criticism, not unkindness.
• appreciate that students are willing to take their time to fill out the report card.
• do not expect students to sign their report cards unless they want to.

You might mention that students' report card grades have been turned in already, so "buttering up" the teacher will not change their final grades.

Additional Resources

Teacher Progress Report
Rick Wormeli, author of many books, including Meet Me in the Middle: Becoming an Accomplished Middle-Level Teacher, provides this teacher report card that students and parents can use to rate teachers. You might use this report card, or you might use some of the categories as you create your own.

Student Feedback Form
This form, which asks students for more open-ended feedback, was created by a middle school teacher.

Assessment

This activity is not assessed; it is, instead, an opportunity for students to reflect without assessment. In this activity, students are the assessors.

Lesson Plan Source

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.3 Evaluation Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills

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