How about this for an efficient teacher evaluation question instead of the thirty pages of observation indicators/look-fors in current use?
Would you want your child in this classroom?
When I worked for Public Education and Business Coalition as a staff developer focusing on reading comprehension and writers workshop, we asked ourselves that question and then worked with each teacher to make it a classroom where we would feel good to have our children spend their time.
We may each have different priorities for our own children in terms of approach to learning, discipline, structure yet I suspect nearly all of us want our children to be safe, heard, encouraged to put in effort and to believe in their possibilities.
My wish on Mother’s Day for every mother’s child in our schools is that you find your spark, realize your brilliance, develop your gifts so that you will be able to find a place to shine in this world.