Oklahoma Criteria for Effective Teaching

Teachers are subject to assessment of their own.

Oklahoma, like the rest of the states in the country, has evaluation standards for teachers to ensure that students are receiving education from highly qualified educators. This is one of the requirements in the federal “No Child Left Behind” law. Oklahoma evaluates effective teaching on several levels, including practice and products.

Evaluation

All teachers are required to be evaluated by state-certified administrators. Probationary teachers, or those who have less than three years teaching experience in one jurisdiction, will be evaluated twice—once in the fall and once in the spring. Career teachers, those who have more than three years of experience, will be evaluated annually. Teachers are deemed “effective” by complying with the Oklahoma Criteria for Effective Teaching. Teachers are evaluated for classroom management and instructional abilities. Teachers are evaluated on lesson planning and grading as well as student achievement.

Teacher Management Indicators

Teachers will be the first to admit that classroom management is probably the most challenging task they have. Management indicators include preparation, routine, discipline and the learning environment. Is the teacher prepared for class? What are some of the classroom routines? Are they efficient, taking just minimal time away from instruction? Does the teacher encourage positive behavior and control negative behavior? Does the teacher have a rapport with the students? Is the classroom a pleasant and safe place to be?

Teacher Instruction Indicators

Here the focus is on the teacher’s instructional skills. Is today’s objective clearly stated? Is it linked into what was previously taught? Are all learners included in the teaching strategies? Does the teacher explain what is expected? Model the instructions? Does the teacher use both guided and independent practice? Does the lesson end with some sort of summation?

Teacher Product Indicators

Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. This is where teachers are evaluated on their lesson plans, student files and grading. A good lesson plan is needed in order for teachers to get good grades on their instructional evaluation. The plan guides the lesson so that all of the instruction—from the beginning of the lesson to the summation—is decided in advance. Sometimes, the plan needs to be adjusted, but it’s important to have a plan to start. Student files are important so that the teacher can keep an eye on each student’s progress. Lastly, a fair and equitable grading system, based on specific criteria, is needed so that each student is treated appropriately.

Student Achievement

This is the bottom line. How did the students do? Teachers can plan out a lesson perfectly, but if the students are not mastering the material, then something is wrong. In addition to classroom achievement, students are measured against students throughout the state through standardized assessment tests.

References

• Oklahoma State Department of Education: Criteria for Evaluation of Effective Teaching and Administrative Performance
• Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation: Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination Study Guide