Evaluation Tools for a Teacher Mentor
In many states, new teachers are assisted with their entry into the field by mentor teachers, or educators with more experience in the classroom. Although the primary job of these mentors is often not to evaluate their mentees, but instead to help them improve, evaluation is often necessary to identify weaknesses and create effective improvement plans. There are many tools that these mentors can use to evaluate those they have taken under their wings and prepare to better aid them in developing their teaching skills.
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Digital Recordings
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Digital recordings allow mentors the benefit of seeing how their mentees teach without actually sitting in on a class. Although some mentors elect to simply arrange an in-class observation, doing so sometimes isn't possible because of schedule restrictions. Instead of this in-person observation, mentors can set up digital video recording equipment on one or more days and catch the mentees teaching on film. Not only can the mentor review this film footage and evaluate the teaching, he also can share it with the mentee, going over the specific strengths or weaknesses and providing examples of each.
Evaluation Rubric
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It is often hard to quantify an evaluation. With the aid of an evaluation rubric, mentors can more effectively accomplish this task. Teaching evaluation rubrics often consist of a list of desirable teaching features along with a point value for each. The mentor can complete this rubric while watching the mentee teach to help him determine where he needs to improve or to prepare him for formal evaluations by administration.
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Mentor/Mentee Journal
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By communicating with the mentee regularly, the mentor can evaluate not only his skill but also his comfort level. To allow for this regular communication, many mentor/mentee teams use a journal. To use a journal effectively, the mentor and mentee write back and forth to each other, discussing teaching issues, concerns, high points and plans for the future. This tool is particularly effective because it isn't just an evaluation tool, but also a way to support the mentee as he moves through his early years of teaching.
Goal-Setting Sheets
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Goal-setting sheets make it possible for mentees to determine what they are working toward and for mentors to monitor their mentee's progression toward improvement. Many mentors ask their mentees to set goals, listing specific things they hope to improve about their teaching. By using a goal-setting sheet to record these goals, mentors effectively can check back on progression toward these goals and hold their mentees accountable for making strides toward self-improvement.
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