I have some things that I would like to change on my blog and named them and why I would change them. I also went out on the limb to ask people what they liked and what suggestions they would make about my blog. There were no great surprises and it's always nice to reaffirm what is going on. There were many suggestions. I now know how to live dangerously when I want to change my blog. I have to set up another blog and use it for experimenting.
Now when you ask for opinions you risk hearing some things you might not want to hear and some things that are just plane wrong. All of your comments were great.
I then reflected on being able to ask for judgements.
As a teacher , I went through many evaluations. In the 50's and 60's we had one visit a year from the superintendent. It was a terrifying visit. We didn't know what he was looking for and I don't think he did either. I had one superintendent who was most helpful.
As time went on teacher evaluation changes. Specific skills were looked for. We were trained to use these skills and when an evaluator came to your classroom you knew exactly what he was looking for.
Evaluation expanded. Principals and vice principals visited the classroom so we had 4 or more visits per year. Not all of these visits were formal.
I was a department head and I also did classroom visits.
I also had many student teachers and had to evaluate them. This evaluation was a pain because of the way the evaluation form was set up. Having student teachers was always a good experience.
So it wasn't hard for me to ask for opinions and I'm glad I asked as I learned some things and certainly had things reaffirmed.
I remember very clearly how stressed the nuns would get when 'the inspectors' were due. We'd be terrified of slipping up and letting them down. It never dawned on me to feel sorry for them, I was too busy feeling sorry for us.
ReplyDeleteIn the old days superintendents could be scary and sneaky. Some teachers had a canned lesson that they switched to when the Supt. showed up.
DeleteMy blog is my experimental blog.
ReplyDeleteIf you just copy and paste your current template as HTML before you mess then when you mess up then you can just paste the original back. Assuming you can remember where you pasted it and what you called it.
Any help you need with specifics then feel free to email.
I am still waiting for a new header you had promised?
ReplyDeletePatience, patience! It will take me a long time.
DeleteSometimes tough on you to hear what others think. I never cared for it very much, especially from superiors who had been out of the classroom for a long time or didn't have the experience I had.
ReplyDeleteWhen I gave the kids a writing assignment , I always did it as well. I wrote mine on the chalk board and we discussed my writing as well as theirs.
DeleteYou are a wonderful teacher!
DeleteIt's always nice to get feedback from fellow bloggers. I should consider doing the same!
ReplyDeleteWhy not? You do many other things with your blog. You involve others by asking for their ideas. I like that.
DeleteI often felt that the evaluators had more to improve upon in their evaluations and training and help than those of us being evaluated. I guess I missed your posts on asking for advice, or perhaps I do not remember.
ReplyDeleteThe post I refer to was blogger mumbling about 4 posts ago. Evaluation really changed during the 70' and 80's. In large systems the supts. didn't do evaluations.
DeleteI'm glad you got some useful opinions. As a side note, I really like your blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Deletei'm still in training at my new job and get daily evaluation sheets. difficult for both evaluator and evaluatee, i think. :)
ReplyDeleteDaily is a bit much depending on what you're doing.
DeleteMy parents knew a guy who'd started out as a teacher, rose up through the principal ranks, and ended up being one of those superintendents. He would tell stories about evaluations.
ReplyDeleteSome of the old guys could see through a lot of crap. They were smarter than they looked.
DeleteI bet those evaluations were a bit scary! We are all in this blogging thing together Red, this is your "room" you can do what ever you want here! :)
ReplyDeleteAs a young teacher evaluations were threatening. I like the term "room " that you use for a blog. Good One!
DeleteI love your header and will miss it when you change it. We are busy writing and learning here at Lavender Hill Farm, and you'll get more from us when we're finished. Your blog is always fun to visit, Red. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the question (pun). I am sure you got a lot of that answer during your years of teaching. I really like your blog just how you do it - its original and its you. What can you do to make it more attractive or appealing, when everything you do WORKS. As my Dad said more than once "Don't fix it if it ain't broken". I also agree with DJan - love your header as your original creation. Cheers
ReplyDeleteIn my last years teaching, (2006) the principals would visit and scribe EVERYTHING we said. Crazy people, stupid strategies.
ReplyDeletePositive criticism can be useful (though not always welcome) but when it comes to your blog so much is a matter of taste. I like my blog photos to be large. Some people prefer small ones and click to enlarge. To an extent, of course, so much depends on what one is trying to convey in a blog.
ReplyDeleteTeacher evaluations over the years changed for me, too. Those early years were terrifying! When I was on the other side and was the evaluator, I always tried to give constructive help and lots of praise for good things I saw the young teacher doing because I remembered what it felt like to have the administrator in my classroom.
ReplyDelete