The Teacher Effectiveness Online Portfolio

In a world where we are constantly proving our effectiveness with our students, I have created an easy to manage and organize system that allows me to prove my worth and effectiveness to my supervisors.

In Pennsylvania, we use the Charlotte Danielson method of evaluation. That is, we are evaluated based on 4 domains. Here is her entire system: Charlotte Danielson Model

These four domains include:

• Domain 1: Planning and Preparation
• Domain 2: The Classroom Environment
• Domain 3: Instruction 
• Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities

Many of the districts I've visited use a binder to collect materials that prove the educator has met proficiency in each of those levels. I, being a very mobile educator, have created a Google Drive file folder to hold my binder. 

My first Google Drive folder is the whole binder, labeled "Teacher Effectiveness."

Once you open that, I have a file for each domain. Whenever I find myself working on something that meets one of those domains, I add it to the folder. This creates an ever increasing supply of professional portfolio items. 

I can then share my Teacher Effectiveness portfolio with any professional I like by simply providing them with the link. That professional can view any of the portfolio items I have collected organized by domain. 

For more technological help with Google Drive check this out: Get Started with Google Drive

Apps with Feedback!

With all the technology available, I've always wanted an app that will let me assess my students (especially with something rote like times tables) and then see their results. There's tons of apps that let them practice, but not all of them give student feedback, and none of them give me feedback at all. That was until I found two amazing websites!

Socrative.com

This FREE resource lets me create a quiz on anything I want. I can then assign my quiz to a class. My students simply have to enter in the class code and their name. No longer do I need a list of 20 usernames and passwords. Students only need one code.

I login (with email and password) and create a quiz. Socrative offers multiple choice, open ended, true/false, and short answer. They also allow you to include a picture on the question page. It is so easy to use.

Students punch in the class code on any computer or iPad. They take the quiz (only the quizzes I choose pop up as an option) and close out.

I now have, not only their percent grade, but a breakdown of how they've scored on every single question!

XtraMath.com

If you're looking for some times tables practice, xtra math is your resource. This also FREE resource tests students (they need class code, name, and pin) on times tables. It gives them immediate feedback and has them repeat the unknown times tables throughout the quiz.

Teachers can see every missed times table. 

My Out of Control Library

So, four years of school and every seasoned teacher I came across said "Build your collection!" So, I dutifully hoarded every young adult book I could find including everything from my own childhood collection to the $5 a box yard sale or auction find.

This advice was meant to be helpful. I'm not sure if these advisers wish they had a larger collection when they started to teach or if they had somehow collected book of their own. In any case, I'm sure not one of them could imagine the massive amounts of books I've come to collect prior to any employment. That is to say that my room has become more of a storage unit for classroom supplies than an actual sleeping space.

So, in terms of my classroom library, I'm taking it a step at a time. First, I've collected every children's book I could find into one corner.

Next comes the fun part. I found this amazing article by Mandy Holland at www.tips-for-teachers.com. She seems to have a great organization of her library, so I wanted to give mine the same good start.

I chose to use LibraryThing to catalog my books. After looking into dozens of apps and websites, this one seemed the easiest to use. A lot of my books are 20 years old or older because they're mostly second hand. This online catalog had almost all of them saved. I just had to search for the title and select the book. Check out my library of books below!

Now, here's where you'll find the catch. Library Thing allows for 200 free cataloged books. I got one box in and my list tapped out. That's when I signed up for the lifetime membership that cost about $25 and allows for an unlimited number of books!

Still logging books so I'm off to that!

My next step is to organize the books I have into some sort of mobile but logical book storage... We shall see...

I've got 480 books and still counting!

I'll post again next Sunday! Your comments keep me going!