Report cards aren't just for students anymore. Teachers can learn a lot about their own performance when they ask students to grade their work from the last nine weeks.
Opening that first quarter report card can make a girl sweat. How well did I do in each class? Did late work affect my grade? Did I receive a good mark in effort? What about citizenship? Are there any good comments on it at all? And how many bad ones? These questions aren't limited to the students in middle school on the day report cards go home; teachers who receive their own report cards have these same concerns after nine weeks of hard work.
More and more teachers are asking students to assess them at the end of each quarter. For these assessments to be effective, it's important for teachers to establish ground rules for the students so that teachers can get the most honest and accurate responses possible. Students should be able to complete these "report cards" or evaluation forms anonymously, and it should be reinforced that any feedback they provide will not affect their own grade--either positively or negatively. Students also need to know the purpose of the teacher's report card. They should be informed that it is a tool that teachers can use to improve their teaching over the year and throughout their career. Receiving constructive criticism and words of praise can help teachers maintain their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Finally, students should be reminded that this report card is meant to help the teacher; therefore, specific comments and honest reflections should be offered. Teachers can't fix what they don't know is broken so general remarks, one-word responses, and blank answers aren't of much use.
Although it might be nerve-wracking at first or even intimidating, once teachers read their first set of report cards, they often realize how many wonderful ways they are affecting their students each day. And their eyes are opened to issues they may never have even considered. Report cards for teachers are truly a way in which professional growth can occur, starting today. If you're brave, check out the websites listed below. They each have a sample report card or teacher evaluation form that students can complete. And if you're really brave, ask your students' parents to complete one, too. Make sure to give yourself an "A" for effort; you deserve it.
Sample Report Cards for Teachers
Student Evaluation of Teacher Effectiveness
