A Self Reflection Journey #11: Massachusetts Teacher Evaluation System IIA2

The Massachusetts Teacher Evaluation Rubric Element IIA2 focuses on student engagement. I was struck by the importance student engagement plays in overall learning success when I read Hattie's book, Visible Learning for Teachers, Maximizing Impact on Learning last summer. Most importantly, student engagement depends on student "choice and voice," and the belief that all students, not just a few, are the primary focus of classroom efforts, activity, and intent. 

Standard II: Teaching All Students. The teacher promotes the learning and growth of all students through instructional practices that establish high expectations, create a safe and effective classroom environment, and demonstrate cultural proficiency.

Indicator II-A. Instruction: Uses instructional practices that reflect high expectations regarding content and quality of effort and work; engage all students; and are personalized to accommodate diverse learning styles, needs, interests, and levels of
readiness.

Element II-A-2: Student Engagement 

Criteria (exemplary)
Consistently models and uses instructional practices that typically motivate and engage most students during the lesson and during independent work and home work. 

Key Points/Questions:

Example of Learning Menu

• Instructional practices that typically motivate and engage.  How do you determine practices that are motivating and engaging for your students?
• During lessons, independent work, and home work.  In what ways do you offer students a learning menu that supports student choice, voice, and engagement relative to learning? 

Educator Analysis Grid 

Element 2A2: Student Engagement

Key Points	Question	Effective Efforts	Implications for Your Practice	Results
Instructional practices that typically motivate and engage.	How do you determine practices that are motivating and engaging for your students?	Engage students in activities they enjoy. Let students help you identify the most engaging learning activities. Know your students well with regard to interests, passions, questions, experiences, needs, and styles so that you can identify and utilize motivating learning activities.
During lessons, independent work, and home work.	In what ways do you offer students a learning menu that supports student choice, voice, and engagement relative to learning?	Whenever possible use a menu of learning options and activities thus promoting student choice and voice. Keep an online menu of learning choices for students’ ready 24-7 access in school and at home. When possible create the learning menu with students rather than for students.

My Reflections

Reflections' Links

• Reflection #1 Subject Matter Knowledge
• Reflection #2 Child and Adolescent Behavior
• Reflection #3 Rigorous Standards-Based Unit Design
• Reflection #4 Well Structured Lessons
• Reflection #5 Variety of Assessment Methods
• Reflection #6 Adjustment to Practice
• Reflection #7 Analysis and Conclusions
• Reflection #8: Sharing Conclusions with Colleagues
• Reflection #9 Sharing Conclusions with Students
• Reflection #10: Quality of Effort and Work
• Reflection #11: Student Engagement
• Reflection #12: Meeting Diverse Needs
• Reflection #13: Safe Learning Environment
• Reflection #14: Collaborative Learning Environment