The Iowa teaching standards and criteria represent a set of knowledge and skills that reflects the best evidence available regarding quality teaching. The purpose of the standards and criteria is to provide LEAs and AEAs with a consistent representation of the complexity and the possibilities of quality teaching. The teaching standards and supporting criteria are linked to the teacher evaluation system and individual professional development plans.At this point, my portfolio is extremely bare bones. Really, it's just a template with the standards and criteria.
As I find artifacts for my portfolio, my plan is to reflect on the artifacts here on the blog and put links to those reflections on the portfolio. I'd like to have a conversation around the artifacts here on the blog. As has always been my goal with this blog, I want to learn from and reflect with you.
Something to note regarding the Iowa teaching standards (from the model evidence pdf on the Iowa DOE site):
Evidence is not needed for each of the 42 criteria. It is the presence of quality evidence under a standard that determines if a teacher meets that particular Iowa Teaching Standard. This is determined by a qualified, Iowa trained evaluator, the conversation around these pieces of evidence by the evaluator and the teacher, and the district guidelines for evaluation. Evidence used to show competence in one standard and criteria can and should be used for showing competence in other standards and criteria. The conversation between the evaluator and teacher is vital in this determination.I wanted to put that out there in case this whole process gets confusing. I may have one artifact that goes toward multiple criteria. I will make sure to note that when it happens.
There is no requirement by the State of Iowa that 42 different pieces of evidence for a teacher (beginning or career) must be produced to meet the Iowa Teaching Standards.
This is all a learning process. Thank you for learning along with me.
