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I think I may be crazy, but I’ve decided to try a new strategy for my formal observation. This is the observation that is announced. My principal and I met for our pre-observation interview on Friday. I told her that I had never taught this skill before. She said, “Oh, we usually advise that you don’t do that, but I’m sure you can handle it.” What was I thinking?
In pre-AP training this summer, I learned about a strategy for poetry analysis called TP-CASTT. Then when I was perusing the Guidebooks for the state curriculum, I found it was used for advanced fourth grade. I have gifted 5th and 6th graders, so this should be right on target for them. We are going to analyze Natasha Trethewey’s poem, Providence. I can relate to this poem because I was a child living in Jackson, Ms in 1969 when Hurricane Camille struck the Gulf Coast. I think adding in my personal experience as well as my passion for Natasha Trethewey’s poem will come through in this lesson.
I also searched online and found a great graphic organizer on Read, Write, Think. I plan to use this organizer to help us collect our thoughts. I have the poem ready on ActiveInspire to project on the Promethean, barring no computer tech problems.
So, what am I worried about? I got this, right?
I will probably lose some sleep worrying about my evaluation. I will give my students a little lecture about behavior before my principal comes in; however, lively conversation with student interaction is actually a good thing on the rubric. I can be sure my students will be engaged.
So cross your fingers and say a little prayer because I am probably in the midst of this lesson as you read this post. I am preaching to myself, “Evaluation is a good thing. You are a good teacher. Be calm and teach on!”
Reflections on the Teche 
Another inspiration! We grow as much from our personal reflection (i.e., this SOL blog) as we do before and after we teach on a lesson for evaluation. Engagement is always the key–let’s hope your principal is! Good luck! Remember, just like your students, you are not your evaluation or your VAM score.
Oh how I love your desire to push yourself to a new uncomfortable place when others would sink back into familiar. You want to do your best and that means pushing yourself. Love that! It sounds like a wonderful lesson. Can’t wait to hear how it goes! You are an inspiration to me with poetry! And in case you missed it, check out Steve’s post on poetry http://insidethedog.edublogs.org/2014/09/08/what-i-learned-by-listening-first/.
Thanks for the link. I really do love working with poetry. My students respond to my own passion. They were engaged and focused on dissecting the poem.
Love that you’re challenging yourself. I’m sure you will ‘wow’ your principal, Margaret. And thanks for the links-now in my bag of tricks! Sorry I won’t be at NCTE this year-too much else going on. There are so many going I know I’ll be sad when you all start posting from there! Hope the lesson went just as you wanted!
Aw, I was hoping to finally meet you. I am looking forward to NCTE so much. I can’t wait. Thanks for always encouraging me to be a better teacher.
I imagine that the lesson went better than planned and anticipated – “be calm and teach on is a fabulous motto, Margaret!
The best part was how we were all participating in the process, me, the students, and the principal. We were all engaged. Thanks for your support.
Oh my goodness! I bet it was great! Can’t wait to hear about it. 🙂 Of course you’re a good teacher, and I bet your principal was beyond impressed, just like I am when I read your posts. 🙂 I will be borrowing this idea, by the way!!
I hope your lesson went well. I am always getting ideas from you (and good for you for taking such a risk!). 🙂 I’m going to share this link with some of the 4th and 5th grade teachers in my building. I look forward to hearing how things went. (And WOW! It seems early for an evaluation…Yikes). J