Danielson Model

This is my 14th year of teaching. I was formally observed this year in December. This is my first experience with using the Danielson Model for my evaluation. As part of this model, I had to create a teacher evaluation binder, which included evidence (or artifacts) that “proved” I met the criteria in each of the different domains of teaching.

Do you dread the thought of preparing your Teacher Evaluation Binder? Are you so overwhelmed that you don't even know where to begin? In this detailed blog post, I explain each domain of the Danielson Framework for Teacher Evaluation.

I am not going to lie. When my district first introduced us to this new model, I was annoyed. My thoughts ranged from, “This is a complete waste of time” and “Why on earth do I have to PROVE my abilities to my administration?” Yep. I thought this was just one other way that my district was implementing something new. Again.

However, I will say that my attitude completely changed as I went through the evaluation process, especially when I started to gather my information and documents for my binder. I actually felt like I was scrapbooking in a way! I also felt a sense of pride, kinda proud about all the things that I am doing with my students. It was nice that I was able to show that there is REASON why I work so hard and do all these engaging lessons and activities with my students.

I found that this process really encouraged me to reflect on my teaching as a whole- everything from my relationships with families and coworkers, professional development, and my actual instruction. THIS part of the process really reminded me of my National Board Certification process.

NBCT is an intense. I achieved National Board Certification (on my first try!) after teaching for just 4 years. When you hear people say that the process really transformed their teaching, they are not kidding. It REALLY transformed my teaching! I had just completed my Master’s degree prior to starting NBTC, and that was NOTHING compared to going through the boards. (That is a whole different blog post!) :) If you want to learn more about National Board Certification, click HERE.

First things first…gather all your necessary materials. That includes a VERY large, sturdy Avery Binder. My binder has a clear pocket to insert a cover binder page. I also used clear plastic page protectors, a three ring hole punch, binder cover pages, and all of my evidence, or documentation.

Once I had all of my materials, I began sorting through the papers and divided them up according to the domain of teaching. Prior to putting my binder together, I just shoved all my evidence into a file folder. I would have loved to be more organized, but in the mist of my day-to-day teaching, that is just something that I did not make the time for.

Domain one for the Danielson framework is called “Planning and Preparation.” This domain includes the following:

This part of the evaluation is not necessarily observed by an administration when they walk into your classroom. As a result, I needed to provide different examples, or evidence, of different ways that I meet these characteristics of domain one.

Some ideas of what I gathered as evidence for this domain:
1. Examples of student assessments that I created specifically for my third graders. This includes any pre-tests and post-tests that I used as formative assessments. I also included a picture about my “swimming skills” bulletin board. When we began our unit on multiplication, my students rated their multiplication skills (using swimming as an analogy) at the beginning and end of the unit.

2. Examples of exit slips my students filled out at the end of a math lesson, which would show they are meeting the learning target/instructional outcome.

3. District created curriculum maps, pacing guides, common core state standards for your grade level, etc. This evidence demonstrates my knowledge about the content and curriculum for the grade I teach.

4. Examples of how you know your students. I really believe that this is our greatest strength as teachers.

We KNOW the children who are in our classroom for up to 6 hours a day. We know their personalities, when they are having a good day or bad day, what their academic strength and weakness is, what motivates them…the list goes on! For this area of domain one, I included a photocopy of several different ways that I get to know my students at the beginning of the year.

My students fill out a reading survey, a quick checklist for what motivates them (candy, stickers, eating lunch with the teacher), and a “getting to know you” form. I also included the parent homework that I send home at the beginning of the school year, in which I ask the parents to tell me more about their child.

5. What data do you have about your students? What are their reading levels? Fluency scores? MAP data? These examples are great evidence to show your knowledge about your students academic progress.

6. Evidence of setting instructional outcomes.

Once all my evidence was inserted into my binder, I then filled out the evidence log.

The evidence log lists a brief explanation of all the pieces of evidence that I organized into my binder. It really serves a “cheat sheet” for the administrator who is reviewing your binder.

Domain two for the Danielson framework is called “The Classroom Environment.” This domain includes the following:

Obviously, the areas of teaching are all observable during your formal and informal observations and walk throughs. However, I still included evidence for these characteristics of domain two.

I used pictures that documented evidence that my classroom is designed for student learning and organized. An example of this is my guided reading table, which I really use any time I am meeting with a small group of students. All of my leveled readers, student materials, and teacher materials are all ready to go.

I also included examples of my classroom economy behavior system, which provides evidence for managing student behavior.

I also explain how my students use fidgets and brain breaks…you can read more about that HERE.

Domain three for the Danielson framework is called “Instruction.”

This domain includes the following:

Similar to domain two, the areas of teaching are all observable during your formal and informal observations and walk throughs. I also included evidence for the different components of this domain in my binder.

Here are some snapshots of what I used as evidence for domain 3c, engaging students in learning.

Learning about symmetry with concrete examples:

Engaging lesson about division, while learning the meaning of dividend, divisor, and quotient.

Integration of social studies with reading in a study about the continents!

Identifying major landforms on the world map, for each continent.

Example of student reading closely, writing unfamiliar words on sticky notes.

Domain four for the Danielson framework is called “Professional Responsibilities.” This domain includes the following:

Similar to domain one, this part of the evaluation is not necessarily observed by an administration when they walk into your classroom.

As a result, I needed to provide different examples, or evidence, of different ways that I meet these characteristics of domain four.

One example that I used for this domain was the in-school field trip that I organized for my grade level. We had a representative from the local animal shelter come into our classroom and taught our third graders how to be responsible for their pets, show compassion, and get involved with their community by volunteering.

You can read more about this HERE.

This was the absolute best field trip ever…at no cost for the students!

Another piece of evidence I included in my binder for domain four was my student led conferences. A couple of years ago, I was the first teacher to implement student-led conferences at my school. Since then, other teachers have asked me about this way of doing conferences and implemented them into their classroom.

After reflecting on my teaching (domain 4a!), I realized that the traditional ten minute teacher/parent conference was NOT an effective use of my time.

You can read more about how and why I use student led conferences HERE.

I also included examples of my constant communication with parents, as part of domain 4c. This is the number one management tool that I learned from the National Board Certification process. I document all my parent communication in a log, which I photocopy and include as evidence in my binder.

What do you do on a district/school level to provide professional development or act as a leader? Below is a snapshot of the Eureka math program that I was selected to pilot with my third graders. This is an excellent example of 4e- growing and developing professionally.

I also have a file folder for all students in my classroom. Inside every students’ folder, I include important data (testing results, specific tests), work samples, and documentation of interventions that I am using with that child. I bring one of these folders as evidence of maintaining accurate records-(4b).

WHEW!!! Now that was not so bad, was it?? :)

If you are interested in purchasing this resource, please check out the file preview and description below.

Teacher Evaluation Binder: Aim for Excellence!

I created this file because it was my year to be formally observed by my principal. Although my district provided some training for the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teacher Evaluation, I wanted to learn more about the tools that would be used to assess me as an educator. As a result, I spent a lot time on my own researching more about the framework, the checklists and rubrics for determining the difference between the teacher ratings. I then started to gather evidence, or documentation, for domains one and four. I quickly found that my National Board Certification came in handy for this part of the evaluation process! (When I certified for the National Boards, I had to create a portfolio and also include evidence to “prove” what I was writing in my entries.) I then organized my evidence and paperwork into a binder, ready to show off to my administration during my pre- and post-conference. I hope that this file will help ease the stress that sometimes comes when having to put together a binder- being formally observed can be stressful enough!

Included in this (80 plus page) file is the following:

1. A 5 page PowerPoint file that allows you to insert text boxes and type in your own name t personalize the your binder cover page, and also insert text boxes to type in your evidence for the 4 domains

2. A 77 page PDF of the following:
– Directions and tips for how to create your own binder
– Four colorful cover pages for each of the different domains
– Several photographs of ideas for what I used as evidence for the domains
– Ideas for artifacts/evidence for the different components of teacher responsibility
– A list of all the elements for the 22 components of teacher responsibilities, which define the content and the structure of the discipline- for you to add as pages into your binder

** Note- The ideas presented in this file are to give you inspiration and suggest what you can use for your own evidence. This resource gives you guidance to personalize your binder according to YOUR students and YOUR teaching style!

Click HERE to purchase this resource from Teachers Pay Teachers.

Save 10% by purchasing directly from my website.

Is your school district using the Danielson model for teacher evaluations? If not, what does your district currently use? What are your thoughts about it?

3 Responses

Becky Furlan says:

February 16, 2015 at 6:27 pm

What a great post! It really helps me to understand the process. I can't wait to start putting my binder together. THANK YOU for the awesome resource!

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Kjo says:

February 19, 2015 at 10:34 pm

This looks GREAT! I'm also in Chicago (brr…) and I've been evaluated using Danielson before when I worked in Evanston. Now that I'm in a Chicago Charter school, I'm thinking I better try and be a little more proactive about proving myself. I also am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher! Wahoo!!

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Jayme says:

February 19, 2015 at 11:12 pm

Wow such an informative post and easily broken down by each domain! We have been using Danielson for the last two years but our administration has been more relaxed on collecting data for domains 1 and 4. This year they will not be and we haven't been given any guidance as to what is expected. Your picture makes that so much more clear! Thank you, I will definitely be checking it out on tpt.

Jayme
Teach Talk Inspire

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