Self-Assessment Questions for Teachers

from Around the Year by Tasha Tudor

It's hard to believe that our Charlotte Mason Community, Truth, Beauty, Goodness,  is in its ninth year!  What a blessing it has been to all the families involved and what a boon to each of our homeschools, helping us to more effectively implement a full, living curriculum. We always have a planning meeting before each semester of meetings.  So our organizational year looks like this:

1. Planning Meeting
2. 6 TBG Classes
3. Family Night (We used to do this after each semester but now we do it once at the end of the school year.)
Repeat!


I have never written about our planning meetings but I have come to realize that they are part of the key to our success.  I think that is because it is at these meetings that we graciously evaluate each person's subject and methods. Here are the self-assessment questions that I send out to each mom before the meeting so that when we come together, they can be prepared to talk through their evaluation. It's our version of Charlotte Mason's "Crits." (Criticism Lessons) which I will share more about soon.

Teacher Self-Assessment Questions

1. How do you feel this past semester went?

2. Exactly what do you feel went well?

3. What do you think did not go well?

4. Do you think all of your methods were in line with Mason’s  philosophy?

5. Do you think all of your materials were living?

6. What are you doing to further your knowledge about Mason’s philosophy?

7. What are you doing to further your knowledge about what Mason says about your content area?

8.What will you be doing differently next semester?

Other things that we do at the planning meetings are choose the dates and locations for the classes, as well as let the other moms know what we are planning to do for our subject.  Oftentimes someone might have information about that poet, composer, play, etc. that will help or guide that teacher.  For example, maybe I was going to teach Hamlet for Shakespeare but then someone else tells me that there is a production of Macbeth coming to town, so I might rethink my choice.  Things like that.

Most importantly, each meeting is prayed about and each meeting begins with prayer.

I hope you find something helpful here about how we go about our meetings that you can apply to your own community or maybe just within your homeschool.

Warmly,
Nancy