Observations.

Every time I have an observation...I suffer a ridiculous amount of pressure for three days leading up to it. I then have three days of dread before I sit in the conference room to be made to feel like a child as my micro-manager principal nit-picks every detail of the 30 minutes she saw and then extrapolates her observation to ALL of my teaching.

It isn't that I have a problem being observed or even evaluated. However, we don't have a set system. There is nothing to aim for such as the IMPACT system. She just writes down everything...I mean everything...my last observation included a critique of my ability to write neatly and darkly enough on the chalkboard. I just need to know how I'm judged and then given guidance as too correct any shortcomings I have shown. I'm a first year teacher...I know I have short-comings...but help me don't just slap me in the face.

I like what Jay Matthews has to say here

I tend to always agree with him and almost always disagree with the other chick they have blogging. She says some RIDICULOUS things...like this. Standards are a good idea...but they need to be national and school funding needs to be INDEPENDENT of community wealth.