I. Planning

T-TESS Rubric 

Domain One: Planning (Communicate during Pre Conference with Evaluator)

1. Standards and Alignment

2. Data and Assessment

3. Knowledge of Students

4. Activities

1.1 STANDARDS AND ALIGNMENT: aligned goals, standards, and objectives, lesson structure/design and pacing, technology integration (see 1.4 below)

The teacher designs clear, well-organized, sequential lessons that reflect best practice, align with standards, and  are appropriate for diverse learners. 

• Aligned Goals and Standards: How are the teacher's goal aligned with state content standards?

  • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills  TEKS) 

• Lesson Structure & Design: How are lessons structured that incorporate appropriate time for instruction, student work, student reflection, lesson, and lesson closure?

  • Tips for Building a Learning Community (Based on Capturing Kids' Hearts Excel Model)

  • Simplified  Daily Lesson Plan Template

  • Daily Lesson Plan Resources

  • Quick Tips for Pacing

  • Instructional Pacing: How do your lessons flow?

  • How to improve pacing in the classroom?

  • One Sentence Lesson

  • How to Plan Effective Lessons

  • Lesson & Curriculum Planning

1.2 DATA AND ASSESSMENT: formal and informal assessments, progress monitoring, communication and feedback, data to inform instruction

The teacher uses formal and informal methods to measure student progress, then manages and analyzes student data to inform instruction.

• Formal and informal assessments: How do I use formal and informal assessments to monitor progress of all students? How can assessments help students build awareness of their progress?

  • Template for Analyzing Data

  • Formal vs Informal Assessments

  • Assessment Methods: A Look at Formal and Informal Techniques

  • 7 Fast Smart Ways to Do Formative Assessments

  • Why Formative Assessments Matter

• Data to inform instruction: How do I use student data to inform instruction?

  • 4 Ways Data Informs Instruction

  • Great Schools: Use Data to Inform Instruction 

  • Facilitating Data Driven Conversations

• Communication and Feedback: How do I provide timely and specific feedback to students on their progress?

  • Importance of Giving Meaningful Feedback

  • 5 Researched Based Tips for Providing Students with Meaningful Feedback

  • 20 Ways to Provide Effective Feedback for Learning

  • How to Use Google Forms for Feedback

  • Peer Feedback Choice Board

  • Peer Review, Checklist 

  • Peer Review Rubric

1.3 KNOWLEDGE OF STUDENTS: appeal to student interests/needs: students’ prior knowledge, adjusts to student needs, diverse learning for strengths and gaps, social-emotional learning, appeal to learning styles

Through knowledge of students and proven practices, the teacher ensures high levels of learning, social-emotional development and achievement for all students. 

• Prior Knowledge

  • Stop and Jot

• Social and Emotional Learning

  • What is Culturally Responsive Teaching?

  • Culturally Responsive Teaching

  • 12 Strategies to Build Relationships with Students

  • 20 Relationship Building Activities

  • Relationship Building Toolkit

• Appealing to student interests: How do I appeal to students interests and life experiences?

  • Authentic Assessments Grasp Model

  • Importance of Engaging Prior Knowledge

  • 27 Ways to Assess Your Students' Prior Knowledge

  • Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

• Appealing to Learning Styles: How do I provide opportunities for students to utilize their individual learning styles?

  • How to Accommodate Different Learning Styles

  • How to Recognize and Support Learning Styles in the Classroom

  • Education Corner: Discover Your Learning Style

1.4 ACTIVITIES: student agency & higher order thinking, group students, roles & responsibilities, problem solving, goal setting, integration of technology, resources, materials

The teacher plans engaging, flexible lessons that encourages higher-order thinking, persistence and achievement. 

• Integration of Technology: 

  • Ed Puzzle Training New 2023 features

  • How Using Technology in Teaching Affects the Classroom

  • How to Use Technology in the Classroom: Benefits and Effects

  • https://www.mentimeter.com (Use mentimeter to poll students and get feedback quickly)

  • https://kahoot.com/ -review terms/vocabulary

  • https://quizlet.com/ review terms/vocabulary

  • https://www.gimkit.com/ review terms/vocabulary

  • https://jamboard.google.com/?pli=1 - brainstorming in groups

• Higher Order Thinking: How do I provide opportunities for students to generate questions that lead to further inquiry and promote higher order thinking?

  • Critical Thinking, Thinking Pathways, Compass Points

  • Question Formulation Technique

  • Thinking Pathway's 4 Cs and Variations of the 4Cs

  • Socratic Seminar

  • Philosophical Chairs

  • Talk Moves Sentence stems

  • Inspiring Inquiry

  • Visible Thinking Exercises

  • Creative Thinking, Scamper Technique

  • Harvard's Project Zero Activities for Critical Thinking

  • Chalk Talk Strategy

  • SWOT Analysis or SOAR Analysis

    • Transfer Skills

      • 10 Ways to Improve the Transfer of Learning

      • Memory training through visual imagery

• Student Agency: How do I allow students to take ownership of their own learning?

  • 5 Ways to Promote Student Agency

  • How to Build Student Agency in Your Classroom

  • Time Management Plan

  • Canva Weekly Calendar Log

  • SMART Goals

  • Learning Targets

  • Why we should pursue learning targets?

  • Transferring Ownership of Writing to Students

• Roles and Responsibilities: How do I have students hold each other accountable within instructional groups?

  • Using Roles in Group Work

  • Literature Circle Roles

  • Group Roles

• Activities: How do I include activities, resources, and technology to actively engage students in their learning?

  • 32-Research Based Instructional Practices

  • Visible Learning Methods

  • Getting Started with Active Learning Techniques

  • 15 Technology Tools to Engage Students in the Classroom

  • How to Engage Students: 20 of the Best Active Learning Strategies

  • Prodigy's 25 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom with Ease

  • Affinity Diagrams for organizing ideas with post-its

• Using Resources (Research)

  • Evaluating Resources

    • Evaluating Sources with the Proven Method

    • Crap Test

  • Research Notes Template