Evaluation
MaFLA is proud to endorse the…Teacher Effectiveness for Language Learning (TELL) Project for use in facilitating and supporting quality teaching
The Massachusetts Foreign Language Association's Alignment for World Language Educators
Massachusetts Model System for Educator Evaluation: Teacher Rubric and Teacher Effectiveness for Language Learning (TELL) Project
This document contains an overview of the seven TELL domains, followed by an alignment between the proficiency descriptor from the Teacher Rubric in each standard and indicator and each TELL descriptor. The proficient description from the Teacher Rubric is in the left-hand column and the corresponding TELL alignments are on the right. The Alignment can be used to support world language educators and supervisors in many ways.
Why endorse the Teacher Effectiveness for Language Learning (TELL) Project?
The new Massachusetts Model System for Educator Evaluation is now the norm across the state. While the Teacher Rubric it uses is of high-quality, it provides no specific guidelines for teachers of world languages. The TELL Project supports foreign language teachers, curriculum leaders, and administrators by providing a “common language and definition of the model world language teacher,” including “a clear description of the behaviors model teachers exhibit” (TELL Project, 2015). MaFLA is working to develop a cross-walk document that shows the clear alignment between the TELL Project Framework and the Teacher Rubric from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). We anticipate the release of this document in 2016. While not a tool for evaluation, TELL can provide teachers with articulated language around what each of the indicators on the Teacher Rubric looks like in the world language classroom.
How can I use the Teacher Effectiveness for Language Learning (TELL) Project?
The TELL Project supports world language teachers with a number of resources to facilitate teacher growth. There are self-assessments that can be used as a way to reflect on teaching and set meaningful goals for improvement. TELL also includes an EPIC Growth Plan which supports teachers by providing a framework for reflection on professional growth and for developing action plans. For use by teachers working in small groups or administrators trying to provide feedback on meaningful topics, TELL has a suite of feedback tools focused on specific areas, such as student or teacher target language use, learner engagement, or pair and small group work.