Before you peel out of the parking lot and into the summer sun—or even if you have already—and while it’s still fresh in your mind, it’s smart to do a quick self-evaluation.
To identify the areas in which you did well this past year.
And where you can improve.
To that end, I’ve created a report card you can fill out and ponder over the break.
It’s based on fifteen core principles of SCM.
Give yourself a grade of A through F for each item to the degree they were accomplished.
Just be sure to be brutally honest with yourself. It’s key to becoming a happier, more effective teacher next year.
I’ve included a downloadable PDF link for ease of printing.
Go ahead and fill out the report card right now, or as soon as you get a chance, before the lure of summer pulls you away.
Come August, you’ll be glad you did.
1. I consistently followed my classroom management plan ____
2. I enforced consequences calmly and objectively (like a referee) ____
3. I refrained from all forms of intimidation, including yelling, scolding, glaring, and lecturing ____
4. I built strong rapport with my class through my consistent kindness and pleasant personality ____
5. I praised my students only for work, effort, and performance that was truly worthy of it ____
6. I eschewed external rewards in favor of intrinsic motivation ____
7. I taught routines thoroughly and held my class accountable for performing them with excellence ____
8. I had a positive, influential relationship with my most challenging students ____
9. I was dependably able to get my class to listen attentively and follow my directions ____
10. I taught compelling lessons and then shifted responsibility over to my students ____
11. I allowed my class to work independently with the least amount of interference from me ____
12. I prepared efficiently and had ample time to spend with my family and the hobbies I enjoy ____
13. I experienced a minimal amount of stress throughout the school year ____
14. I had fun and enjoyed my students every day ____
15. I created a peaceful, happy classroom my students loved being part of ____
A Better, Happier Next School Year
A self-evaluation when no one is watching can be a powerful experience, allowing you to gain insights that otherwise may not occur to you.
If the report card prompts questions, every one of the 15 items has been written about extensively on this website as well as in our books and guides.
The archive is at right, in the sidebar, along with the books and guides, and the search box can be found in the top corner of the page.
I’ll still be here all summer long, providing new articles every week and preparing you for a better and happier next school year.
If there are topics you’d like us to cover or revisit, please shoot me an email and we’ll get them on the list.
Have a great summer!
-Michael
If you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.
This self evaluation is going to replace the one that I already have for my teachers. It speaks volumes. I absolutely love it. It makes the option to have great outcomes solely up to the teacher. It leaves the students performing at their best.
Thank you Mr. Michael Linsin. You’re the best!
Pam
Awesome Pam! Happy to hear it.
Hi
Do you have questions that the kids can answer to get a reflection of how they gained / hoped to gain from this year? I teach middle school 6 & 7 grade
Hi Sam,
No, but I’ll think about whether or how doing so may be beneficial—and then test it of course.
The report card is a real eye opener. Isn’t there some sort of training this summer? Please advise. THANKS!!!!!!!
Hi Gayle,
We don’t have a training planned as of yet, but it’s something we’re considering. I’ll be sure to let readers know. 🙂
I’ve followed the SCM plans very closely for the past few years, and in general like it a lot! I teach two classes of fourth graders. One class, this system worked well for, but the other it seemed like one step forward, two steps back. They thought teaching or practicing rules was stupid; repeating procedures didn’t seem to matter; relationships didn’t have much of an impact. In general they seemed very resentful that I would dare expect they’d follow basic procedures. I am looking forward to a new start in August but don’t really know what went wrong this year!
I own your blue management book and your Dream book. Is the $7 Elementary pdf book different from these other ones?
Thank you,
Laura
Yes, it’s different, but adheres to the same principles and philosophies as all our materials.
Your self-REPORT card is copyrighted. It is on your website and in your email-subscriptions.. Would we need to get permission from you to make copies?
Hi Lyla,
No, please make as many copies as you wish. The copyright is there to discourage people from trying to sell and profit from it, which believe it or not is an issue we’ve had to deal with in the past.
Thank you very much for this report card! I will share it with my colleagues.
You’re welcome, Mary.
Hi, this was knowledgeable….keep updating…thanks😊
Will do, Deepaliukhalkar.
Thank you very for much for sharing this. To be honest, I tweaked it a little bit for my teachers: more open questions (How I have created… Way(s) and method(s) I have used to… and so on. And after some questions (e.g. nr. 5), I added: give at least two examples). What do you think?
Hi Jan,
I think you should tweak it in whatever way you wish.
Mr. Linsin,
By way of introduction, my name is Brandon Zurvalec and I am a 39-year-old career-changer who is about to finish my first year of teaching. I have been regularly reading your posts for a few months or so and just wanted to say that I have gotten at least something useful out of every one of them (and a lot of times, it’s just little things like your “referee” analogy on item 2, above; I never thought of likening the teacher’s role of enforcing consequences in that way, but it makes sense). So please keep the posts coming and I’ll keep reading and applying to the best of my ability! 🙂
Will do, Brandon. I’m glad you’re benefiting from the website. Thanks for reaching out!
This report card is fantastic. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Donna.
I shared this with my principle and she loved it as do I. She suggested using it at the beginning of the year. Do you have a checklist for the start of the year?
Hi Jennifer,
No, I don’t. But I’ll put it on the list of possibilities for this summer. A commitment sheet, maybe. Hmm. I’ll think about it.
I like giving out empty envelopes to the class. They address it to me. Inside they write a reflection of themselves: what grade do they deserve and why. Also what grade do I deserve and why. Nice to be appreciated by some and not so bad to hear the truth from others.
Thank you for providing all of us fellow teachers with great insight. I have been teaching for 6 years now, and still struggle with some aspects of classroom management. I work in an area where education is not a huge part of the communities culture, many of the students are at a 2nd or 3rd grade reading level in 8th grade, and many students just don’t care. The academic culture of the school and the community is lacking. I have read many of your articles and the high school plan. I tried to implement some of the strategies this year, some worked well, others I need to practice more. Thank you for this report card, it is eye opening and helps me to see areas that I need to improve next year. This self-assessment along with the report card I had my students complete is going to help me become a better teacher. I am committed to improving my practice each year and your resources help me do this. Thank you.
It’s my pleasure, Coleman. With your commitment, you’ll get where you want to go. 🙂
Mr Linsin,
I just finished reading your book for the second time The Happy Teacher Habits. I love the book! So many great tips and good advice on this book. I will be reading the articles as well now that I found you lol
God bless!
Awesome Teuta! I hope you become a subscriber.
Michael
Mr Linsin
Thank you for all your great effort to improve teachers’ classroom management. I really learn a lot and try to follow the tips you advise and the tips work well. This self report card is fantastic to do.
you’re welcome, Azam.
Our staff will be reading your book as an interactive google classroom PD this summer. This reflection will be a wonderful kickoff as we wrap up this year and discuss your book to prepare for next year!
Glad to hear it, Andie. I think it’s an important topic to consider before the next school year begins.
Thanks for the report card; it sure helps me see what I can do better. I realized that one time I really glare at students is when they ask to use the restroom or go get a drink. I teach 7th-graders, and at our school there is a mandate from on high that students should be able to do those things during class, not just during the 4-min. passing time. It is very frustrating and interrupting (we also have to sign them out in the agendas that they carry around.) Another “glaring event” is when kids don’t have pencils or paper. In some classes, it can be as many as 6 in each period who don’t have supplies–more interruptions, snickers, laughter, a pencil or paper being offered from a student on the other side of the room, etc. I’ve tried various things–lectures on being prepared, or on the other end, inexpensive golf pencils, a stack of paper for those who need it–but the more I give, the more they take, and I always run out. Do you address either of those problems (restroom breaks or dealing with supplies) in any of your online articles? I’ve read (and loved) The classroom Management Secret and Eleven Habits. Thanks for any help you can give with this, and…..keep encouraging us the way you do!
Will do, Agatha. Thank you! I don’t have any articles on those two topics but will put them on the list.
It’s good to have self assessment to get weaknesses to be fixed next year.Thank you for sharing