A Classroom Checkup

Melanie F. Sikorski Richard P. Niemiec Herbert J. Walberg • These are some of the items on a form that teachers and principals can use for personal reminders. peer review. formal evaluations. or staff development sessions. All items have been validated by research on effective teaching. As teachers of students with disabilities. one of our chief responsibilities is to promote student achievement. When we turn for guidance in evaluating our own practices. however. not much is readily available. A widely used teacher evaluation form. for example. lists "applies contemporary theories of education" as an item. But items like this one provide little specific information of what is required for good teaching. Because special education students have unique learning requirements. their teachers should focus on specific teaching behaviors that have large. consistent effects on student learning.