Teacher Work Sample

The Teacher Work Sample, the product of a five-year federally funded project focusing on improving teacher quality, is being incorporated into the Sam Houston State University's Initial Teacher Certification Program. The Teacher Work Sample assessment provides credible evidence that is essential for the implementation of a new data-management system for SHSU's Educator Preparation Program.

TWS Exemplars -Website

Brief History and Description of the Teacher Work Sample (Excerpts)

The Teacher Educator, vol. 39, no. 4, Spring 2004

The origins of teacher work sample methodology are consonant with the shift away from the traditional view of educational assessment as objective testing and toward the increased utilization of performance-based assessments (Hambleton, 1996). Within this emerging paradigm, the benefits of portfolio assessment for preservice teachers have been widely documented (e.g., Costantino & Lorenzo, 2002; Bullock & Hawk, 2001; Campbell, Melenyzer, Nettles, & Wyman 2000). Like portfolios, teacher work samples address standards-based instruction, can serve as an alternative measure of student performance, and can be utilized as documentation of “the developing achievement” of preservice teachers (Wolf & Reardon, 1996.). First developed at Western Oregon University in the 1980s, the purpose of teacher work sample methodology is to provide authentic evidence of a minimal level of competency before receiving licensure (Schalock & Myton, 1988).

The University of Northern Iowa’s involvement with the teacher work sample methodology began in association with ten teacher preparation universities belonging to The Renaissance Group are located in California, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The Renaissance Group utilized the University of Western Oregon’s research, development, and previous experience to develop its own version of the teacher work sample, as part of a 5-year Title II Federal Grant originally funded in 1999 and entitled “The Renaissance Partnership for Improving Teacher Quality.” Completed teacher work samples consist of a description and analysis of a 2-3 week teaching unit, are approximately 20 pages or more in length, and are written in response to the teacher work sample performance prompt. The following sections represent the seven teaching processes:

Contextual Factors
Learning Goals
Assessment Plan
Design for Instruction
Instructional Decision Making
Analysis of Student Learning
Reflection and Self-Evaluation

Teacher Work Sample
TWS Exemplars -Website SHSU General TWS Information Powerpoint SHSU Teaching Processes Assessed by the Renaissance Teacher Work Sample

SHSU Lesson Plan Links
SHSU Lesson Plan Template SHSU Lesson Plan Template Annotated SHSU Lesson Plan Assignment

Bloom's Taxonomy Bloom article TSTA AdvocateDec08

SHSU TWS Format and Cover Page SHSU TWS Format Instructions Spring 2009 SHSU TWS Cover Page Fall 2009

SHSU TWS Information and Powerpoint Presentation Links
SHSU TWS PPP Spr08

SHSU TWS Assessment PPP 5Jan09

Analysis of Student Learning Journey 5Jan09

The following links are suggested (not required) tools for addressing the Analysis of Student Learning portion of the TWS. Analysis of Student Learning (ASL) Info Example Spreadsheet for ASL ASL Graph Checklist

Reflection and Self Evaluation

"Turnitin" Submission Instructions

Create Turnitin Assign Instruc/Screenshots for US 30Sept09

Turnitin Submission Instruct/Screenshots for Students 30Sept09

Tk20 Submission Instructions

Tk20 TWS Submission Instructions

2008-2009 TWS Committee: Dr. Daphne Johnson, Co-chair; Dr. Melinda Miller, Co-chair; Walter Jett; Glenda Kennair; Dr. Margaret Mc Guire; Dr. Brian Miller; Dr. Andrea Foster; Dr. Lawrence Kohn

Page Revised: 10/27/2008, 1/6/09, 4/1/09