The Teacher Performance Assessment
Dr. Gillham

What is TPA?
 TPA is a realistically-contextualized measurement of
student teachers. It centers on student teachers’
actual classroom practices with a focus on student
achievement.
 Designed at Stanford University, used in California
since 2008, and is currently being piloted in 20
states.
 Each TPA is subject or grade specific.
What does it replace?
 At ONU, the TPA replaces 2 important assignments:
 The Impact Upon Student Learning report
 The Pathwise Portfolio
 TPA is required by the state and may one day be
tied to licensure.
Overview of the Tasks
 TPA has four parts or tasks
 Planning instruction and assessment
 Instructing and engaging students in learning
 Assessing student learning
 Final retrospective reflection
 There is an emphasis on pedagogy, analysis, and reflection.
 The TPA is submitted over the internet using TaskStream.
 Dr. Gallagher will provide you with your TaskStream account
information.
 TPA’s will be assessed by educators who do not know the student
teacher.
Task 1
The Planning Instruction & Assessment task asks the candidate to:

Describe plans for the learning segment and explain how they are
appropriate for the students and the content being taught;

Demonstrate the ability to organize curriculum, instruction, and
assessment to help diverse students meet standards for the content; and,

Develop academic language related to the content.

Select, adapt, or design learning tasks and materials that offer students
equitable access to the content.
Task 1 In Detail
Task 2
For Instructing & Engaging Students in Learning the candidate will…
 Identify lessons where students are engaged in using relevant skills
and strategies to comprehend and/or compose text. One lesson is
selected for filming.
 Collect permission forms from parents and prepare for filming.
 Video the lesson.
 Review the video to identify one or two video clips that meet
requirements.
 Respond to commentary prompts to analyze your teaching and
your students’ learning in the video clip(s).
Video Taping Specs
Content
Maximum Minutes
# of Clips
Elementary Literacy
15
1-2
Elementary Math
15
1-2
Secondary Math
20
1-2
Secondary Science
20
2/10 minutes each
History/Social Science
20
2/10 minutes each
English/Lang. Arts
20
2/10 minutes each
Video Guidelines
 A video clip should be continuous and unedited, with no
interruption in the events. If two clips are used, the two
clips must come from the same lesson.
 The clip(s) can feature either the whole class or a
targeted group of students.
 Both the teacher candidate and their students should be
visible and clearly heard on the video submitted.
 You will receive some tips for recording a class on video
at at later time.
Task 3
For the Assessment of Student Learning task the candidate
will:
 Develop evaluation criteria aligned with big idea or essential
question, standards, and learning objectives;
 Analyze student performance on an assessment in relation to
student needs and the identified learning objectives;
 Provide feedback to students; and
 Use the analysis to identify next steps in instruction for the
whole class and individual students.
Task 4
On the Analyzing Teaching task, the candidate will reflect on
their Student Teaching experience.
 Review your notes and reflections recorded throughout the
learning segment and analyze what you have learned about
your teaching, your students, and their learning.
 Respond to the Analyzing Teaching Commentary prompt by
explaining what you would do differently, given the
opportunity to teach these lessons again to the same group
of students.
Some Cautions

You must secure permission before video taping at your
school site.

Done by your university supervisor

Video may be used for TPA ONLY!

Peer editing is not permitted.

TPA material is copy righted and is not to be shared.

Some daily class or school routines may not appear in your
TPA lesson plan.


Math drills, current events, etc.
The TPA is not difficult, BUT IT TAKES TIME!

So plan accordingly!
Learning from Past TPA’s
 Peer review should help.
 Include prompts in your submission.
 Include specifics: e.g. what is on your exit card?
 Include samples: e.g. vocabulary charts.
 Follow video guidelines!
 If you can see it in the video, you need to see it in
the lesson plan and commentary.