The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) has created two new workbooks that will help school administrators and teachers navigate the sometimes murky waters of teacher evaluations. The books are titledWorkbook for Building and Evaluating Effective Music Education in the School Ensemble and Workbook for Building and Evaluating Effective Music Education in General Music.
“[These Workbooks] are meant to be helpful tools for individuals engaged in the entire process of professional development for music teachers. Teachers can and should use them as guides to personal reflection and improvement,” said Mike Blakeslee, NAfME deputy executive director and chief operating officer.
“Groups of teachers—whether in a school’s music department, in a countywide professional development activity, or working with NAfME or one of our state affiliates—will find these workbooks to be extremely useful. Principals or other supervisors, especially those with limited familiarity with the specifics of music education, will benefit from using them to carry out the professional evaluations they need to conduct as part of their mission to direct optimal educational practice in their schools.”
The Workbooks each consist of three components: an instruction manual, an eight-page evaluation form, and a series of worksheets offering rubrics in areas ranging from general knowledge to classroom management to professional development.
Anyone evaluating music teachers will find the Workbooks provide guidance around some of the unique aspects of music teaching, and will help them understand what makes a professional, competent, and effective ensemble director or general music teacher.
Purchase a Workbook through NAfME’s online store at or call 800-336-3768 to order. Each Workbook costs $34.50 for NAfME members and $46.00 for nonmembers.
A school principal describes proposed uses for the workbook in this NAfME video.
