Teacher work samples (TWS) are an integrated, comprehensive assessment tool that can be used as evidence of a beginning teacher's readiness to teach. Unlike linear assessments used to determine teaching effectiveness, TWS are relevant and reflective of "real" teaching. They are designed to exhibit a clear relationship among teacher candidate…

Teacher Work Samples (TWS) can be viewed in terms of a product and a process. As a product, the TWS measures a teacher candidate's (TC's) ability to promote student achievement, documents that TCs have met minimum national standards, and validates teacher education programs. Teacher candidates engage in observable, job-related behaviors that serve…

Recent accountability efforts at state and national levels highlight the importance of preparing future teacher in the skills required to produce sound classroom assessments that are capable of improving student learning through informed instruction. Stiggins (1995) suggests that the quality of classroom assessments will not improve unless teacher…

This handbook shares methodologies for guiding teacher preparation and licensing. It provides a rationale for the inclusion of teacher work sample methodology in preparation and licensing programs, describes how student learning is the central concept within teacher work samples, explains how to teach students and teachers about work samples, and…

This paper shows how a mid-sized teacher education institution proactively developed a performance assessment method, Teacher Work Samples (TWSs), addressing the school's efforts to use TWSs to obtain evidence of the impact of teacher performance on student learning. The paper examines challenges faced in developing and implementing TWS…