Many educators use TeachPoint for basic evaluations. But understanding these fundamentals well can make the platform easier to use.

TeachPoint login and navigation

Accessing TeachPoint begins with your login credentials. Enter your district ID, like “Clinton” or “Belmont.” Then, type your username, which may be your last name and first initial or your email address. Finally, enter your password. If your district uses Google, look for the TeachPoint icon in your Gmail or Google Drive launcher. It will log you in automatically.

Once logged in, your main dashboard displays all forms you’ve created or that evaluators have shared with you.

The left navigation bar gives you quick access to:

• Recent activity
• Your evaluation plan details
• Reports

Additionally, the “New” button in the top right corner serves as your gateway to creating forms.

Creating basic evaluation forms

Form creation is straightforward. Click the green “New” button and select “Evaluation Forms” from the dropdown menu. Then choose the specific form you need from the available options. TeachPoint autosaves your work when you fill out forms. Still, it’s smart to save manually often.

Before finalizing any form, you’ll notice the “Share” toggle at the top of your screen. This feature remains off by default until you’re ready for your evaluator to review your work. Remember that once you sign a form, you can no longer edit it – a crucial detail many users overlook until it’s too late.

Submitting self-assessments and goals

The evaluation cycle starts with self-assessment. This lets you think about your practice before you set goals. Finish this by October 15th. This gives you and your evaluator time to review before the October 31st deadline.

For goal setting, create a form that includes:

• Student learning goals with action plans and timelines
• Professional practice goals with specific benchmarks
• Potential evidence you’ll provide to support goal completion

After completing these forms, toggle the “Share” button to “ON” so your evaluator can review them. Your evaluator will add comments and approve your goals. This completes the process with both signatures.

Hidden Features That Can Save You Time

TeachPoint has many powerful features that many users haven’t discovered yet. These hidden tools can dramatically reduce your administrative workload once mastered.

Quick Search for reusing tagged content

TeachPoint’s Quick Search feature is a great time-saver. It lets you quickly find and reuse content you’ve tagged to standards or indicators. This eliminates the need to rewrite similar responses across multiple forms.

To use Quick Search:

1. Open any unsigned form
2. Click “Quick Search” at the top of your form
3. Use the tags dropdown to select previously tagged goals, standards, or indicators
4. Click the green “Generate Report” button
5. Select the information you want by checking boxes on the left
6. Click “Copy to Clipboard”
7. Right-click in your desired text box and paste

This feature is especially useful for filling out several evaluation forms. They often reference the same teaching standards or goals.

Copying signed forms for edits

Ever signed a form only to realize you need to make changes? Instead of starting over, TeachPoint offers a straightforward solution.

First, open the signed form you need to modify. Next, click “Copy” at the top of the form, then click “Copy” again in the confirmation dialog. Consequently, you’ll have an editable duplicate of the original form. After making your corrections, you can sign and share the form again to complete it. This feature saves considerable time compared to recreating forms from scratch.

Using the Reports screen for insights

The Reports feature remains underutilized despite offering valuable data-driven insights. To access reports, simply click the Reports icon (graph symbol) in the left navigation bar. From there, select any report title that interests you and click “Generate Report”.

These reports turn raw evaluation data into useful information. They let administrators spot patterns in evaluations and track individual progress over time. Reports show which professional development opportunities could help specific teachers or departments.

Underused Tools That Improve Evaluation Quality

Quality evaluation matters as much as efficiency. TeachPoint has many features that you might not use. These can greatly boost your evaluation quality by improving organization and feedback.

Tagging responses to standards

The tagging feature connects your responses to specific standards or indicators. This creates an organized evaluation portfolio. You’ll find the tag icon below the text boxes. It helps categorize your evidence. Tagging allows for meaningful categorization and analysis during the evaluation process.

To tag effectively:

• Click the tag icon beneath any question box
• Select the standards or indicators your response aligns with
• Use the same tags consistently across forms for better reporting

This system turns scattered evidence into a clear story of professional growth. It helps identify strengths and areas to improve.

Attaching evidence to specific questions

TeachPoint goes beyond just filling out forms. You can attach supporting documents to specific questions. Look for the paperclip icon below the text boxes to upload your evidence. You can attach various types of files—student work, worksheets, images, and videos.

When adding evidence, use clear naming conventions. This helps identify the content and purpose of each attachment. Select “strong evidence that connects practice to multiple areas of the performance rubric.” Don’t create new documents solely for evaluation.

Sharing forms before completion for feedback

TeachPoint lets you share forms even if they’re not finished. It’s similar to how writers ask for feedback before submitting their work. Simply toggle the “Share” button at the top to “on” if you want your evaluator to see your form before completion. You still have editing capabilities. This is different from signing a form, which locks it from changes.

This teamwork approach encourages a growth-focused evaluation instead of just a final one. It creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue about professional practice throughout the evaluation cycle.