Can my students help me improve my practice?
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You're gearing up for the year's final report cards and thinking about advice you'll give your students as they move on to the next grade. Why not ask them to do the same?
- What grades would they give you for the subjects you teach?
- How would they evaluate your performance?
- What recommendations would they make for learning opportunities you should pursue this summer?
- How would they change your practice for the coming year?
Over the past 8-9 months, your principal probably spent and hour or two in your classroom this year doing an observation and hopefully giving you some feedback. It may or may not have been useful. But think about how much more informed your students are about how you teach given that they have spent hundreds of hours with you all year long!
Getting feedback from your students is not hard to do. There are myriad formats you can try. Here are just a few:
- Organize a group discussion around specific questions you have about your teaching this year.
- Create a survey for students to fill out (anonymous forms will probably get you the most honest answers).
- Have students get in groups to write a letter about their experience in your class.
- While the whole class works on an engaging project, pull students out one by one to conference with them about their perceptions of the school year.
- Give students the following journal prompt: What advice would you give to a student who takes my class next year?
- Post "Chalk Talks" (see below for full description of the activity) around the room that ask questions about your teaching and the school year.
Providing students with the opportunity to give YOU feedback can be very meaningful for everyone involved: you empower your students to share their voices with a person they've held in a position of authority - that builds leadership; they give you teaching advice based on their own extensive first-hand experience with your style.
The most important thing to remember when doing this with your class, and it's not easy, is that you cannot be offended by what your students have to say. If you open the door to hear their opinions you must accept them graciously, otherwise you damage their trust and threaten the authenticity of the feedback you will soon be giving in end-of-year report cards and conferences. This week's activities should help with the process.
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Reflection Questions for Students and Teachers
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These are some sample feedback questions you could use on an evaluation of your class, or in a discussion or journaling activity. Click here to see what we mean! |
| Chalk Talk |
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The Coalition of Essential Schools created this discussion protocol. It is "a silent way to reflect, generate ideas, check on learning, develop projects, or solve problems." You can use it for just about any discussion topic but it would be interesting to try when soliciting student feedback on your teaching.
Click here for a PDF file with the description.
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| Teacher Resources |
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Learning up to the Very Last Minute
Browse this list from Scholastic of engaging activities for the last month of school.
Time Off for Teachers
A good list of things to consider as you prepare for a rejuvenating summer.
Wind Up Learning as the Year Winds Down: Activities for the Last Days of School
More lesson planning ideas for the final days.
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Center for Inspired Teaching is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that exists to ensure schools make the most of children's innate desire to learn. We do this by investing in teachers. Please visit our website to learn more about our philosophy, programs, and results.
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