Critical observation feedback can crush your teacher heart, especially if you’re a new teacher already questioning your personal education style. If you’re struggling to move forward from critical feedback, keep reading! (PS- you are a good teacher and the fact that you’re reading this means you want to be great! Click here for a feedback worksheet to help you process the information.)
- process the feedback
- plan your next steps
- reflect on what worked
- remember you’re human
Hi! I’m Kayleigh Collier.
I’m a 5th grade teacher in Georgia who loves finding ways to easily enrich my students’ learning… and I want to help you do the same!
I started my career in education as a permanent substitute working with multiple grade levels, learning abilities and teaching styles. Now, I teach EIP and gifted students reading and social studies in a general education setting.
My goal is to provide teachers and parents ideas, activities, and support for student learning. My focus is enrichment, creative literacy, and differentiation for gifted students.
Why Critical Feedback Feels Personal
Teaching is challenging. We are responsible for developing minds which is a HUGE responsibility. But, teaching is also rewarding, creative, and FUN! As a second-career teacher, I can say without a doubt this is the hardest career I’ve had, but there isn’t anything else I would want to do.
As a new teacher, you’re going to be observed and critiqued a lot! In Georgia, teachers in their first three years are observed six times throughout one school year. Comparatively, teachers with over three years of service are only observed three times in a year.
During your teacher preparation program, you read theory and research on best practices and instructional strategies. You practiced and experimented during your practicum placements. After all that learning and practicing, you probably graduated school with your own philosophy of how to use research-based practices in your classroom. However, that doesn’t mean your interpretation of instructional practices will match the philosophy of your administrator.
Having a unique education philosophy and style is what makes teaching an art form. Our ability to take education science and match it with the individual needs of a student is art in motion. However, like art in a museum, the art you practice in the classroom will be subjected to both praise and critique.
Critical Observation Feedback:
What to Do Next!
Critical observation feedback after your administrator has visited your classroom can feel like a dagger to the heart. It is emotionally tough to pour yourself into a lesson and then be told it was subpar or these are the things you should be doing. However, there are three things you can do to help ease the feeling of defeat and find the positives in critical feedback. Pour some coffee (or tea) and get started!
Critical Observation Feedback can feel personal, especially if you’re a new teacher.
1- Feel all the feelings!
Teachers may be considered super heroes, but we are still human. As humans, we don’t always take criticism well. To prevent the tendency to dwell in the negative, face the feelings head on. Write them down. Be angry. Cry. These are all normal reactions when you feel like the work you put your heart and soul into fell short. Now, pull up your big girl pants and move forward to step two.
2- List all the positives.
Next, focus on the positive. What are you doing well as a teacher? What amazing things are happening in your classroom? Read over student notes you’ve collected; be mindful of all the times you feel joy during the day; think back to what your administrator said was great, then write it all down and keep doing those things!
3- Focus on areas of growth.
Now, look at what was suggested to approve on. These suggestions are not marks against your abilities has a teacher, but rather areas to grow stronger in your teaching style. Write down one or two suggestions that were made. Next, reflect on your students’ needs, your abilities, and where you focus your time. Create a plan of action for implementing some form of the suggestions in your classroom and then move on.
4- Plan and reflect
Once you’ve worked through the emotions of a critical observation, plan goals and actionable steps to try over the next week. At the end of the week, write a short reflection of what worked and what didn’t.
Still need helping moving forward?
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