Job Discussion Forums

[DIPTESOL]

I'd like to start up a discussion about observations and feedback due to my recent experiences. I am Diploma qualified and have worked as a DOS before where it was my responsibility to observe 7 teachers, give feedback and training. Due to the company not being to my requirements I left and took a high school teaching job. Going from management back to teaching sure is tough especially when dealing with incompetency.

The first observation I had, the manager just waltzed into my classroom without any prior notice. At the end of the class he just said not to do spelling tests because the kids don't like it. I didn't say anything but was annoyed because their teacher had asked me to do it and spelling tests are sometimes a good way to settle kids down for 5 minutes. Incidentally the manager said he'd email the feedback! I sent an email to the management telling them that this not the way observations should be done and I told them the standard procedures: pre lesson chat, oservation then post lesson feedback.

I have just had another observation, this time I was notified on the day. Again the same thing happened, at the end he said a few comments and then sent the feedback via email. I replied saying I don't think that feedback via email is very productive and that observations should be used as a tool for the teacher to reflect and justify things that they did in the lesson. That is why face to face feedback seems to be the best method, rather than just giving the teacher a bit of writing about what needs improving and not one bit of positive feedback.

Any comments and views would be much appreciated.

[naturegirl321]

Your manager simply might resent you becuase you had a management position before. He might be scared to face you. Try talking to him, if that doesn-t work, just chalk him up as a pain.

[denise]

Your manager seems not to have had any training at all in classroom observations. I'd be pretty annoyed in your position, too. Those observations sound like they're completely worthless.

d

[Elkythedogsperson]

Unfortunately, while we can (generally) choose our employees, we can't always choose our bosses. You manager may just not be a "confrontational" face-to-face type and feels uncomfortable alone in one-on-one situations. Or, if you're in part of a chain, he is required to submit feed back electronically for some kind of record and he eants to kill two birds with one stone. If you feel the need to explain why you did something a certain way, then I'd request some time and see if you can force the face-to-face.

I've been lucky in that my feedback sessions have been pre-announced and face to face.

I agree with you about spelling quizzes though. Can be a good warmer and way to get students focused.

[basiltherat]

Hi
I just love the way some of these 'observers' (or lets call them, 'people who need to get a real job') say things like:

"So, why didn't you do it (this) way ? or "You could have elicited (such n such) like this."

"My answer:

"Because I chose to do it (that) way !"

If there is more than one way to way to skin a cat, there must be hundreds of ways to elicit / teach / practice / reinforce a particular aspect of English.

Frankly, I couldn't give a r@ts @rse about how some young upstart 'observer' thinks I performed in the classroom.
He can watch and observe as much as he / she wants but I'm not gonna have time to sit down with him and listen to a detailed analysis/critique of my lesson when I could be doing something more constructive.

If anyone wants to take away some ideas from my lessons by observing, that's cool by me and I think its a great idea (I do sometimes look in on other teachers' lessons here to 'steal' some ideas and they do likewise)

I've been doing this nonsense too long to spend an hour with some m0ronic individual labelling himself a 'teacher observer'.

Otherwise ...... fire me !

best
Basil

[MO39]

I haven't taught in a classroom for awhile, but, when I did, I never looked forward to being observed. However, the times I recall it happening (in the US and Mexico), the observer was either a fellow teacher who had taken on the responsibility of observing new hires or was my immediate boss, who was also a teacher. Almost always the post-observation chats turned out to be friendly, collegial, and sometimes useful!

[DIPTESOL]

Funnily enough, a week later and I've just been sacked!
Feel like a contestant on the Weakest Link! tactical voting in play from the weaker party I think!

[naturegirl321]

You-re kidding! But, hey I know how you feel, I figured that it wasn-t worth the stress of working in a bad environment.