So it’s now the period of observations – the time teachers love most. Calm, professional, able teachers suddenly become panicking, nervous wrecks looking for anybody they could possibly blame if they don’t pull off a good one. Our head is incredibly supportive yet this is scary shit! But do observations mean anything? Do they really reflect how good a teacher you are? And how useful are they really? They are perhaps, the biggest factor affecting stress and teachers’ emotional wellbeing. I’ve had every grading: Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory, Good and Outstanding. At the same time, it is important to monitor the quality of learning although it could be done in a different way. Ofsted have changed the guidelines. It’s more about the overall big picture, which suits me and makes more sense. It’s no longer based on putting on a good show. Life is on hold until the observation. But it’s all worth it for the intense elation you feel afterwards. Right now, I am anti-observations. If I pull off a good one this week, we know my view will change.xx
I'm so glad we don't have this here in Oz. The only time you have someone observing you is when you are a student teacher and go into someone else's class. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWhat I would love is to be able to visit other teachers' classes and see their teaching style, and how they deal with discipline etc. I think now even as an experienced teacher it'd be great to be able to learn from my colleagues this way.
Hope observations go/ are going well!
Yeah, I'd like to do that too! I think it would be much better for the profession. It is always talked about here in the UK but doesn't happen a lot. I've taught year groups/ subjects which I have never ever seen being taught - unless you count when I was a kid xx
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