How to handle a poor observation

Being told by the Executive Head that my lesson wasn’t very good was, at the time, embarrassing and frustrating. We have all had days when our lessons haven't been very good, but to have one during an observation by the most senior person in the school when I had been teaching for 10 years, felt like all my hard work had been undone in seconds.

In this episode I talk about my observation and what I did next as a result of the feedback given. Although I was initially annoyed, he was a very good Executive Head, and I became a much better teacher as a result of his leadership.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• We are part of a bigger picture. School's have a vision that all staff should be working towards.
• We shouldn't feel defined by a bad observation. Use it as fuel to push forward and prove how good you are.
• Observers come and go, so don't take it personally. Continue to work on yourself and thrive.
• Don't be afraid to sell yourself. Don't be afraid to let your observer know why you think your lesson is good or which parts of your lesson you thought you did well in. At times you can even change your observers mind.
• Take that feedback, run with it, implement it and show them what you are made of.

BEST MOMENTS:

"I didn't really big myself up"

"He proceeded to tell me what he thought of my lesson"

"He wanted me to be like a drill sergeant. He didn't want me to accept mediocracy"

"He wanted me to go, no that's not good enough, do it again"

"They had a colour coding system for the observations at the time. Green for exactly what they wanted to see, amber for things to improve on and red which meant it wasn't good enough"

"And what he gave me was...colourless. I didn't get a colour! I didn't even get red!"

"I implemented every single thing he said."

For hours' worth of content on effective strategies to help you build your confidence, develop your skills and thrive in the classroom, just use the link below to join Tem's Teaching Tips:

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ABOUT THE HOST:

Since embarking on her teaching journey in 2009, Tem has been on a mission to empower students to reach their fullest potential. Specialising in Secondary Physical Education, Tem also has experience in Special Educational Needs (SEN) as a class teacher in an SEN provision. With an unwavering commitment to helping students become the best versions of themselves, Tem believes in the power of education to shape not just academic prowess, but character and resilience. Having mentored numerous teachers throughout her career, she is not only shaping young minds but also nurturing the growth of those who guide them.

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