The LAST of my Reflective Teaching Posts-Becoming a Reflective Teacher -Part 6

Do you really WANT to be a good teacher, or a GREAT teacher?
     The best advice I have for you is to watch a great teacher. Watch them as they model for you the secrets of their success. Don't try to copy them, you can't. That is their style, but I know you like the way they transition from one activity to another seamlessly. Watch them , take notes and reflect on how that will look like in your classroom.
     Another strategy for you to try is "Coaching Colleagues". This is when two or three teachers get together and agree to  give each other HONEST feedback regarding their use of instructional strategies. Some call this peer coaching, Marzano quotes another researcher Robbins on page 77 which means "a confidential process through which two or more professionals work together to reflect on current practices; expand, refine, and build new skills; share ideas; teach one another; conduct classroom research; or solve problems in the workplace"  I know this sounds like it could get sticky, but you have to trust your peers, especially the ones you really look up to, the ones you want to be like when you 'grow up'.
      A great way to really see and reflect is the strategy of instructional rounds. This is not for the faint of heart. In this strategy your peer coaching team examines videos of other teachers and each other  and discusses the best practice strategies in each video. During instructional rounds you can also visit each other's classrooms to see your peers in action. After the visit, you then engage the group in a discussion, reflection and draw conclusions about your own best practices.Make sure the instructional rounds are not about evaluation, but rather focused practice on good teaching skills.

My hopes for this series were to help you focus on what you do best for yourself, your children and your school.

• Are you being the best teacher you can be? If not, it's time to get uncomfortable and s t r e t c h
• Do you have a model of effective teaching? Who is your mentor? 
• Do you have good growth goals for your kids and yourself?  What kind of goals are you setting?
• Do you engage in focus practice? What do you do better than anyone else?
• Are you receiving and giving focused feedback? Do you ever see yourself?
• Who is the last 'best' teacher you observed teaching? Time to look around you and get some ideas!

Reference:Marzano, R. (2012). Becoming a reflective teacher. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Research Laboratory.

Focused Feedback...Becoming a Reflective Teacher Part 5

    We need Feedback to focus our practice, we need REAL feedback!

    How do we get good, real feedback?

    You can video yourself, take a student survey, and use your students' achievement data.

Reflection is the key here...use a log and write down what you see in your video, ask a trusted friend to watch it too. Watching it with someone who can give you honest feedback will give you specific elements of your performance that you will need to focus on.

When you ask the kids to help expect some REAL answers. I use Exit Slips (Exit Tickets). I found a great one for math, but I tweak it to fit anything really.

Using achievement data can give you some insightful feedback too. It can show you where you need to re-teach. Ask yourself questions as you are digging through the data; What concept was most missed on the test? Am I tracking their data? If so, what are you tracking? Grades? Growth? Did my teaching help them achieve?

Receiving Focused Feedback is the key to great teaching...are you getting the right feedback? Or are you listening to what you WANT to hear? Remember anyone giving you feedback, good or bad can only make you stronger!

Reference:

Marzano, R. (2012). Becoming a reflective teacher. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Research Laboratory.

Becoming a Reflective Teacher -Part 4

It's time to get real...how will this revolutionize student achievement?
How will Reflecting on your teaching affect your student's growth? Let's explore....

If you go back and look through the element list you will find many items are linked directly to you and your students, such as "What will I do to establish and maintain effective relationships with students?" To answer this question you will have to be honest and extremely self-aware. Once you answer this question then you must set  some guidelines for yourself...I will focus on students who seem disenfranchised in my class and those with whom I don't have a good rapport yet... When a student does something well, I will compliment them...I will find out information about my students and use that knowledge in my interactions with them...(Marzano, 2012)
These type of rules will help you stay focused, which in turn will help your children stay in the game and want to achieve for you!
Does your class KNOW exactly what you want from them? Post examples (concrete and specific), this will help JUSTIFY their learning.
Are they writing and reflecting about  themselves? If not Blair Turner has some GREAT reflecting tools that will help your students reflect about their leaning through writing, which could lead to better grammar and mechanics in their daily writing.
Reflection not only helps you synthesize and analyze your teaching, but also does the same for your students learning. Can you imagine your class operating on the synthesis level all day long? Your goals will be met in no time!(So will theirs.)
The most important part of student reflection is that teachers give specific FEEDBACK...during conferring time, when you comment to them and when ever you are celebrating success.
Next time we meet, let's talk about all that FEEDBACK...be prepared!

Reference:

Marzano, R. (2012). Becoming a reflective teacher. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Research Laboratory.