Efforts to Improve Teaching
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"Great idea, the assignment list! I love how you re-evaluate yourself and change things for the betterment of your students! Kudos."
- Ms. Cynthia Carbone former coworker, BCHS ESE/special education teacher (on adjusting virtual learning to better support students) |
I get regular feedback from administrators as well as students. I use this feedback to gain a better understanding of where students are at and what I need to do in order to improve my teaching. With these surveys and assessments, I learn what areas I need to develop and revise in order to improve.
The evidence below has been collected from students and my supervisors' observations. Administration Feedback
I take informal and formal evaluations throughout the year seriously. This feedback is important to me, coming from another professional with years of experience and observations. When needed, I also seek support from my supervisors. For example, when struggling with a rowdy class, I met a few times with the head of my department to discuss routines I could rework and to sit down and talk with students. This feedback has been most instrumental in improving my classroom management. Student FeEdback
I give students evaluations of themselves at the beginning of the semester and evaluations of me at the end of the semester. This helps me to continually reflect, improve, and make my classrooms supportive to each group of students.
Additionally, students at BCHS would complete a Panorama survey at the end of the year, which gave me more detailed feedback on my teaching practice. Click on the Panorama thumbnail below to see my 2022 evaluation. Steps Taken
I use survey feedback, verbal feedback, and written feedback to improve my instruction for students. If something isn't working, I don't try to force it.
When I notice classroom practices that hinder students from completing work or being successful, I will modify routines. For example, during the year DSPCD was virtual, I found that many students had difficulties keeping track of the web-based platforms different teachers were using and where assignments were located or turned in. I created a document that tracked every assignment I gave, with the date, a link to it's location, and a brief summary of what it was, to help students remain organized during a complex and traumatic time. (click the thumbnail below for a larger image) I regularly take classes and attend professional developments. Some of the more notable ones that have influenced my teaching style include getting my Mental Health First Aid Certification, Linked Learning's Project Based Learning, DPS's Restorative Practices PD, DPS's Differentiation workshop, How to Help Students Manage their Negative Emotions AFT PD, and Oakland University's AP Summer Institute. |