PEER OBSERVATION
5 things you must know before your next peer observation visit
How to handle peer observations
I don’t know about you but the thought of having a fellow teacher in your
classroom observing you can always feel stressful. The same peer you bump into
at the photocopy machine, pass by along the corridors as you line up your classes
and whom you occasionally make small talk with in the playground. The idea of that
peer coming to observe you in your little bubble, safe place, and beloved
classroom can feel very stressful and a bit like an intrusion on your
professionalism. Well, I’ve written this blog to let you know it is okay. It is not that
bad and we are all on the same team. Just do what you always do which should
be great teaching and learning and showcase yourself. Here are some tips to help
you on your way.
1. Involve them. This is something I personally like to do, which is speak to the
teacher observing me, introduce them to the children and even involve
them in the lesson. This can help one feel less tense, it works for me!
2. Don’t be afraid to check that your colleague is definitely coming,
sometimes things happen so double check the timing.
3. If your colleague is running late, go and find them. The worst thing is
preparing something great, a wonderful lesson starter and they are not
there to see it. If they are not too far send your super-independent child to
get them. (We all have one of those.)
4. Agree on what the focus of the observation is, and what they want to see.
Your AFL techniques, your class behavior strategies, and your classroom
environment. This will help stop you thinking ‘what are they looking at
now.’’
5. Get feedback. It can be tempting just to let your colleague go with a smile
and a wave but to make the peer observation effective, feedback is
needed and don’t be too proud to take feedback and get points for
development. If they don’t give you any, insist… and when you get it, have
a growth mindset about it, and desire to grow and improve your teaching
practice. No matter how many years we have taught, we can always improve.
@JoyKafero
