Student Surveys
In my home office, I keep a file of year-end surveys
completed by my students. Honestly, I’ve kept those from my last year of
teaching and those that contained either negative comments or suggestions or
something that warmed my heart.
This weekend, I looked over some of them. Here are some of
my favorite comments:
1.
“I don’t like history. I never will. I like this
class.”
2.
“I really
appreciated how you got to know us. You got to know about each of us and were
always looking out for us. I wish I had done better in your class, but that’s
my fault not yours.”
3.
“You’ve got too much energy. Do you always need
to be so excited and loud? JK J”
4.
A couple of common comments “too much lecture”
and “too difficult/much work
The critiques caused reflection: How can I improve my teaching? They shaped how I planned for future
lessons (less lectures, more meaningful homework, increase relevance to
students’ lives).
I know many of you have also given the attached surveys or
your own to your students.
Some of you have kept the results to yourselves. Others have
shared them as part of your evaluation process (they can be used for several
different standards). Some have shared the data with me looking for further
advice. For example, last year a couple of teachers approached me
(individually) with questions about their results, “My students found my
class…How can I improve on this?”
As teachers we should constantly be seeking feedback. Who
better than to provide the feedback than your students?
This folder http://goo.gl/g80qJh
contains a series of surveys in different forms. If you’d like help giving it
electronically, please let me know.
Your Turn to Evaluate Me
Every year, around this time, I ask for you to evaluate me.
I truly value your opinions and make changes based on the feedback.
Some changes that have come about as a result of these
surveys:
1.
Cougar Communications designed to improve
communication
2.
The new Quick Observation Form was designed to
ensure more timely feedback
3.
Use the areas where I score poorly as part of my
goal-setting process
I have my own beliefs about what I need to improve. My job
as an administrator is to make it possible for you to do your job better and
more efficiently, so your input is valuable.
I ask that you complete the survey—it’s totally optional and
100% confidential—by January 20. I’ll share the results with you in a future
Cougar Communication.
Here’s the link to the survey/evaluation: http://goo.gl/5LCHKm I know your busy, but
hopefully you’ll find the time to do this.
Administrative Notes
Positive Referral Link: http://goo.gl/cZIXm7
We are NOT planning on creating any flex days for SOL expedited retakes. Our results—those that we
have—continue to be very good. Many of you have excellent strategies to work
with students who didn’t pass their SOLs. These include the obvious ones like
working with students one-on-one, to unique projects that require students to
review your courses content to rotating students to work with those who didn’t
pass the SOL.
Stat of the Week
Several recent studies, including a very expansive one by
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, discovered that students surveys are the
most consistent indicator of good teaching. The results show that student
surveys produce more consistent results [in regards to measuring teacher
effectiveness] than classroom observation or achievement gain measures (MET
Project).
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday: Math SOL Tests
for periods 1, 3
Boys Basketball Home vs Eastern
View (girls are away for those of you who live down that way)
Wednesday: Math SOL Tests for periods 2, 4 (flip day with
different lunch schedule)
Mr. Davidson’s Engineering students make presentations (4-9). These are
definitely worth checking out. Like so many students in your classes, it’s
absolutely amazing what these students produce because of dedicated teachers
and their own intrinsic motivation.
Copies of exams are due to
department chairs.
Home Track Meet
Friday: Boys basketball vs FHS (Girls
away)
January 16, 8am:
faculty meeting. This will be an entire staff meeting. There will NOT be a
group meeting this month.
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