Helping a teacher improve their practice
Use supportive supervision. Observe teaching, give descriptive feedback, and give people what they need to grow.
Do this now
- Step 1: Review lesson plans and observe classes regularly.
- Step 2: Use a checklist to record what you see.
- Step 3: Share descriptive feedback and helpful guidance with the teacher in a debrief.
- Step 4: Give teachers the professional development, resources and time they need to strengthen their teaching.
- Step 5: Reward teaching excellence, and deal promptly with areas for improvement.
- Step 1: Build a positive working relationship with the person first.
- Step 2: Visit the school or classroom and observe the teaching, learning and leadership.
- Step 3: Write down what you see.
- Step 4: Debrief with the school leader or teacher straight away afterwards.
- Step 5: Start with what is working well. Give descriptive feedback on their strengths.
- Step 6: Work together to solve any problems in practice.
- Step 7: Offer coaching, so they can keep improving in their day-to-day work.
If you are a school leader
For a checklist, see Reviewing a lesson plan or observing a class. Rewarding excellence and dealing promptly with areas for improvement come from Leadership Standard 4.
If you are an education officer
Use the same approach with principals on school visits. Ask what is working well, and discuss their ideas for moving the school forward. Give feedback on their strengths, solve problems together and offer coaching.
More detail
Supportive supervision is a collaborative way of supervising. It began in healthcare.
It focuses on building on what is working well, rather than checking on what is going wrong. Performance appraisal moves beyond checking for compliance. It gives teachers and leaders the feedback, guidance and encouragement they need to improve.
Coaching is often part of supportive supervision. It is a form of job-embedded professional development.
The guide defines supportive supervision as a collaborative process. Leaders guide and help teachers and other staff to keep improving, through professional conversations.
Still not sure?
Find the right person in the Ministry staff directory. Have the details of your situation to hand.
Open the staff directory (opens on mes.gov.bb)The law and policy behind this
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