What’s the countdown?
Ten days left of kids, 11 or 12 for us teachers. ... I know it’s been a
long year. I know that both kids AND teachers (and everyone else) are ready for
a long break...
Quick -- what’s the number one thing that kids in my classes had to say during my last year in the classroom? Do you know the answer? Survey says? “We hate keeping a notebook! Let’s turn in assignments separately!”
Do you know how I know
that? I asked my students.As you wade through the end of the year chaos, do final grades, grade projects, attend award ceremonies, pack up your classroom, plan your vacations, chaperone prom, and do all that other seasonal stuff, try to squeeze in a few minutes to reflect on this school year.
How did your year go?
How was your teaching? How was your classroom management? How do you know?
If you want to know how
to get real, honest, knowledgeable feedback about your class, consider
surveying your students about THEIR experience in your class this year. It
sounds obvious, but one of the best ways to get students’ feedback is to ask
them. If we want to know the impact we’re having on kids, we need to ask
the kids.
Wait, wait, wait. Hear me out.
Do you remember being an
adolescent yourself? I’m pretty sure that in middle school and high school, I
announced that “those teachers” had “no clue” about being me. There IS one way
to avoid being the teacher who has “no clue” about the realities of your class
or of being a teenager (as if you missed that phase of life, amiright?).
Honestly, one of the best ways to get students’ feedback and learn what is
important to them in class is to ask them.
We, your district social
studies office, often assess and reflect on OUR year, too. I just recently sent
out a couple of surveys for teachers to provide valuable input on several
things. I feel very strongly that if we, your district Social Studies
department want to know what teachers want, we should find out. We should ask
them.
I had a rough experience with a national chain restaurant recently. I gave them feedback online and got an amazingly specific email in response that explained how that chain was going to fix the problem. If a chain restaurant wants to get a customer’s business back, it should ask them about their successes and areas for improvement. If they want to know the impact they’re having on the customers, they should ask them
It’s definitely time for
we-the-teachers, to reflect and learn from our successes and our areas of
growth. We need to learn from our students by asking them.
I know that the idea of
getting the opinions of adolescents is a little weird. I mean, they’re KIDS!
They love you one day and curse you the next. They make an “A” the first
marking period and a “D” the next. They change hairstyles and boyfriends and
opinions at the drop of a hat. And, of course, you will have to take a few with
a grain of salt. The kid who says you should “never do any work” is obviously
not asking to be taken seriously.
But overall, your kids
will surprise you with their thoughtfulness and their honesty and their
perceptiveness.
You don’t have to ask for students to put their names on their surveys. You don’t have to tell your colleagues or administrators what the surveys said, or what you asked or even that you gave one at all. This is just for you and your own professional contemplation.
Ask them -- survey your kids to get specific, useful
feedback to help you improve your craft next year. Ask your kids about your
class -- and give them an opportunity to give you feedback. Ask them about your
classroom management, your content knowledge, your assignments & tests,
your lessons & teaching style, your professionalism. DO it paper and pencil
or on Survey Monkey or another survey website.
Here are a few Dos and
Don’ts about end-of-the-year surveys
DO
...give one to every kid
(yes, even THAT kid)
...make your surveys
anonymous
...make your survey
specific about your teaching and classroom culture
DON’T
...attach your survey to
Portal (kids need freedom to be honest)
...re-invent the wheel.
Use one of the links below
...make it a quiz or
content based
Here are a few suggested
links, if you’re interested in trying one this year or even just thinking about
it!
Here’s an end-of-year
survey I created and used in the past... http://moodle.pcsb.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=225716
Here’s several different
end-of-year surveys from Google Docs http://www.teachthought.com/technology/5-course-evaluation-templates-help-students-grade-change/
Here’s a Social
Studies/tech blogger taking on the student survey idea, too http://historytech.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/tip-of-the-week-student-evaluations-of-you/
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