I learned from the first lockdown that students need just one set of instructions they can follow for the week. At the beginning of the week I created an assignment called WEEK 5 WORK and on that uploaded a one page PDF sketchnote which showed what they needed to be working on for the week. Students have said this really helps and many printed off the sheet and put on their wall for quick reference.
This question was asked on the feedback form I gave to all my classes. The follow is a Wordle of all their responses. There were only 26 responses for all my classes, most responses came from my senior classes (L1 &L3).
Q: In your opinion, what is the most important thing about learning?
Using Google forms I set up a feedback sheet for all my classes. Keeping in mind that the students who actually do the form are usually the most conscientious, here are some of the response on the question that specifically asked about how I can improve my teaching. I aimed to formulate the question so that students will write a constructive answer rather than just telling my if I was ‘good or bad’ at my job. That didn’t always work, but that is something to work on. On reflection, these responses reflect the level of each class and the individual. It’s easy to pick who wrote what! I will definitly take on board the comments about; the differences between A, M and E, slowing down on teaching, more exemplars, checking in on students one-one more, essay structure, earlier warning about due dates (I have a plan in mind to set all these up on Google classroom at the beginning of the year, I didn’t know how to do this at the beginning of the year but now I do!), aiming for teaching a deeper understanding of texts and only using Coraline if it is a direct example (we ran out of time). Lots of achievable feedback that the students have though carefully about. 🙂
Responses in the question: How could I change my teaching to make class more successful for future students?
Ask students what they want to learn and how.
I liked it and think it worked well
Don’t rush. And when explaining topics go through it slowly.
I think it is good how it is 🙂
go through the differences between A M and E and give us a resource that tells us what we need for each grade so we can refer to it when doing work.
Walk around more. Ask specific students if they need help and check in with everyone.
Actually, I quite enjoy your style of teaching. English is definitely one of my enjoyable classes this year and this is because of you.
Put up more example and explain them more in-depth, also point out really important things we need to remember.
I couldn’t think of much, I honestly think you’re great at teaching, one of the best English teachers I’ve had so far.
No change 🙂
Focus more on structuring essays
Not sure
Dont know
Potentially giving more warning about due dates so Th at students know well in advance when an assignment is due.
I found it great this year there isn’t much that could be done in my opinion
Don’t, you are awesome (and no I’m not saying it to grease up, I generally think you are an awesome teacher and probably the best English teacher I’ve ever had)
I enjoyed your classes, found them very interesting. Like looking into background of Frankenstein, or learning about the physiological theories.
Nothing
nothing I believe you are teaching the best way for students as you are now.
Your teaching was very good and the feedback provided helped a lot in my internals can’t think of any changes required
I think maybe having the year planned out slightly better. For example we spent a while watching Coraline and didn’t end up doing anything with it. We could have started our psychoanalysis report earlier instead.
Focus more on the subject matter and not have students write lots of essays and let them have a deeper understanding of the text
Nothing that I can think of
Not needed. You are a fabulous teacher and person who made coming to English an easy and hopeful task. You have helped me do my best in english and understand things more than any teacher ever has. You are easy to approach and get along with when it comes to learning and fun. Your are already a successful teacher and future students will love you like I do.
Don’t know, you’re the best teacher ive had and are very good at teaching and make the topics very interesting
Honestly nothing, you have such great morals and standards and I really have enjoyed being in your class this year. You’ve helped and motivated me and so many other students to do more then they think they could’ve and we all love you :)))))
Trying to make study more fun! Great all class game that they love! This one is on language features. I made another specifically for my Level One class that focussed on reviewing their film, novel and poetic techniques for exams. It was a success! After giving it a go, I highly recommend printing off a copy of the answers for yourself, I forgot some!
Reflection on L1 Connections standard- discussing similarities and differences between texts helps move students up. This wasn’t something I directly taught, rather I focused on moving up through author’s purpose and students’ engagement with text. Feedback from marking shows markers are wanting similarities/differences and some connections between texts as well. Although the Excellence exemplar doesn’t show much of this, teaching students to include this won’t hurt and it in combination with creator’s purpose/their own engagement, will make for a more well-rounded report. I will be teaching students to compare and contrast texts explicitly in their report from now on.
Students from form class have been working on a costume made from cards. Can’t wait to see one of them model it- pretty stoked that it’s a year 12 boy that has stepped up as model.
It has been really interesting today to see how well students have worked knowing that their parents are coming in tonight for parent teacher interviews many commenters Miss will you say good things about me and I was happy to answer yes if you have showed an improvement to be honest most of the kids are lovely and some just need to focus a bit more on the bus I’m looking forward to meeting their parents and caregivers
I was so happy today to see two repeaters in my L1ENG class, who are usually reluctant to participate, work really well in groups. One took on the leadership role, making and sharing a document. The other, who is usually petulant and resistant, joined another group on her own and participated in the discussion. She worked well with students she didn’t know and put herself out of her comfort zone. Excellent progress this lesson for both these students, quite the turnaround. 😁