Summer Pick-Me-Up with Student Feedback

I am still figuring out what it means to be a good teacher. I look for clues where ever I can. On one hand you have your administrative evaluations and test score. On the other hand, you have your students' growth as students and humans. In addition, you have how your students assess your skills. They are all related, but also separate in value and meaning. To me, how my students evaluate me is just as, if not more, important as how the administrators evaluate me. That does not mean I’m looking to hear I am cool to my students. Rather, I am looking for statements that show I support them in their life journey.

I am a big fan of student reflections and feedback. It turns out the best part of having my student do an end of year reflection was all of the positive feelings I felt reading what my students thought about me.

When I read the portions of the students' reflections that were related to me, I was blown away with the kind words. Often it is difficult to get them to write something other than "IDK." Out of the 43 responses 41 wrote a sentence or more. It’s also worth noting that my students took this as an optional assignment at the end of the online school format. That means they took personal time at home to write something meaningful. This means so much to me.

Here are the responses on how students rated me as a teacher.

My ego is telling me to let you know that red blip that says I am a terrible teacher had feedback that talked about how helpful I was. So I didn’t have much to learn from this selection and I hope it was just a clicking error.

Now to the good part. Students may feel some kind of way to rate their teacher well, but I feel they are less likely to take the time to say nice things. This is what they had to say for why they chose their selection to the previous rating (Click to enlarge):

These statements are why I teach. I worried for so long I wouldn't be able to help my students even though that's all I ever want to do.

If you do not include student feedback in your class, I highly recommend it. If the students have concerns and you strive to be a better teacher, you need to listen to your students. When the students have positive things to say, it’s exactly what you need to keep you on the right track. There is so much other noise in a week, month, and school year that casts doubt on your work. You have those evaluations that don’t quite capture your work. The comments, all of the comments, about how you need to smile less with the kids, that you should go home already, or that you should talk less with your students outside of class and focus more on math (gasp). Rereading your students' feedback is what you need when you doubt you did enough or wonder if you reached all of your students. It’s what you need when you're beating yourself up because you don’t think you are patient enough, good enough, helpful enough, or worthy. It’s what you need.

The only problem with making your students feel cared for, helped, and loved is that it clouds their ability to offer constructive feedback. I also asked my students what I did well and what I did not do well and could do better. Here is what I got (click to enlarge):

While it makes me giggle to think my students think I am perfect the way I am, that's clearly not the case. What I have learned from all their positive comments is what you hear kids learn from people they are connected to. When you care about your students and you are able to express that in your actions the kids feel loved and supported. Then they are ready to learn from you. The rest, the teaching strategies anyone can learn. So smile and laugh with your kids in September, October, November, and December. It pays off far more than tough rules that build a wall between you and your students. You want to break those walls down, so they learn to trust you and accept your help and guidance.

The number one cited feedback for student satisfaction seems to be help. So help your students as often as you can and in any way you can; with math and life.

Next year I will try to incorporate the ultimate test of growth readiness - parent feedback forms.

#StudentReflections #StudentFeedback #MoreThanMath