Are observations something that get better in time?

[Snowflakewater]

I don’t know if I’m hoping for advice just anyone who understands that feedback feels hard to take sometimes.

I’m still learning and taking on lots of feedback. I’ve had about 5 people drop in over the last two weeks because of learning walks going on and there’s been different focuses daily. Three members of staff decided to come in and have a chat to the students while I was teaching content which was hard because I couldn’t hear the kids and neither could they hear me over these conversations happening. It wasn’t even whispering. It was full blown “hello tell me what you’re doing”. Not to mention the 6 eyes on me and clip board bearing SMT making my stomach sink to the ground.

Then there’s been y11 drop ins from higher up, checking we’re teaching the correct content for revision. Bare in mind, the kids have gone mental behaviour wise because they want to be at home and they’re stressed.

I’ve had my termly obs today. It’s been so so stressful for me because it’s constant feedback and I know and completely understand it’s all part of the process but the “even better ifs” are wearing me down because most things suggested are happening when I’m teaching normally and observers only see a really small segment of my teaching.

Sorry for the rant it’s just sometimes when you have a daily dose of even better ifs each day it gets a bit draining and I feel it’s just been non stop. I know there’s praise too but I just feel I can’t hear that right now or focus on it.

How do you all deal with feedback? Do things get easier?

You shouldn't be getting observed that much, are you in a union?

I am, I thought it was normal if it’s a learning walk? As in they can come and go as they please?

drop ins are across the dept due to looming ofsted

as an ECT the obs are very regular. Formal and informal.

Under the ECF, ECTs should be observed weekly!

This would be quite normal in my school. We were OFSTEDed last term and up to that point in the year had loads of learning walks. Now OFSTED have gone it has eased off.

I am ECT + 1 and had a termly observation last week and for the first time I wasn't terrified. I was more of the mindset that if they don't like my teaching they can get lost. I am in a shortage subject and I don't think they would want to upset me. And the feedback was really useful.

It is stressful though, particularly if it comes at a time when you have a lot of marking. I think being observed is a uniquely stressful part of teaching, but hopefully becomes less so over time.

Usually in whole school meetings were encouraged to really be out of the box and innovative with ideas. We were told to “expect the unexpected and be ready to deliver” whatever that means. Also we’re being told to act like this is our best lesson ever and act out. I don’t see the point because the kids aren’t stupid and will immediately say “why are you doing all this it’s not like we normally do this”

Its heavy as we’re doing the marking ywar 9 and 10 mocks now and I’m really trying to make sure my year 11s are working properly and I’m also marking year 7 and 8 assessments. So it’s alot right now I suppose it’s part of the process but all at once can be a bit of a farce!

Absolutely, but 5 observations over a span of 10 working days by several different members of staff on several different foci, thus clearly not following the ECT programme, is well above the 1 observation a week. That's not okay; it's piss poor leadership creating a toxic work environment. 5 learning walks in the span of 10 working days is overkill. Clearly that school has a LOT of money to pay so many SLT salaries if they have enough free time to be doing learning walks every other day.

It’s definitely an overkill yeah. I think it’s the talking while teachings happening. It’s literally nigh impossible. I can’t talk over them and hear the kids. The kids are clued up too and know what’s happening so the whole thing about making a big scene when having a lesson observed just makes no sense.

I think the other aspect is the pressure of being observed for different focus points. Mainly because I never know when they’ll come and if they do come say for example during a silent task I have to intervene and do some kind of think pair share or afl activity.

i know it’s part of the job so lll have to suck it up but I’m tired now. Too much pressure and I have my own marking turnarounds, Obs feedback I have to keep working on, the book marking policy, then some fabulous ECT paperwork and sessions.

i think a half term reset might be good!

Oh my school love learning walks! I let it wash over me know, I'm primary so a bit different- I will say 'lets wait until mrs xxx has finished talking so you can all hear me!' I'm quite relaxed and informal in class and I take the observation the same. But in my first years of teaching I was literally a nervous wreck before obs and put so much effort into it it was ridiculous, alwaysthe same- good but if you did xxx would be excellent etc. Taje bits on board, ignore other bits, accept they will never say 'perfect your done' I'm all for striving for better but as a teacher you will never get to the ' top'.

I suppose it’s always a tough thing to take isn’t it. For me I’m a perfectionist so I always think I’ve failed if I haven’t ticked every box. I think I’m trying to learn that I need to take on board the most important bits that are good or need changing and disregard the rest.

i put a lot of effort in for obs so I suppose its only natural to want to only hear good stuff. I also think it’s the delivery of feedback too.

That sounds excessive. I would be looking for another post tbh. It would not be the kind of place I would want to work.