Today was an important day. Today I was supporting two colleagues, discussing lesson observations and defining a route way towards more effective teaching and learning. However, instead of discussing teaching and learning, professional development, we were discussing lesson observations inequalities. The inequalities of being observed – being observed teaching a high ability group versus a low ability group, a practical lesson versus classroom based group, an AS lesson with ten students, versus a Key Stage 3 lesson with thirty.
The discussion closed. I wrote up the minutes and shared the email and the conversation moved into the ether, the recent Guardian article Outstanding lessons daily referenced in light of the conversation.
My response
It is interesting your raise the Guardian article, I shared and discussed it with colleagues, it was a topic of much conversation online too. Emma Drury noted that this article, more than any other article, encouraged teachers to comment. Some 120+ comments.
I do agree with much of what the article positions and that is why I agree with your view on lesson observations and comparable groups, high ability group versus a low ability group, for example. It is why I am so insistent your students get support, and why the group size is a question for our curriculum VP.
As for Outstanding every lesson. Consistently good teaching is the bench mark in my personal view, for every day, day in and day out teaching. Secure in routines, learner roles and relationships. Secure enough to explore, to questions, to risk failure, and to try again, only better. Challenge and inspire your students, and you may just win their hearts, win their hearts and you will be in a position to win their minds. Target praise, target it very specifically.
For observations, pre-warned, pre-planned, what I refer to as a marque lesson. This is a different position. That is why the books, feedback dialogue is essential, as is addressing social inequalities.
I then took a quote from the comments, hoping that it might progress the debate.
“…you cannot have more than a few priorities or they all cease to be priorities.” And “outstanding” presupposes that there must be “ordinary” lessons from which the best will stand out.
Thank you for the chance to debate, let’s keep the edutalk going.
Minor changes as a courtesy to those involved.
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