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Agenda

  • A note on getting feedback on your teaching (10)​
    • Returners - what was it like to receive my feedback (first time and as we progressed)

  • How to be a good receiver of feedback (10)
 
  • Common new teacher lesson planning mistakes (5)
*Remind me to tell you about my dissertation
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Teaching Feedback - Not an Easy Thing to Get

  • Week 1 feedback is difficult to hear

  • You are going to realize that you have a lot to work on.

  • You are going to realize that your professors have been green-lighting plans that will not work in the classroom.

  • You might feel upset or disappointed or overwhelmed or frustrated with the feedback.

  • On the whole, first week Summerbridge plans, from every single person for the past 15 years, have not been great, including yours...(including mine!)
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  • Sit with that information for a second - let it set in. It is uncomfortable but don't run away from it - sit. with. it.
Did the world end just now?
Did your head explode?
Did a giant, mutant cat stomp all over your house??
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Nope, you still exist.
You are still you.
You are creative and intelligent and good.
The world keeps turning.
  • It is okay to fail.
  • At Summerbridge, we want you to fail so that you can learn how to be better.
  • We reflect.
  • We seek out feedback.
  • We value improvement.
  • You are not perfect.
  • You will never be perfect.
  • NO ONE is perfect.
  • Our students are here to be themselves - they want you to be yourself too.
  • Just being in your presence is a win for them.
  • They are here because they want to learn, and so are you.
Being a teacher is about accepting that you will make mistakes and you won't always know the answer, but you will work every day to adapt and find solutions and to better yourself for your students.

What Makes an Outstanding Teacher?

  • Personal organization

  • Ability to follow directions & meet deadlines

  • Accepting and applying feedback
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  • Adapting

  • Ability to find solutions on your own

  • Knowing when and how to ask for help

  • Providing students with structure

  • Knowing how to find useful and accurate information

  • Memorizing student names

  • Owning the room with your presence
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  • Extending your presence into other areas of the school
Notice how none of these bullet points are about your subject area knowledge. Just because someone is an expert in a field of knowledge doesn't make them an excellent or even a good teacher. Our pedagogy (methods), the things we do outside the classroom to prepare ourselves, and the systems we have in place are critical. 

I am asking you to put a tremendous effort into your lesson planning now so that you build the foundational skills that will mean you won't have to plan so extensively later.
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How to Be a Good Receiver of Feedback
receiving_feedback_2025.pdf
File Size: 83 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
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  • With all that said - I need you to be at your best. 

  • I need you at your best because our students deserve your best. Every day.

  • Will your best be the same level every day - not necessarily. But whatever you are capable of that day, that is what I need from you.

  • Follow instructions - they are in place for a lot of reasons.

  • Be open to my suggestions. Be ready to learn each day.
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New Teacher Common Mistakes

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