Being Observed - Tips For First Time Teachers

There's no job quite like being a teacher. Not even considering the expectations that are set so high, the wages that are set so low, and the hours upon hours spent dealing with papers that need to be graded, no other job demands more dedication more consistently. You throw yourself into your work by spending lots of time preparing your lesson plans, making your classes entertaining, nurturing relationships with your students, and even making yourself available after school in case anyone is looking for some emotional support. Teaching is a lifestyle choice, not just a job. You are required to give 110% every day as a basic rule. This is why first time teachers seem to go to pieces when they have to deal with being observed and rated.

And you will have to deal with them. Especially during your first year, it will seem like you are being watched every day, by everyone you could possibly imagine would have a vested interest in observing your teaching. You'll see everyone from your principal, vice principals, the administrator for your department, district superintendents, and even the lunch lady taking a look at how you teach your class. They will all do the same thing: they will choose one of the student desks and they will write a bunch of notes.

Rest assured you will get used to having someone observe you. The fight or flight response you felt the first few times will subside. There is no flight, so you have to fight it out and eventually your body and your physiologic system will get used to having someone watch you teach. After a month or two you may even be able to act a little normal. If tenure is your goal you will want to try to shorten the period of time that it takes you to feel OK being observed. You want a nice string of evaluations in your teaching record right from your first year.

Before you freak out too much about these observations, calm down a bit and realize that nearly every teacher gets tenure. It's very rare to have the case of a teacher being denied tenure by an ugly score on an observation. Finding good teachers is not an easy task, and if you're genuinely trying your best (which by searching for information and reading this article, you must be) then you will not be judged solely by your performance during an observation. Just keep in mind that your administration is there to help you, not to fire you. Let them do their job and try to make their job as easy as possible by not stressing too much in class. Make them feel welcome in your class and let your students shine as much as you will.