You're a Drama teacher, why do observations make you anxious...

"You do Drama though, so how can observations worry you? You're used to performing..."

You'd presume that as I have performed on stage many times, playing a wide variety of characters, ranging from a middle-aged, male aristocrat to a young Greek princess, that there's no reason lesson observations should worry me... but they do. I've had many conversations where people have said to me "just think of it as a performance, you're used to them" but it is very different. It's different because there's no bright lights hiding the audiences faces, instead your observer is very obviously sat on a chair watching everything you do. And, to top it off, you have 30 or so 'mini-critics' also watching you too!

Observations always make me nervous and slightly anxious, and I am yet to discover if these feelings will always be present throughout my teaching career, as I gain more experience. There's always the worry that you'll miss a fantastic question that provides great learning opportunities, or a strategy to manage behaviour fails to prevail, or you panic because you've created a fantastic lesson and you've ran out of time for the plenary. There's just so much to remember, and for these very reasons it can be easy to sit at home the night before and intensely worry about how it will go the following day.

However, at these moments I take a moment away from the worries and anxieties, and remind myself that everyday I teach with enthusiasm and passion with plans of progression for my students and myself as a professional. Then I ask myself, is this not what I should be focused on? Should I not be remembering that I teach every day, to many pupils, and for the majority do a brilliant job. It seems that it is much easier to focus on the pupil's name you forgot, or when the powerpoint froze, or when you failed to reduce low-level behaviour which then resulted in consequences being awarded. Why don't we change these thoughts? Let's switch it around, focusing on the positives rather than dwelling on the negatives. Let's praise ourselves for everytime a struggling student manages to define a key term they haven't successfully recalled the whole term. Or, lets celebrate that we made it through five lessons today, and inspired the next generation of children to be the best version of themselves. Whilst I champion positive thinking, I know the negatives still occur - 'what if I mess up in the observation?' or 'what if they don't learn anything?!' but let's work together to switch that! Let's say 'have they left my classroom with a smile?' or 'I did my best, and they enjoyed being in my lesson today'.

You're doing great! Teach your way :)

I've known a lot of my trainee friends

(and also teachers who have been in the profession for several years) to develop a fear of observations. The fear of something going terribly wrong, the judgement of the observer, or loosing the key resources just as they begin to line up outside! I distinctly remember being terrified in my first ever observation. It was late September, I'd only been teaching for two weeks and the conversation went somehitng like this.

(end of the lesson)

Me: Have a lovely breaktime everyone, off you go!

Student: Miss!

Me: Yes, [name]?

Student: Was that your first lesson being watched?

Me: Yes it was.

Student: Oh well, for your first ever lesson, that was pretty good! Thanks! Bye!

It that moment, the grade on the piece of paper didn't matter. I knew that as the pupils left my classroom, they were happily chatting, smiling and seem fulfilled with what they had learnt that lesson. I knew I had taught true to my own style of teaching, they had learnt new and interesting information and I felt quite humbled that my lesson was pupil rated 'pretty good'!

I know approaching my NQT year, I will have observations to check on my progress. I would be lying if I said I wasn't already a bit nervous about these, but instead I'm thinking about the positives! The feedback I recieve will only make me a better teacher and encourage me to continue to improve. Also, I will recieve action points, topics to research and learn new ways to teach the pupils in front of me. So really, is sounds quite good when you put it like that, right?

This quote sums it up really. Observations exist for us to improve as teachers, to recieve advice from colleages, and ultimately to support one another. We are all in this profession to provide the best possible education for our pupils, and what better way to do this than support and guide each other to do just that! Try not to get in a worried state the night before you observation. Use those nerves to fuel adrenaline, and teach the best lesson you can!

So, do you get nervous before observations? What do you worry about most? How have they enabled you to improve?

Miss B :)