Want to Know What’s Working? Ask Your Students.

Talk to your students: Ask them what could be better and what's going well.

Heyyy SuperTeachers,

As you thoughtfully map out these crucial final weeks of the school year, resist the urge to rely solely on your own observations and reflections. While your insights are invaluable, there’s an often-untapped well of wisdom right in front of you: your students.

Before you solidify your plans for the final stretch, take a moment to pause, lean in, and directly ask your students about their learning experiences. Their feedback isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s instructional gold, offering profound insights into what truly resonated with them and where you can continue to make a meaningful impact.

Think about it from their perspective. They’ve been active participants in your classroom all year long, experiencing your lessons, engaging in activities, and navigating the learning environment you’ve created. They possess a unique understanding of what truly captured their attention, what made learning feel relevant and exciting, and what sparked their curiosity. By intentionally seeking their feedback, you gain access to a wealth of information that can inform your teaching in powerful ways, not just for these final weeks but for future years as well.

Consider posing these insightful questions to your students:

• What has been the most memorable lesson or activity we’ve done this year? This question helps you identify the moments that truly stuck with your students, revealing the types of learning experiences that had the greatest impact and created lasting understanding or positive associations with learning.

  
  

• When did you feel the most engaged and focused during a lesson or activity? Understanding the conditions and instructional strategies that fostered deep engagement can provide valuable clues about your teaching strengths and areas to build upon. Was it a hands-on project? A lively debate? A collaborative problem-solving task?

  
  

• What is a topic or area of study that you would be interested in learning more about before the school year ends? This question not only taps into their interests and passions but also provides a fantastic opportunity to tailor your remaining curriculum to their genuine curiosity, fostering greater motivation and investment in their learning.

  
  

The feedback you receive from your students is far more than just affirming; it’s rich with instructional intelligence. It provides concrete evidence of where your impact truly landed, highlighting the strategies and activities that were most effective in reaching and engaging your learners. It also illuminates areas where you might have room to grow or where adjustments could be made to better meet the diverse needs and interests of your students.

By actively soliciting and thoughtfully considering student feedback, you demonstrate that you value their perspectives and see them as active partners in their own education. This can foster a stronger sense of community, trust, and mutual respect within your classroom. It also empowers students to become more reflective about their own learning processes.

Call to Action: This week, take the initiative to create a quick and easy student survey. This could be a simple digital form using a platform like Google Forms or a short paper-based questionnaire. Ask the three key questions mentioned above, and consider adding an open-ended question like, "Is there anything else about our learning this year that you'd like to share?" Use the valuable feedback you gather from your students to thoughtfully shape your final unit, a culminating project, or even just the instructional strategies you employ in these remaining weeks.

And if your vision is to lead your classroom with student voice and genuine engagement as central pillars throughout the entire school year, our 1-Year Virtual Residency is designed to equip you with the strategies and frameworks to do just that. We teach you how to effectively center student insight and foster a classroom where their perspectives are valued and integrated into the learning process from Day 1 to Day 180 and beyond. Let us help you cultivate a classroom where every student feels heard, valued, and deeply connected to their learning.

Want immediate support? Let’s talk!

Every classroom is different, and sometimes you just need a thought partner to figure out what works best for you and your students. If you’d like to dive deeper into instructional strategies, student engagement, or just need a fresh perspective, schedule a coaching call! No pressure, just real talk and actionable steps to help you thrive.

Schedule a time that works for you here: Scheduling Link

In Partnership,

Dr. O

Your Favorite Virtual Coach