Giving feedback

Structure: As we wrote in chapter 1, no two lesson plans are exactly alike. While they share common elements, teachers often vary in their execution, formatting and flow. By seeing what their peers find most helpful in building their plans, teachers can test new ideas and find what works best in their own class.
– Activities: Need a little inspiration for that next lesson? Looking at the activities other teachers incorporate in their classes can help overcome that block and get those creative juices flowing. It also keeps teachers in-the-know with the kinds of work their students will be expected to do later that day or further down their educational path.
– Gaps: If a particular class struggles with a topic, teachers with overlapping topics and goals can work together, in real-time, to bring learning up to snuff. Not only can this kind of collaboration help teachers catch up in their own classrooms, but it can also signal to others where students may struggle in the future.
– Routines: Good habits are hard to make – and sometimes easy to break. Teachers can leverage expectations and routines that students have learned in the past, or that they’re currently using in other classrooms, to benefit their own lessons. Plus, when routines are consistent between classes, they are reinforced more often and create a more cohesive student experience.