You're facing a resistant teacher. How can you provide constructive feedback to encourage change?
When faced with a resistant teacher, providing feedback that fosters change requires empathy and strategy. Here's how to open up the dialogue:
- Start from a place of understanding. Acknowledge their experience and perspective before suggesting improvements.
- Use specific examples. Offer concrete instances where a different approach could enhance learning outcomes.
- Suggest small, manageable steps. Recommend incremental changes that don't overwhelm but encourage gradual progress.
How do you approach giving feedback to someone who's resistant to change? Share your strategies.
You're facing a resistant teacher. How can you provide constructive feedback to encourage change?
When faced with a resistant teacher, providing feedback that fosters change requires empathy and strategy. Here's how to open up the dialogue:
- Start from a place of understanding. Acknowledge their experience and perspective before suggesting improvements.
- Use specific examples. Offer concrete instances where a different approach could enhance learning outcomes.
- Suggest small, manageable steps. Recommend incremental changes that don't overwhelm but encourage gradual progress.
How do you approach giving feedback to someone who's resistant to change? Share your strategies.
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When working with a resistant teacher, providing constructive feedback requires empathy and a collaborative approach. Start by acknowledging their strengths and contributions to build trust. Frame the feedback as a shared goal for improvement, focusing on how the changes can benefit their teaching and students. Use specific, actionable suggestions and offer support, such as mentoring or resources, to facilitate the transition.
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Approaching such teachers with patience and empathy can help ease the process. • Understand their concerns- Ask open-ended questions to uncover the root of resistance. • Acknowledge their feelings - validate their emotions. • Highlight the benefits of the change and involve them in the process. • Show positive examples - Share others stories to normalise the process. • Be patient and give time for the shift & keep checking in regularly to ensure they feel supported.
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It’s important to acknowledge and engage in conversations that help you to understand why they are resistant. Open to learning conversations (Vivienne Robinsion, 2015) can be a great tool. This is important because people need to experience autonomy to be motivated in their role. Autonomy (contrary to lots of people’s understanding) doesn’t necessarily mean doing exactly what you want, it can mean recognising that what you’re being asked to do is aligned with your values/beliefs (Deci & Ryan, 2017). This is useful, because we can support colleague to understand our choices and consider how they are aligned with their own values and aims.
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Providing constructive feedback to a resistant teacher requires a delicate and thoughtful approach. Start by building rapport and establishing trust. Acknowledge the teacher's experience and expertise. Frame your feedback as an opportunity for growth and development, focusing on specific behaviors and their impact on student learning. Offer concrete suggestions and resources to support improvement. Engage in collaborative problem-solving, involving the teacher in developing solutions. Emphasize the positive impact of the changes on students and the school community. Regularly check in with the teacher to offer support and monitor progress. Celebrate successes and acknowledge effort.
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A resistant teacher is a person who is not willing to accept change or who is facing some challenges which we are not able to understand. As behaviour is a reflection of the troubled emotions a person faces. Hence it is important to listen to her first. The solution lies in the conversations that we gave. Force or influence does not help. But working on the mindset does.
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When working with a resistant teacher, I approach feedback with empathy and strategy to create an environment of trust and collaboration. First, I focus on building a relationship by listening to their concerns and understanding their perspective. I frame feedback as a conversation rather than a directive, using specific examples and connecting suggestions to their goals or the impact on students. I ask reflective questions to encourage self-assessment and involve them in problem-solving. Providing actionable, manageable steps and celebrating small successes helps build confidence. Lastly, I stay patient and consistent, offering ongoing support and highlighting growth to foster a mindset open to change.
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