Good teachers are observant.
In fact, their students swear they have eyes in the back of their head.
But the truth is, they just make it a priority.
They see the value in keen observation because it allows them to . . .
Witness misbehavior when it happens.
Better know and understand their students.
Adjust lessons to target academic needs.
Instill strong independence.
Now, it’s important to mention that good classroom management is essential for becoming more observant.
Because it gives you the time and freedom to actually do it.
Once this is in place, however, becoming more watchful and perceptive is a skill that can be developed.
What follows are three ways you can improve your observational skills this summer.
And be a better teacher by next school year.
1. Take one interesting photo per day.
This exercise helps you to notice details, to look for and appreciate what stands out from the rest—whether good, bad, or just plain different.
Like a treasure hunt, when you search for the weird, the interesting, the beautiful, the sad, the unexpected . . . and then capture it in a photograph, it trains you to discern what few others do.
It trains you to view the world through an empathetic lens, to walk and teach while wearing your students’ shoes and seeing your instruction through their eyes.
2. Take in one scene per day.
A lovely way to make you more mindful and observant is to take a daily break of about ten minutes to just sit and take in your surroundings.
Sweep away all conscious thought and tune into the moment using all of your senses. Note the sounds, colors, movement, temperature, brightness, mood, and even the kiss of wind on your cheek.
Out in nature is best, but your backyard will do. The exercise will root you in the here and now, which is where great teaching lives. It also happens to be a peaceful, happy place to be.
3. Sketch from memory one event or scene per day.
Take a few minutes or more sometime before retiring to bed to sketch from memory one scene or event you witnessed that day.
Pairing well with number two, this exercise develops your recall ability and sharpens your daily awareness. It trains you to live less inside your head, which naturally makes you more observant.
As an added bonus, it will also improve your storytelling ability. How the finished product looks doesn’t matter, but you will notice your illustrations becoming more intricate as time goes on.
Try It Today
Many, many teachers are so locked into a state of distraction, busyness, and micromanagement that they never really get to know their students.
They’re blinded by the frenzied thoughts in their head.
The three exercises above will effectively train you to slow down, engage in the immediate here and now, and capture a wide, unclouded view of your class and their needs going forward.
They’ll help pull your awareness into the present, where you can calmly watch, listen, and learn and perform at your very best.
I encourage you to try one of the observation exercises today. They’re all fun and easy to do. They’re soothing and settling and take just a few minutes out of your day.
But the best part is, they’ll make you a better teacher.
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I love this! Thank you for such an insightful and useful article.
You’re welcome, Giulie.
Even here, in Holland, you have a reader.
A french teacher eager to become even better after 35 years of teaching 🙂
Welcome Lidwine, I’m glad you found us.
Lovely technique Mr. Linsin. This really feels right! As I am correcting papers and grading, I started reading your article. They are always so interesting!
Thank you for your book on management for Phys. Ed. and other « specialist » teachers. I am an ESL teacher in Quebec (we speak mostly French here) – and I saw a huge difference in how I felt with my students and how they reacted to me. It’s been a very happy year for all of us. Slowing down my teaching and movements to regain calm proved to be extremely helpful. I always notice how a calm stamina makes the classroom atmosphere so much better, and even if the kids remain a little crazy, at least I manage to stay calm, and not loose my energy and temper.
Thank you soooo much for sharing your knowledge with us all. Your book and website have proven a lot more helpful to me that any university class. I was especially grateful to be able to apply your advice as a specialist, since teaching to 300 students is very different than having your own group of students.
I will definitely buy a new book this summer – I find it very motivating and so helpful.
Have a great, fun and relaxing summer !
Kindest regards,
Marika (in Saint-Jérôme) north of Montreal ☺️
Thanks so much, Marika! And thanks for your kind words. I’m so glad the website and book for specialists has been helpful. So true, staying calm inside and out has a powerful effect on students, cutting way down on misbehavior and excitability.
Michael
Thank you for always dishing out insightful and useful stuff.
Precious.
My pleasure, Presh.
I love to watch my students working in groups or with partners. Their personality comes out and I always begin to see another side into my most difficult students. I learn more by listening and observing than just assigning work. I love the joy they have when they truly understand a concept or take pride in their project work.
Thanks for sharing, Mary. You’re right on. Observing our students carryout our goals and objectives should be enjoyable and satisfying.
Great advice. I live in a rural area with a long drive to school. I try not to think too much about the day ahead (or behind) until I turn into the driveway, so I always look for 3 new “things” on the way to and from school. I’ve seen deer, lots of turkeys, a rabbit, Canada geese, a bald eagle one (very rare in Vermont), houses being built, teenagers learning to drive, hay fields cut in the morning and baled in the afternoon, amazing sunrises, sunsets, and moonrises, and so on…It’s a great way to stay relaxed, well, except for maybe the teenagers. I suggested this technique to my daughter for her long bus ride to high school and she ended up writing a well-received paper on all of her observations…I think there were baby goats involved!
Sounds beautiful.
I am a teaching grade 3 children in India. Your tips have been very helpful and have helped me introspect and improve my skills set. Thank you Mr. Linsin. I plan to sketch one event everyday from today.
Urmila Devanathan
You’re welcome, Urmila. I think you’ll enjoy doing it.
Great!
I’ve subscribed to your newsletter for a couple of years, and this may be my favorite thing you’ve written. Thank you for sharing it!
Awesome! You’re welcome, Gloria.
Cool ideas– I will be trying at least some of them out. Way to stress growth mindset!
Thanks Tamra!
Thank you very much. Perfect timing. I start tomorrow “observing” in a preschool classroom of 4 students who have autism. Now I feel pumped to value “observing”!! So good of you to share!
You’re welcome, Jennifer.
Michael,
I love your information. Read it as much as it comes out.
Question: How do I allow students to pair off, threes, or group to discuss the current lesson and be sure they are talking about the assignment.
I walk around and find them on a different subject and/or not filling out the form/worksheet.
When time is up, then they attempt to complete a 5-10 assignment into 1-2 minutes. And they are talking while others are sharing with the class.
Frustrating to even allow such free time.
Hi Iris,
I’ll put this topic on the list of future articles. 🙂
Hi Iris and Michael,
I have the same issues with group work with my students. I give them time to help each other with paired revision of narratives that include illustration, but they end up wasting a lot of time and then being very sad about their grades. It is my understanding that having deadlines for intermediate steps is crucial. I have given them steps, but this time around, I actually forgot to give them deadlines and just let them loose! How can I recover from that?
What I did today is to tell them that if they are not at step X by the end of today, they are behind. I tried to motivate them by reminding them that they will be reading their stories to a group of visiting peers.
Also, I feel really nervous about the visiting class. I have witnessed and head their (cranky?) teacher complain about their poor behavior. Since I doubt that keeping them for detention on the last day of school would work, and I hate to send kids out of the room except for safety reasons, I do not know what to do. I suppose I could have them come and sit by me if they misbehave.
Does anybody have any suggestions beyond what I’ve proposed here?
Thanks,
-Shannon
I am your #1 fan and I think everything you say is spot on! This article is exactly what I need and encourage you to keep writing more like it! My biggest hurdle is my distraction and not being observant 100% of the time. I get very focused on who I’m working with and things sometimes happen that I don’t witness. Then I feel inconsistent and that makes me so frustrated. I know it’s part of my personality. Can this really work?
Thanks Laurie! I hope it helps.
Hi Mike, good stuff as susual.
One question about the second suggestion:
When you say “sweep away all conscious thought” when observing your environment, are you suggesting that we don’t consciously interpret or analyse what we hear or see? For example during the observation of our immediate environment, if we notice birds flying, could we consciously start asking questions of ourselves about how they are flying where they aare flying to and why ? Or should we just unconsciously observe without any interpretation whatsoever? Or is either way fine at different times?
Thank you.
Hi Gary,
No, I think it’s best just to focus on what you see, hear, and take in in the immediate environment. As soon as you notice your thoughts straying into deeper interpretation or analysis, then gently bring them back into observation mode.
One of the most eye-opening things I did was to videotape myself teaching them critique my teaching. It is amazing what you think you do or don’t do.
I plan to try this a few times throughout the school year.
Thanks for the reminder.
I’ll continue to calmly watch, listen and learn as I go about my daily life.. I’m a Grade 6 teacher in Zambia. Because of Covid 19 schools are closed until… But I’ll certainly keep your cool suggestions in mind when the school lockdown is over. Thx!
Love the reminder to take the time to “just” observe . . .
Thank you for the article, and suggestions, it hit close to home as you said. I am always so busy in my head and physically that I have difficulty focusing for very long on anything. While I do take time for breaks my brain does not stop thinking and planning. I feel I am always running a marathon. So to just observe and be in the present is doable and worth it if it slows me down. JC