how to become an excellent teacher - giving feedback and demanding high

For teachers to really get it right, they need to connect with their students - and what students want more than anything is to have their teachers tell them how they are doing.

As educationalist John Hattie discovered in his research, the most important thing is feedback - answering the question ‘what has the greatest influence on student learning?':

Jay Doubleyou: students want feedback

It's all about trusting relationships and 'oodles of feedback':

Schools to provide a positive , optimistic, invitational, trusting and safe learning climate. One that welcomes student errors and develops positive peer influences.

Teachers who are seen by their students as quality teachers. Who provide clarity of expectations and a belief that all can learn. Teachers who are 'open' to new ideas, who develop a positive learning climate, and who value the importance of student effort to improve.

Jay Doubleyou: students want feedback part 2

Educationalist Scott Thornbury also sees feedback as central:

feedback | Search Results | An A-Z of ELT

Correct Me If I'm Wrong (Scott Thornbury) - YouTube

Vic Richardson draws on similar research with similar results:

Vic Richardson - Developing teachers for stronger results - YouTube

All of this amounts to gathering the evidence and realising what students need and what teachers need to do and to be:

Jay Doubleyou: evidence-based teaching

Over a decade ago educationalists Adrian Underhill and Jim Scrivener launched a new initiative:

Demand High Teaching asks: • Are our learners capable of more than we currently ask of them? • Have the tasks and techniques we use in class become rituals and ends in themselves? • How can we stop “covering material” and start focusing on the potential for deep learning? • What small tweaks and adjustments can we make to shift the whole focus of our teaching towards getting that engine of learning going? TTJ 25_2

What is Demand High? | Demand High ELT

Here's an excellent introduction they wrote for the Guardian: 

Teachers urged to go beyond 'right' answers and stretch all learners throughout the lesson

Demand more from students and they will learn more | Tefl | The Guardian

And here's their blog:

Demand High ELT | A discussion about re-inventing our profession

Here Silvana Richardson gives a talk and workshop session on the topic of demand high and quality learning:

Silvana Richardson - Beyond demand high: Making quality learning happen for all - YouTube

But let's finish with a video from Jim Scrivener:

Are you challenging your students enough to learn English? How do you know if tangible learning is taking place in your English language classroom?

Jim Scrivener - Demand High for teachers and learners | TeachingEnglish | British Council

And there's lots more!

Why “Challenging” Isn’t Quite The Right Goal

Demanding the best from your students, and helping them believe they can achieve it (Infographic) - McREL International

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