Teachers do not improve their practice, feel unsupported and lose confidence

When principals do not set, manage or review the SIP, teachers may not be aware of the areas of their teaching practice that need improvement to support students or if they are aware, they do not know what improvement actions to take. Teachers or teaching assistants continue with their practice unaware of how their classroom organisation and management, or use of teaching techniques contribute to student engagement, behaviour or learning outcomes.

Principals are not providing the support needed to guide improvements in the teaching team’s practice that impacts students. Feedback and data evidence are not provided, so the teaching team does not know what they can do to improve.

Conversely, teachers or teaching assistants are not told what they are doing well and enhancing the learning of their students. They do not feel supported and lose confidence in their ability to teach effectively or support students.

The problem is compounded

When principals do not set, manage or review the SIP, nothing changes, and the teaching team become stagnant in the development of their professional practice.

Teachers or teaching assistants do not know how to make improvements, what actions to take or if the improvement actions they do take are being effective. As a result, they can become complacent, accept mediocrity and disengage from their passion for teaching.

When teachers or teaching assistants continue to experience the same issues or are not informed of improvement successes, they lose confidence in their ability to improve their effective teaching skills.

Eventually, they feel alone, have no one to support, guide or mentor them. Without support and guidance teachers or teaching assistants lose confidence in their ability to improve the educational outcomes for their students.

Ultimately, a teaching team without confidence in themselves and their practice, do not instil enthusiasm and confidence in their students. Students can become complacent, accept mediocrity and disengage from their passion for learning.