One year I was teaching a class and a student said "you always let Robert do what he wants because he's your favorite." This bothered me. Out of curiosity I asked who was my least favorite student? And they said "Carlos". I was horrified. I love all my students. I don't have a favorite or a least favorite. So this information made me reconsider my classroom management strategies and I think revolutionized my teaching practice.
So every year I formally do a survey of my students. I use Pear Deck and ask them for their honest opinions.
* what does Miss Trayers like? (I really liked that their answers this year showed they knew me well and it wasn't all about rule following).
* Miss Trayers doesn't like.... (again if they say a student's name here-I failed them).
* What does Miss Trayers always say?
* and for fun I asked them to draw me. I LOVE that I am smiling in each picture but they also captured my big earrings. :) I am known to accessorize.
The important part is I take these responses and reshape things for next year. For example, I taught 4th grade this year and would see a lot of immaturity from the boys-I think I acknowledged that too much because several said I favored the girls in the class. Next year, I will make sure I focus on changing that. They had a lot of positive things that I would say. One said "I love you"-I have never actually said those words, but I think it must be the way I made them feel so that makes me smile.
A simple practice, but one that can really give you a view into what works and the biases you may have that you don't even see.
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