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The Network for Educator Effectiveness has developed the Four Paths to Effective Feedback to help school leaders provide effective feedback to teachers after classroom observations. As a principal, I always felt the “micro-level” teachers – those who clearly demonstrate understanding of an instructional practice and deliver it with some level of expertise – could be the hardest ones to talk with. I didn’t feel I had the knowledge to make them better at their craft, and I always felt like I needed to contribute something in these conversations to support the teacher.

When conducting a feedback conference with a micro-level teacher, asking questions that prompt reflection and growth can be a way to fill both the school leader’s and the teacher’s toolbox. Here are some questions, along with supportive websites, that can provide further insights and strategies.

Reflective Questions

• How do you feel the lesson aligned with the latest instructional strategies for your subject area? Here’s a resource from We Are Teachers that offers a range of instructional strategies and tips for educators across different subjects: 44 Instructional Strategies Examples for Every Kind of Classroom

• What evidence of student learning did you observe, and how did you assess it during the lesson? Here are two resources on formative assessment from ASCD: Fine Tuning Assessments for Better Feedback and Five Principles for Formative Assessments That Fuel Feedback

Student Engagement and Learning

• How did you ensure all students were engaged in the lesson, and what strategies did you use to maintain their interest? This resource from Prodigy offers a list of effective student engagement strategies: 17 Best Student Engagement Strategies [Teachers Swear By!]

• How did you differentiate instruction to meet the diverse learning needs of your students? This article from Understood.org provides meanings for individualized instruction and differentiated instruction: Individualized instruction vs. differentiated instruction
  Another resource from Prodigy provides strategies for differentiating instruction for diverse learners: 20 Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples [+ Downloadable List]

Instructional Strategies

• What instructional strategies did you use to maximize learning outcomes, and how did they align with current best practices? This link to The Learning Accelerator offers resources on blended and personalized learning strategies: Blended & Personalized Learning Practices

• How did you incorporate technology into your lesson, and how did it enhance student learning? Here’s a list of Essential EdTech Tools from Teach Thought on recommended educational technology tools and their applications in the classroom.

Professional Growth and Development

• Reflecting on this lesson, what areas of your practice are you most interested in developing further? Check out NEE’s EdHub professional learning library (available in the NEE Data Tool) for resources to support professional development and continuous improvement.
  
• Are there any online communities or professional networks you participate in to stay current with teaching practices? There are several communities and chat threads available on platforms such as Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Using hashtags such as #edchat and #education can help you find them. Explore Facebook Groups related to professional organizations, educational conferences, or related topics.

Collaboration and Support

• How have you collaborated with other educators or specialists to enhance your lesson plans, and are there other resources you’d like to explore? See insights on the benefits and strategies of effective teacher collaboration with these two resources: Nine Ways to Collaborate Effectively with Other Teachers (Teach Middle East Magazine) and Keeping the Door Open to Collaboration (Edutopia)
  
• What additional resources or support from the school or district could further support your teaching efforts? The Teaching and Learning page from EdWeek provides current news, strategies, and resources for teacher support.

Broader Impact

• How do you think this lesson supports the broader educational goals of our school or district? The ASCD website offers resources on aligning teaching practices with broader school and district goals.

• In what ways do you see your teaching practices contributing to the overall school culture and student success? See research and strategies from Strobel Education on how strong teacher practices contribute to a positive school culture and student success: Creating a Positive School Culture for an Optimal Learning Environment

Site-Specific Reflection and Future Planning

• What steps would you consider taking next to build on the strengths of this lesson? A list from Top Hat provides resources for planning and implementing instructional improvement: 25 Effective Instructional Strategies For Educators | Top Hat
  
• Are there any innovative practices or new strategies you’ve been exploring that could enhance your teaching? Explore new tools, such as Magic School – AI.

Aaron Jones, Ed.D., is a trainer and field support representative for the Network for Educator Effectiveness. He joined NEE in 2024 after spending more than 30 years in K-12 education as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent.

The Network for Educator Effectiveness (NEE) is a simple yet powerful comprehensive system for educator evaluation that helps educators grow, students learn, and schools improve. Developed by preK-12 practitioners and experts at the University of Missouri, NEE brings together classroom observation, student feedback, teacher curriculum planning, and professional development as measures of effectiveness in a secure online portal designed to promote educator growth and development.