Common Assignment Study and Teacher Effectiveness in Colorado

The connection between teachers and students is at the heart of learning. Our work focuses on ensuring that all teachers have the goals, skills and tools to form and strengthen that powerful bond with their students. The first step in doing that is asking teachers what works and what they need to strengthen the teacher-student bond—and then trusting and listening to what they tell us.

A new book, Better Feedback for Better Teaching, offers practical guidance for improving observer training, assessment, and monitoring so all educators can benefit from trustworthy observations that provide them with meaningful, accurate, and actionable feedback.

In this open letter to teachers, I am restating my claim that teachers are the experts. I urge teachers to talk with other teachers about their practice, and raise their voice about what they need to help their students learn.