Why I created this
When I first started supporting teachers through observation and feedback, I often felt unsure about what I was actually meant to focus on.
I found myself trying to notice everything during observations, then leaving conversations, wondering whether my feedback had really been useful. At times, I over-prepared because I didn’t fully trust my own judgement yet.
Over time, I realised that effective teacher development is not about spotting every possible issue. It’s about learning how to identify what matters most in that moment, for that teacher, and responding in a way that genuinely supports growth.
These reflection prompts come directly from that experience. They are designed to help you slow down, notice patterns more clearly, and approach observations and feedback conversations with more intention and confidence.
If you’re moving into teacher training…
You may already be supporting teachers informally through observations, feedback conversations, mentoring, or CPD sessions.
And while you probably care deeply about helping teachers develop, the role itself can still feel unclear at times.
You might wonder:
What should I actually focus on during observations?
How do I know if my feedback is genuinely helpful?
How do I handle more delicate conversations?
Where is the line between colleague and trainer?
That uncertainty is incredibly common, especially in the early stages of moving into teacher training.
Developing confidence in this role doesn’t come from having perfect answers. It comes from building clearer ways of observing, reflecting, and making decisions in real situations.
How this connects to Teacher Trainer Compass
Teacher Trainer Compass was created to support teachers who are stepping into teacher training and want a clearer, more grounded approach to the role.
The ideas behind these reflection prompts are explored much more deeply inside the programme through practical frameworks, observation work, feedback conversations, and reflective discussion.
The focus is not on becoming the “perfect” trainer. It’s about learning how to approach teacher development with more clarity, structure, and confidence, while still keeping the human side of the work at the centre.
If this reflection tool resonated with you, you can explore Teacher Trainer Compass in more detail here.
