Effective Student Feedback

Recently, many of our teacher leaders have been exploring the concept of giving students feedback.  Not just any feedback, but meaningful feedback that directly impacts what students are doing in the classroom.

The best examples of feedback, that I can think of center around using those teachable moments to fine tune a math skill, or reading strategy, or accentuate the use of punctuation in writing.  My son learned to add a period to the end of his sentences last year in kindergarten thanks to a whole brain writing strategy his teacher used.  

Over the last six months I’ve been in countless classrooms in our district where students receive constructive and timely feedback.  Giving good feedback is more than a compliment, or criticism.  It centers on data.  Not only how to collect data, but how to effectively use that data in classrooms.  I’ve seen our Technology Integration Coaches work with many teachers on programs and ways to collect data in classrooms and then use that data to promote conversations with students.  Our Mentor Coaches are observing first and second year teachers and helping them craft meaningful ways to give feedback to students.    Many Instructional Strategists have been working with teachers in our district exploring the use of standards based grading.  It is exciting to hear their stories of success as they work to be change agents in our schools.  A couple of books they are utilizing are:

In December, Erin Watts and myself had the opportunity to hear John Hattie speak.  His book and research centers around many teacher practices that work, but highlights ones that work the best.  It was fascinating to see the data he had collected.  What we sometimes believe to be the best, truly wasn't as effective as one might think.  He believes if feedback is goal-oriented, specific, personalized to each student, and consistent, that it can be more effective than many of the other teaching practices we are using in the classroom.  In fact his research shows that effective feedback can affect student achievement as much as 1.13.   For more information on Hattie’s work check out:

As spring conferences are approaching, our teachers and staff will be giving all kinds of feedback to students and parents.  I hope all of your conferences are productive and help you make decisions that impact your classrooms positively.