Monday, September 5, 2011

Feedback, Feedback, Feedback...

I really enjoyed reading the article, Feedback That Fits.  As I read through it, I was pleased to identify situations where I can remember using some of these techniques.  However, I was really excited to read about how else I could be implementing some of the other feedback strategies that were shared.  I feel as though I had great instruction on giving feedback during my practicums during college (by cooperating teacher and the college instructor/observer).  I also feel that having numerous students with special needs in my classroom throughout the years has also lent itself to having strong feedback skills.  Often, when you have students who have special needs, you need to be prepared to let them share their thoughts and handle a correct or incorrect answer.  The same thought process on giving feedback needs to be the same no matter who the student or what the needs are.  Keep them encouraged and keep them thinking!

3 comments:

  1. I as well really enjoyed the article Feedback That Fits because it gave great ideas. For example, I found that I would always focus on the mechanics and thought the included comments were very helpful. It is definitely a goal of my to improve on, especially since I have more students with special needs this year as opposed to last. (This is my second year teaching) I also like your last sentence because it is the truth :)

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  2. I agree and I think it goes beyond special needs. Listening is a key part of giving feedback and I'm glad you bring that up. To me it is a matter of respect. Granted I don't work with special needs regularly, but in my opinion even if what a person has in mind is way out there it is still meaningful and its where they are coming from. Giving appropriate feedback is all about meeting in the middle to bridge the gaps, but I like the ways the article described that with specific examples.

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  3. I too feel that feedback is one of the essential skills of being a teacher. This is the best way to help students understand what they got right, and what they are missing. It is extremely important to focus on the positive, especially for those students that struggle more often. Isn't there a saying that for every negative you should give 5 positives?

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