How to Give Effective Feedback to Your Students

by Susan M. Brookhart

Teach students self- and peer-assessment skills. Increase students' interest in feedback because they own it. Teach students to answer their own questions and develop self-regulation skills, necessary for using any feedback. Be clear about the learning target and the criteria for good work. Use assignments with obvious value and interest. Explain to students why an assignment is given. Make directions clear. Use clear rubrics. Have students develop their own rubrics, or translate yours into "kid-friendly" language. Design lessons that incorporate using the rubrics as students work. Design lessons in which students use feedback on previous work to produce better work. Provide opportunities for students to redo complex assignments. Give new but similar assignments for less complex learning targets. Give opportunities for students to make connections between the feedback they receive and the improvement in their work.