Literacy 4-6

Feedback on Writing

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Overview

Providing constructive feedback supports students' writing development by letting them know how to improve their writing. Getting immediate, specific feedback during the writing process can help students practice Metacognition while refining their Foundational Writing Skills.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch as this teacher conferences with her student about writing feedback. By giving written feedback, she helps the student identify areas of strength and progress and brings the student's Attention to skills like adding details or new Vocabulary.

  • Feedback on student writing can be verbal or written and can address specific skills like Syntax and organization. Feedback is most helpful when it is given throughout the steps of the writing process so students can reflect on and incorporate the feedback as they conceive, plan, and write their texts.

    • Design It into Your Product

    Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.

    Products like Kaizena allow for teachers to provide feedback in different modalities, including audio comments. Teachers can also include mini lessons to help remind students of and support development of Foundational Writing Skills.

  • Writing products can support feedback by including ways for teacher and peers to respond to writing, like real-time audio or text commenting. The ability to see how their writing has changed over time can also help students and teachers track progress.
    • View References

    Resources

    Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.

    Feedback & Peer Assessment

    Subtopic that explores research on the effects of quality, type, and source of feedback on student learning on Digital Promise's Research Map

    How to Give Feedback

    Video with tips about amount and type of feedback to give

    Improving Student Writing

    Overview of how to use feedback as a teaching tool

    Making the Most of Feedback

    Tips on the type of feedback that is most effective

    Teacher/Student Relationships

    Subtopic that includes research on the characteristics of positive teacher-student relationships on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Writing Conferences

    How to organize short writing conferences

    Writing Instruction

    Subtopic that includes descriptions and evaluations of instructional approaches to improve students' writing on Digital Promise's Research Map

    Factors Supported by this Strategy

    Literacy
    Foundational Writing Skills
    Genre Knowledge
    Syntax
    Verbal Reasoning
    Vocabulary
    Cognition
    Attention
    Inhibition & Self-regulation
    Long-term Memory
    Metacognition
    Short-term Memory
    Working Memory
    Social and Emotional Learning
    Emotion
    Motivation
    Student Background
    Adverse Experiences
    Literacy Environment
    Physical Well-being
    Primary Language
    Safety
    Sleep
    Socioeconomic Status

    More Teacher Modeling & Support Strategies

    Accessible Syntax

    Teachers can support language development by using and providing Syntax that is appropriately leveled (e.g., short, simple structure for young students).

    Accessible Vocabulary

    Teachers support language development by using and providing Vocabulary that is appropriately leveled (e.g., using [word wall][1] words).

    Brief Instruction Steps

    Content that is provided in clear, short chunks can support students' Working Memory.

    Discussing Emotions

    Teaching students how to label, identify, and manage emotions helps them learn Inhibition & Self-Regulation skills.

    Encourage Student Self-advocacy

    Overtly encouraging all students to seek support and ask questions creates a safe space for risk-taking and skill development.

    Foster Growth Mindset

    Teachers can help students understand that learning involves effort, mistakes, and reflection by teaching them about their malleable brain and modeling their own learning process.

    Growth Mindset Feedback

    Attributing results to controllable aspects (strategy and effort) fosters students' beliefs in self.

    Incorporate Students' Cultural Practices

    Learning about students' cultures and connecting them to instructional practices helps all students feel like valued members of the community, which improves Motivation.

    Model Positive Connections to Literacy

    By sharing their own reading and writing, teachers can create a literacy community that supports students in finding meaning in their own work.

    Model the Assignment or Skill

    By talking through their thinking at each step of a process, teachers can model what learning looks like.

    Predictability: Environment & Structure

    Maintaining consistent classroom routines and schedules ensures that students are able to trust and predict what will happen next.

    Read-alouds

    Reading aloud regularly exposes students to new and familiar Vocabulary and texts.

    Read-alouds: Deliberate Topics

    Reading aloud books about skills children are learning provides another model for their development.

    Student Choice

    Providing students a voice in their learning is critical for making learning meaningful.

    Wait Time

    Wait time, or think time, of three or more seconds after posing a question increases how many students volunteer and the length and accuracy of their responses.

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