Lately, much of our professional development has focused on providing feedback…or rather, providing students with “specific” feedback on tests, essays, projects, class discussions etc.

While I agree that specific feedback is important, it is also important to realize that students, like us, can only accept a certain amount of information at one time…especially when it is perceived as negative.

For feedback to be really effective, teachers should focus feedback on what is most important…teachers should focus feedback on the objectives of the lesson, test, essay etc.

For example, if a student receives an essay back that is completely marked up with red pen (spelling, grammar, transitions etc.) there is simply too much for the student to focus on. However, if the objective of the essay was to focus on transitions and that is all that teacher comments on, then the student received not just “specific” feedback, but feedback that was “focused” on the lesson’s objective.

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Are you looking for more teaching strategies?

For more effective teaching strategies that you can start applying to your very next class make sure read eTeach: A Teacher Resource for Learning the Strategies of Master Teachers @ www.TeachingTeacher.com

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