From A+ to Improvement: How to Give Effective Feedback on Student Work

Providing feedback on students’ work is an essential part of the teaching process. Here are some tips on giving both positive and negative feedback on your student’s work:

Positive feedback:

1. Be specific: Identify specific strengths or areas where the student has improved.
2. Use praise: Use positive and encouraging language to reinforce positive behavior or accomplishments.
3. Be timely: Provide feedback in a timely manner to reinforce positive behavior or work.
4. Encourage growth: Provide suggestions for how students can continue to improve.

Examples of positive feedback:

• “Your essay is well-organized and your arguments are well-supported with evidence. Great job!”
• “You’ve really improved your handwriting. Your letters are much neater and easier to read now.”

Negative feedback:

1. Be specific: Clearly identify areas where the student needs to improve.
2. Use constructive language: Use constructive feedback that highlights the problem and suggests possible solutions.
3. Be timely: Provide feedback in a timely manner to help the student make changes and improve.
4. Encourage growth: Provide suggestions for how students can improve.

Examples of negative feedback:

• “You need to work on your spelling. There are several misspelled words in your essay that need to be corrected.”
• “Your handwriting is difficult to read. Please work on making your letters more legible.”

By providing both positive and negative feedback on your student’s work, you can help them grow and improve while also building their confidence and encouraging them to continue learning.