A chat that offers middle school teachers a chance to have a collaborative discussion about a different topic each week. Our topics change from week to week, ranging from Common Core State Standards to Character Education. During the chat, participants exchanges ideas and resources. The chat group ranges in size each week from 10 to 50+ participants. Discussion can be general talking about instructional style or process to specific. Recently members of the chat group help each other create lessons.
A1: Feedback needs to be clear, concise, and in language that is at their level of understanding. Positive and negative feedback are necessary for growth. #mschat
A1: feedback that is broken down is very helpful. We assume that Ss understand how to fix the mistakes using adult terms and that’s not fair. Make it simple and pointed. #mschat
1) MS kids want to appear strong, but the reality is they are searching for importance. They want to be noticed. They want to be valued. Any time their feedback can focus on strengths over deficiencies you have a better chance of getting through #mschat
A1: Honest conversations that build them up. Yes students need to know where they can grow, but at this age, it is so important to tell them the hope you see in them! #mschat
A1b I also think it’s important not to give to much feedback focus on one or two things at a time so kids aren’t overwhelmed and can see the progress as they work #mschat
Yes! Timely feedback is necessary so the student have awareness of what they completed and can review and practice the content they struggled with. #mschat
A1 I think being negative in our comments and not having a warm compassionate approach to their work is harmful. We must be genuine and mindful #mschat
A2: Avoid putting a score whenever possible. It’s not hippie-dippy nonsense. Research shows kids quit paying attention to any corrective feedback the moment they see a score. It stunts their academic growth. Descriptive feedback is far more effective. #mschat
2) Feedback that is simply punitive with no strategy for improvement is useless and harmful. We need to teach kids not only what their strengths are but also how to recover when a weakness is discovered. #mschat
A2: Feedback not given out of the desire to encourage our students. There is a way to critique without being devastating. There is a way to be positive without going over the top. #mschat
A2. A paper full of red feedback is never fun to receive. If a student struggles in writing conventions or the process, don’t focus on everything at once. It’s overwhelming. Pick one or a couple areas and don’t continue to mark up the whole paper for the same mistakes. #mschat
A2: taking away points for behavior with no exceptions - I’m always looking to show folk that there are other ways to help with teaching organization. #mschat
A3: my admin came to observe me. After he left there were 3 sticky notes on my computer, each stating something positive he had enjoyed in our room. Made me feel like a million bucks. Now I do the same with my kiddos #leadingbyexample#mschat
3) Feedback is only effective when it is presumed to come from a place of trust and support. Feedback that comes from a place with negative intent is often responded to w/ bitterness and contempt. This is true for kids and adults. Trust is the secret sauce! #mschat
A3: I appreciate knowing what I’m doing well. And I do sincerely want to know how I can improve, but corrective feedback still tends to hurt at first. Give me time to wrap my mind around it. Then equip me to do better. #mschat
A3: Also, teachers should want feedback from the Ss. My favorite thing i do is my quarterly survey on what I did well and what I never need to do again. #MSChat
Hello there #mschat! Ellen in OH chiming in. A1 & 2: feedback should be a conversation/2 way. Ask q’s to help them self-evaluate. Coach them towards improvement. Lead them 2 think critically & motivate them to own & improve. Inspire perseverance & pride.
A3) I like to see evidence of growth, I think this important for Ss too. Here is where you started, here is where you are now, look how far you have come.
Focusing on growth prior to what is needed for further growth, gives the inspiration to grow further. #mschat
A3: Feedback from peers is very effective from my point of view. Any feedback that can help improve the craft and make class more effective for students. #mschat
A3) One of the things I really like with our formal observations is that we are to let our admin know what it is we would like them to look for. Since I have asked for the feedback on a specific area, it is easier to digest... hmmm how can we do this with students too?! #mschat
A3. It’s human nature for people to want feedback. Constructive and useful feedback is needed. Highlight the positives, bring into light the areas that can be enhanced, and provide areas to focus on for improvement when necessary. #mschat
A4: The speed that feedbackcan be given is so much greater. A negative is that because it CAN be so fast, Ps expect feedback faster than we can get it out to them. #mschat
A4: Google C’room has been a game changer for me. This semester using Google Sites and kids are putting all their work there, with reflections, then posting the link in GC after publishing. So much learning. Easier to give feedback. Love doing verbal fbk w/Screencastify #mschat
I like the idea of choosing something specific. That leaves us with a sense of control as we’re being judged and makes the feedback targeted and powerful. #mschat
A4) Sometimes I find myself writing the same comment over and over. @Classkick allows you to make "stickers" and personalize them, so you don't have to type the same note or formula over and over. #mschat
A3 ms Ss have their selfesteem based on being right. There is so much pressure in S to be smart. I like to have community mentors to help stimulate curiousity. I've interviewed 80+ celbrities https://t.co/p9tL1UeCjP#mschat
A4 Tech has made feedback almost instantaneous, it also provides teachers with more opportunity to provide feedback to students in a variety of different ways #mschat
I really am trying to think (specifically about math) how I could do this with students... Index card, show work to one problem/write what you want checked...? hmmm #mschat
A5: Grades would be veggies (I don't like them but I gotta eat them). Feedback is more like fruit because of what it can bear after it is given! #mschat
A5: grades would candy because at the end of the day it doesn’t give you much nutritional value. Feedback would be veggies because when cooked right they are tasteful and healthy #MSChat
5) Feedback is like a giant spaghetti noodle. If not handled with care it can never be pulled in. If wrapped up, you can take in a lot at once. If it’s really reciprocal, two people can actually be brought a whole lot closer as a result of it. #mschat
A3 3k Ts of World in many Languages for Mystery Skype/hangouts, penpals, blogs etc Started a World list of 4k Ts for cultural, Language & Science Coop https://t.co/EaqGvDQxEV … #langchat#mschat#langchat
Great chat tonight, @blocht574! Thanks #mschat crew for allowing me to learn with you.
If you’re bored and want to listen to something, check out the intro episode of my podcast on iTunes (maybe Spotify soon). Next week’s episode will feature @MrPStrunk!
https://t.co/fwoGq2farv
