Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback

I am almost done with my 20 hours of teaching and the most important thing I have learned while completing my clinical is this---the most important thing you can do for your students is provide feedback.

Marzano emphasizes the importance of feedback in chapter 8: Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback. He states that there are four main generalizations to understand about feedback:

1) Feedback should be "corrective" in nature.

2) Feedback should be timely.

3) Feedback should be specific to a criterion.

4) Students can effectively provide some of their own feedback.

I provide feedback on as much as I possibly can. I have them answer questions about the information and about how that information relates to their personal lives. I found out that one girl wanted to be an accountant, two boys wanted to be electricians, one student wanted to get a scholarship to play football, and another wanted to be a billionaire like Trump. I give a response to all of these things and it really helped me to better understand my students and they realize, in effect, that I really care about who they are and where they're going in life. I think that is so important. Once students realize you care, they will care about what you're trying to teach them. You invest in them and they'll return the favor. 

When I've giving feedback on "content material" I try to elaborate on what they've already discovered. If they give a correct answer, I'll respond by writing a question to further their critical thinking and cause them to consider the topic a little deeper than they had planned.

I also tried to get involved in the school environment while I was there. I bought candy for fund raisers, I helped with prom decorations and gifts, I attended the prom promenade, and I went to a few of the Chesapeake golf matches. I think these things can sometimes be just as important as anything we'll ever do in the classroom. Invest time and energy in the students and they'll return the favor.