Introduction

When we started putting together this issues topic of feedback I was really excited as it’s something I’m really passionate about. It’s been really interesting to talk to staff across the school to see what their perspective is on feedback and how it is applied in the different keystages and I hope this issue gets you feeling the same. In this issue we look at the language around feedback and how it is important for the learner, changing our language from ‘you must’ to ‘you might like to’ allows the learner to be able to make the final decision about whether or not the final revision should be ‘accepted’ and carried out or ‘rejected’. Learners need to feel empowered to make decisions about altering their work as simply forcing change will create a negative feeling towards the feedback process. Integrating feedback into lessons can be difficult to manage with bits of paper flying or post it note chaos but in doing this issue it reminded me of a technique I’ve used before - wristbands! Cheap coloured paper wristbands! Even in lessons where there are no books students can engage in conversations based on self or peer assessment ‘on the run’ and great for holding key terminology and ideas, they can literally wear their target. It means learning doesn't end with the plenary as the children will be re-explaining their learning to a range of people throughout the day, they could even be used to create paper chains. As teachers we need to make the feedback as fun as the learning. Taylor Mali talks about ‘feedfront’ and reminded me that well done cards and champions of the week are a form of feedback too and that you can’t beat that feeling of contacting home for a good reason and “the sound of silent tears of pride”. Perhaps challenge yourself to send one email or ‘well done’ a day to students/parents. It only takes a few minutes but a great way to place a focus on positive feedback. From Gillian and the CPD Team. Please do drop us an email at CPD@thebsbh.com if you have any strategies you use that you could share o any thoughts on this issue. Thanks from the CPD Team to those who contributed and look forward to hearing from you again for the next one in August!