Overview
While providing student feedback can be done in many ways, the most powerful approach is often to meet with students in person. By providing feedback in a face-to-face environment, students can ask follow-up questions, and you can address misunderstandings early in the learning process. These meetings facilitate a personalized and differentiated feedback loop and can be conducted either individually or with small groups of students.
Options
- Rotating Conferences: Have students use a sign-up form to schedule a meeting with you. While the class is working independently, you can conduct these meetings.
- Blended Learning: Build student conferences into blended learning routines. During station rotation, require one station to be a teacher conference. When using playlists, include a teacher conference as a required task in the learning sequence. During in-class flipped learning, meet with students while others are working independently through the flipped lesson.
- Project-Based or Inquiry Learning: As students work on projects or research, schedule check-in meetings with them or circulate around the room for informal meetings. Since much of this learning is self-directed, students will need regular feedback and guidance as they work through these two types of learning models.
- Tutoring: While this strategy will require additional help, such as a classroom aid or a reading or math corps volunteer, research has shown high-dosage tutoring to be highly effective. In this model, students may be pulled aside by a classroom aid or volunteer on a regular basis for tutoring. Some teachers choose to set up after-school meetings with students who need extra support.
Integration Ideas
The main purpose of these check-ins is to provide formative feedback to ensure that students are progressing well in their learning. As you meet with students, consider these strategies:
- Ask students to bring one or two burning questions with them.
- Ask students what they feel good about and where they have questions.
- Conduct a quick formative assessment and review it with the student.
- Have students explain their progress on a current project or assignment.
- Ask the student to teach you a concept.
- Have students provide you with a 3-2-1 (3 things they learned, 2 things they want to learn, and 1 question they have).
- Conduct an in-person exit ticket.
- Review a project rubric or checklist collaboratively.
How can I learn more?
Explore AVID Open Access for more free templates, articles, tool tips, podcasts, and other great resources, including this related article, Accelerate Learning Through One-on-One and Small-Group Meetings, or one of these two article collections: Explore Blended Learning Strategies and Leverage AVID’s Six Tutoring Principles to Accelerate Learning.