Teacher Feedback

Four Types of Teacher Feedback:

• Feed Up: Where am I going? What is the plan?

 

• Feed Back: How am I doing? What did I do?

 

• Feed In: This is how I think I’m doing?

 

• Feed Forward: What do I do next? How will I get there? Hattie, p. 323 (2023)

 

 

 

Four Supervisor Approaches Used When Engaging in Teacher Learning Focused Conversations:

• Calibrating – Identifying the gaps, reinforcing expectations, and defining clear options.

 

• Consulting – Guiding questions with supervisor providing a menu of options.

 

• Collaborating – Guiding questions with both supervisor and teacher in partnership generating ideas.

 

• Coaching – Teacher defines own performance, challenges & gaps, and potential solutions. Lipton & Wellman, p. 24 (2022) 

 

 

Matching Teacher “Stage” to Supervisor Approach:

• “Tell me what to do” – Calibrate

 

• “Tell me how I’m doing” – Consulting

 

• “I’m doing fine, leave me alone” – Collaborate

 

• “Here’s how I think I’m dong” – Coaching. Lipton & Wellman, p. 35 (2022) 

 

 

 

Key Feedback Success Strategies:

• Focus on the “3rd point” – the artifact, the student, or the behavior (not the teacher or the supervisor)

 

• Feedback should occur as a regular part of school life…in the hallway, in passing, in casual conversations, as a part of lesson planning and problem solving – not just formal teacher observation and feedback.

 

• Match the stage of the teachers development to the type or approach (calibrate, consult, collaborate, coach)

 

• Repeat back, listen attentively, pause, and paraphrase frequently – engage in a “verbal dance” of interactive match and turn-taking

 

• Teachers respond best  to “what’s next” feedback (or feed forward)

 

• Focus more attention on clarifying goals and success indicators, and less time designing activities and approaches. Kluger & DeNisi, p.269 (1996)

 

 

 

Feed FORWARD Steps & Techniques:

 

 

 

Steps to Provide Effective Feed FORWARD: 

Prepare for the Conversation:

•  Ensure both you and the recipient are in a good emotional space for discussion.

 

• Think about the purpose of your feedback and desired outcomes.

 

• Fit the teachers “stage of development” and overall needs to the approach (calibrate, consult, collaborate, coach)

 

Engage in Dialogue:

• Focus on listening, repeating back, asking clarifying questions, paraphrasing and pausing – engage in interactive match and turn-taking.

 

• Frame your suggestions as collaborative. Either offer an idea(s) with their permission, or together develop a menu of ideas.

 

• Focus as much or more attention on the hoped-for learning outcomes and success indicators as activities.

 

Set Clear Goals:

• Together define next steps and how to accomplish it.

 

Follow Up:

• After providing feedforward, check in with the individual to see and discuss application. What student success indicators are they seeing?

 

Create a Culture of Feedback:

• Encourage regular feedforward sessions within your team or organization. This normalization of feedback helps reduce anxiety around receiving it and promotes ongoing growth.

 

“Feed FORWARD Is a powerful tool for enhancing performance and fostering a supportive work environment. By focusing on future possibilities rather than past shortcomings, it empowers individuals to take actionable steps toward improvement while maintaining a positive outlook on their professional development.” Lipton & Wellman (2022)