Feedback, Students and Writing

Peer Feedback: Making It Meaningful

Catlin Tucker

APRIL 27, 2021

Feedback is how students feel seen and supported. It is also how we communicate to our students that we value the process over the product. When we give feedback as students work, we signal that the work they are doing is important, and we care about their progress. Peer Feedback Choice Board.

Feedback

Feedback Peer Review Assignments Online Learning

3 Strategies for Personalizing Feedback Online

Catlin Tucker

APRIL 20, 2020

Feedback is one of the most powerful tools teachers have in their “teaching toolbelts” for guiding learners toward mastery. Without feedback, students do not have a clear sense of what they are doing well, what they need to focus on, and what they can do to improve.

Feedback

Feedback Blended Learning Writing Communication

Balance Instruction and Feedback with Blended Learning

Catlin Tucker

MARCH 23, 2022

A teacher’s role as the instructor is a valuable aspect of their work; however, it can consume so much class time that teachers neglect their role as facilitators supporting students as they work. It is in the moments when students are practicing and applying that they encounter obstacles, have questions, and need additional support.

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Feedback Learning Instructors

How peer feedback can improve student writing skills

eSchool News

OCTOBER 29, 2021

The art of writing, invented roughly 5,000 years ago, represents a blip in human history. In short: Writing remains a new feat of technology. Despite its relative youth, writing has evolved into a vital skill. Despite its relative youth, writing has evolved into a vital skill. The Value of Peer-to-Peer Writing Feedback.

Feedback

Feedback Writing Skills Instructors

Why Sending Students Home with Writing Assignments Might Not Be The Best Idea

Catlin Tucker

DECEMBER 12, 2023

In our newest book, Shift Writing into the Classroom with UDL and Blended Learning , Dr. Katie Novak and I guide teachers in creating the time and space to support all parts of the writing process in the classroom. If there is only one pathway provided, students may question their ability to complete a writing task successfully.

Assignments

Assignments Writing Feedback Motivation

Faster Feedback: Create Editing Shortcuts in Google Docs

Catlin Tucker

JULY 4, 2017

Since I published “ Stop Taking Grading Home ,” I’ve had a ton of teachers ask me how I am able to give feedback on Google Docs so quickly. I give real-time feedback to ~8 students in a 25-minute station. If you have a strategy you use to provide feedback or assess student work, please share it!

Feedback

Feedback Grades Writing Skills

Class Companion: Instant AI Coaching and Feedback

Catlin Tucker

AUGUST 16, 2024

Feedback is critical for helping students enhance their conceptual knowledge and skills. Despite its value, with the time constraints and the large number of students in classrooms, providing focused, actionable, and timely feedback often feels unattainable. It avoids language that might confuse learners.

Feedback

Feedback Coaching Assignments Motivation

How and When to Give Feedback

Catlin Tucker

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Feedback is a powerful tool that can profoundly impact student learning and success. However, not all feedback is created equal; some approaches to feedback can propel students toward growth, while others may hinder their progress. What is the secret to effective feedback?

Feedback

Feedback Blended Learning Metacognitive Skills Failure

New Tools for Primary School Writing

eSchool News

AUGUST 2, 2024

The company announced last week that it is offering elementary educators nationwide the unique opportunity to participate in the development of its latest product, Mystery Writing by Discovery Education , through a free, year-long trial. Individual educators interested in claiming their free trial can visit the Mystery Writing website here.

Writing

Writing Feedback Schools Science

Study: AI detection software varies in effectiveness

eSchool News

JUNE 3, 2025

For more news on AI detection, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub The emergence of generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT has challenged educators to find effective ways to identify whether the work their students submit is original or AI-generated. Led by Jenna Russell, a Ph.D.

Study

Study Language Languages Writing

Whose call: A student-driven approach to school cell phone policies

eSchool News

JUNE 17, 2025

Using a student-centered process, we have seen positive results with schools who want to develop effective cell phone policies to minimize distractions, enhance student focus, and help them build relationships with teachers and peers. Are students engaged in meaningful work or simply just ‘doing school’?

Schools

Schools Students Feedback Participation

Using AI to teach persuasive writing to English learners

eSchool News

DECEMBER 20, 2024

I had students who were bright, enthusiastic, and full of ideas, yet they faced real challenges in turning those thoughts into coherent arguments on paper. I spent countless hours guiding them through the writing process, giving feedback, and encouraging them to think critically.

English

English Writing Teaching Essay

10 distance learning writing lessons

eSchool News

JULY 6, 2020

When we were just a couple weeks into distance learning, I started to really miss writing workshop time. I became determined to find a way to bring the feel of writing workshop into the homes of my kindergartners. As a result, I have been creating and recording writing lesson videos for my students. Is it perfect?

Distance Learning

Distance Learning Writing Learning Feedback

How AI could save–or sink–creative writing in schools

eSchool News

OCTOBER 9, 2023

Ninth-grade English was a paradox for me—both the best and worst year for helping me learn to write. Johnson’s class for eventually helping me pass the AP Writing exam my senior year without ever taking an AP-level English class. Mr. Johnson was willing to provide feedback on drafts.

Writing

Writing Failure Essay English

Using data to strengthen writing instruction

eSchool News

OCTOBER 23, 2020

Writing is often difficult for educators to teach, challenging for students to do, and hard for administrators to monitor and evaluate. The software automates and accelerates many aspects of the writing-evaluation process, though each teacher’s grading and feedback also remain crucial parts of the process.

Writing

Writing Evaluation Distance Learning Feedback

Turnitin Turns On AI Writing Detection Capabilities for Educators and Institutions

eSchool News

APRIL 3, 2023

. – Starting tomorrow, Turnitin – a leading provider of academic integrity solutions globally – will activate its AI writing detection capabilities. The technology identifies the use of AI writing tools including ChatGPT, with 98 percent confidence, enabling educators to analyze and review the authenticity of academic work.

Writing

Writing Academic Integrity Education Feedback

Closing the K-2 learning gap through systematic writing instruction

eSchool News

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Yet, this omission has a profound effect on students literacy skills. eighth gradersstruggle with long-form writing on tests and classwork. Not only does this affect their ability to communicate effectively, it also affects their reading skills, because writing and literacy are closely linked.

Writing

Writing Learning Coaching Reading

One word, meaningful impact: Creating classroom culture through collective dialogue

eSchool News

MAY 5, 2025

Having conducted well over a thousand observations of K-12 teachers over the last 15 years, I have noticed there is one piece of feedback I have given more than any other–and it involves a seemingly minor word change. Multiple times in any class period, teachers call on students to contribute to the lesson of the day.

Culture

Culture Feedback Language Languages

Texthelp Launches WriQ to Automate and Standardize Writing Assessment

eSchool News

OCTOBER 5, 2020

Texthelp ®, a leading education technology company focused on helping learners of all ages and abilities improve their reading, writing, and math skills, today announced the launch of WriQ ®, a cloud-based writing assessment and achievement tool. It provides them with their own dashboard of real-time feedback.

Writing

Writing Gamification Evaluation Motivation

Shifting from Time-consuming Teacher-led Workflows to Sustainable Student-led Workflows

Catlin Tucker

JANUARY 10, 2022

Teachers are navigating substitute teacher shortages, COVID protocols, and record numbers of absent students in addition to the normal demands of this job. Yet, the last two years have highlighted how crucial school is for students and families. I teamed up with Dr. Katie Novak to write a follow-up to our book UDL and Blended Learning.

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Metacognitive Skills Teachers Feedback

Are educators using ChatGPT to write lesson plans?

eSchool News

MAY 12, 2023

A whopping 97 percent of respondents in a recent survey say they ‘frequently’ or ‘sometimes’ use ChatGPT to write lesson plans. Likewise, 93 percent of teachers say they use the AI platform to grade and provide feedback for students, 91 percent say to write emails, and 89 percent say to write letters of recommendation.

Writing

Writing Education Feedback Assignments

What do teachers want to see in automated writing evaluation systems?

eSchool News

JULY 22, 2020

Revising in response to formative feedback is a cornerstone of effective writing instruction. Providing substantive comments on stacks of student essays, however, is highly time-consuming for busy teachers. Related content: 10 distance learning writing lessons.

Evaluation

Evaluation Writing Essay Teachers

Enhance Student Engagement with Virtual Social Learning Spaces

Catlin Tucker

NOVEMBER 29, 2020

So, it makes sense that teachers are frustrated when they feel like students are not engaging. The pandemic is presenting new barriers to student engagement, most obviously the lack of physical proximity. These spaces provide an avenue for students to learn from and with each other. Zoom or Google Meet Breakout Rooms.

Learning Spaces

Learning Spaces Student Engagement Learning Students

Meaningful Technology Integration in Math: Ideas for Designing Online Stations

Catlin Tucker

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

In an English or social studies class, students may use computers frequently to write papers or compose a response to a writing prompt. In science class, students may use a computer to write a lab report after conducting an experiment. “It’s too hard for the students.”

Math

Math Technology Feedback Writing

Standard-aligned Rubrics: Assessing Progress Toward Firm Goals While Allowing for Flexible Means

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

We also stress the importance of providing students with flexible means. All students can make progress toward firm goals, but they may need to take different paths to get there. Some students will move more slowly and benefit from additional support, scaffolds, and signage to get to the desired destination.

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Essay Feedback Writing

Building Better Rubrics: Empowering Learners Through Effective Rubric Design

Catlin Tucker

FEBRUARY 26, 2023

Why should teachers use rubrics to assess student work? How does using rubrics benefit students? When teachers provide students with the rubric at the start of any assignment or task that will be assessed, the rubric serves as a roadmap. It helps students understand what is expected and how they will be evaluated.

Fairness

Fairness Assignments Feedback Evaluation

Students Email Their Parents About Missing Work

Catlin Tucker

APRIL 25, 2017

In my last blog post titled, “ Stop Taking Grading Home ,” I explained how I use the Station Rotation Model to provide students with real-time feedback as they work instead of taking grading home. I had one teacher ask me what I do when a student arrives at my teacher-led station and has not done the work required.

Essay

Essay Students Assignments Feedback

How an AI-Powered Tool Accelerated Student Writing

Edsurge

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

As educators seek innovative methods to engage students and enhance the learning experience, artificial intelligence (AI) is proving to be an invaluable asset. EdSurge: How did you introduce the topic of AI to your students, and how did you address any initial misconceptions they had?

Writing

Writing Students English Art

5 End-of-the-Year Activities

Catlin Tucker

MAY 24, 2021

As this year winds down, I encourage teachers to take the final weeks of the school year to create closure, collect feedback, and help students look forward. Teachers and students alike are eagerly anticipating the summer. You have an opportunity to help your students reflect on the year and what they learned.

Activities

Activities Feedback Fairness Coaching

Students Learn More When THEY Do the Work

Catlin Tucker

MARCH 11, 2018

” I want them to pause and rephrase the question, “How can students?” Unfortunately, that mentality robs students of opportunities to learn. Below is an example of what it looks like to shift the work from the teacher to the student with the goal of placing students at the center of learning.

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Learning Students Feedback

Blended Learning: Designing with Balance in Mind

Catlin Tucker

MAY 18, 2021

So, students should do the heavy cognitive lift of making meaning and applying their learning. Blended learning is “active, engaged learning online combined with active, engaged learning offline to give students more control over time, place, pace, and/or path of their learning.”

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Feedback Learning Online Learning

Using a Flip Flop Design for the Concurrent Classroom

Catlin Tucker

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

“I wish I could just focus on one group of students at a time.” Many of the teachers in my life who are teaching two groups of students simultaneously–one group in the classroom and one group online–are exhausted, frustrated, and not feeling particularly effective. Then we design a welcome task. What’s working?

Evaluation

Evaluation Feedback Writing Assignments

Flip the Script: Student-Designed Units

Catlin Tucker

APRIL 11, 2019

In a Twitter chat this month, I mentioned student-designed units. My favorite unit each year is the unit my students’ design. I strive to release responsibility of the learning to students gradually. I provide a list of texts students can choose from for the final unit. We spend the entire year building up to it.

Students

Students Discussions Reading Feedback

Formative Assessment is Key to Being Responsive

Catlin Tucker

APRIL 22, 2024

As students move through a lesson, some acquire information and skills more quickly than others. Some students will need additional support, scaffolds, feedback, or reteaching to understand key concepts and apply specific strategies, processes, or skills. Check for understanding. Identify misconceptions or gaps.

Feedback

Feedback Quizzes Coaching Discussions

The Impact of Non-Evaluative Feedback and Mindfulness in Writing

Faculty Focus

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

I ’m a writing instructor in higher education. I’m also a writing specialist in a support center. I work with students from all disciplines and cultural and linguistic backgrounds where I cover the whole spectrum of writing instruction. I don’t proofread text or explain what it takes to get a better grade.

Evaluation

Evaluation Feedback Writing Language

AI and Writing Essays: Pros and Cons, How Will Students Learn to Write if an AI Writes It for Them?

Ask a Tech Teacher

APRIL 30, 2024

Explore the benefits and drawbacks of AI in essay writing, including its impact on student learning. Unveil the evolving future of writing education with AI through these suggestions from the Ask a Tech Teacher team. AI and Writing Essays: Pros and Cons, How Will Students Learn to Write if an AI Writes It for Them?

Essay

Essay Writing Ethics Plagiarism

Rethink Your Grading Practices

Catlin Tucker

DECEMBER 28, 2017

I encouraged teachers to stop taking grading home for two simple reasons: Grading in isolation robs us of the opportunity to have conversations with students as we assess their work and, ultimately, makes feedback one-sided and less effective. In that model, students hit four stations over the course of two days.

Grades

Grades Blended Learning Essay Feedback

3 Reasons Teachers Should Use the Playlist Model

Catlin Tucker

MARCH 25, 2024

A playlist is a sequence of learning activities designed to move students toward a desired result. Most playlists culminate in a performance task or artifact intended to demonstrate students’ ability to transfer or apply what they learned working through the playlist.

Teachers

Teachers Art Feedback Writing

The Concurrent Classroom: Using Blended Learning Models to Teach Students In-person and Online Simultaneously

Catlin Tucker

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

Teachers all over the country are being asked to teach “concurrent classrooms” in which some students attend class in person and others attend virtually. The teacher in a concurrent classroom attempts to meet the needs of the students in class and online simultaneously. 1 Station Rotation Model. Differentiate learning (e.g.,

Blended Learning

Blended Learning Teaching Learning Students

Explicit instruction: Students need more of it

eSchool News

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

The best teaching had to do with inquiry, with higher-level thinking, with student-centered project-based learning. What students–especially struggling students–also need is teacher-directed explicit instruction. They needed modeling, practice, and feedback. They needed modeling, practice, and feedback.

Students

Students History Feedback Physical Education

5 positive ways students can use AI

eSchool News

OCTOBER 25, 2023

While the fears of cheating have definitely been legitimate, have you actually tried writing an essay using just AI? Here are 5 positive ways students can use AI: 1. Students can learn about gravity by chatting with an AI-powered version of Sir Isaac Newton. Hate to say it, but the outcomes aren’t instant gratification.

Internet

Internet Essay Students Art

Stop Taking Grading Home

Catlin Tucker

APRIL 17, 2017

It’s not that my students aren’t writing. This paper took them about 3 weeks to write from the time they started their research to when they finished their final draft and works cited page. As my students wrote, I jumped into their Google Documents in suggesting mode and made edits. It’s been amazing!

Grades

Grades Feedback Essay Blended Learning

College Writing Centers Worry AI Could Replace Them

Edsurge

AUGUST 12, 2024

Writing centers on college campuses have been around for more than 100 years , and they’re both a resource for students doing assignments and a symbol of the importance in higher education of learning to express yourself in text. Writing doesn’t have that much meaning without a human audience.

Writing

Writing Instructors Essay English

Creative Writing Tips to Energize Essays

Ask a Tech Teacher

JUNE 24, 2024

Creative writing techniques can make essays more engaging and original while maintaining the required objective structure. This approach not only captured students’ attention but structured arguments more clearly. Students all over the world struggle with writer’s block, low inspiration levels, and so on.

Essay

Essay Writing Attention Feedback

Peer Feedback: Making It Meaningful

3 Strategies for Personalizing Feedback Online

Trending Sources

Balance Instruction and Feedback with Blended Learning

How peer feedback can improve student writing skills

Why Sending Students Home with Writing Assignments Might Not Be The Best Idea

Faster Feedback: Create Editing Shortcuts in Google Docs

Class Companion: Instant AI Coaching and Feedback

How and When to Give Feedback

New Tools for Primary School Writing

Study: AI detection software varies in effectiveness

Whose call: A student-driven approach to school cell phone policies

Using AI to teach persuasive writing to English learners

10 distance learning writing lessons

How AI could save–or sink–creative writing in schools

Using data to strengthen writing instruction

Turnitin Turns On AI Writing Detection Capabilities for Educators and Institutions

Closing the K-2 learning gap through systematic writing instruction

One word, meaningful impact: Creating classroom culture through collective dialogue

Texthelp Launches WriQ to Automate and Standardize Writing Assessment

Shifting from Time-consuming Teacher-led Workflows to Sustainable Student-led Workflows

Are educators using ChatGPT to write lesson plans?

What do teachers want to see in automated writing evaluation systems?

Enhance Student Engagement with Virtual Social Learning Spaces

Meaningful Technology Integration in Math: Ideas for Designing Online Stations

Standard-aligned Rubrics: Assessing Progress Toward Firm Goals While Allowing for Flexible Means

Building Better Rubrics: Empowering Learners Through Effective Rubric Design

Students Email Their Parents About Missing Work

How an AI-Powered Tool Accelerated Student Writing

5 End-of-the-Year Activities

Students Learn More When THEY Do the Work

Blended Learning: Designing with Balance in Mind

Using a Flip Flop Design for the Concurrent Classroom

Flip the Script: Student-Designed Units

Formative Assessment is Key to Being Responsive

The Impact of Non-Evaluative Feedback and Mindfulness in Writing

AI and Writing Essays: Pros and Cons, How Will Students Learn to Write if an AI Writes It for Them?

Rethink Your Grading Practices

3 Reasons Teachers Should Use the Playlist Model

The Concurrent Classroom: Using Blended Learning Models to Teach Students In-person and Online Simultaneously

Explicit instruction: Students need more of it

5 positive ways students can use AI

Stop Taking Grading Home

College Writing Centers Worry AI Could Replace Them

Creative Writing Tips to Energize Essays

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