Peer Feedback in the Classroom: Empowering Students to Be the Experts

by Starr Sackstein

In Peer Feedback in the Classroom , National Board Certified Teacher Starr Sackstein explores the powerful role peer feedback can play in learning and teaching. Peer feedback gives students control over their learning, increases their engagement and self-awareness as learners, and frees up the teacher to provide targeted support where it's needed.
Drawing from the author's successful classroom practices, this compelling book will help you







The book also includes extended reflections that express, in students' and teachers' own words, the approach's powerful effect on their practice. Invite students to be your partners in learning, and enrich your collective classroom experience.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

ebook

Published March 30, 2017

Reviews

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know that peer feedback is something we should use in our classes (and given my school's work-study practice of collaboration and communication it is vital that we use this in our classes). The dilemma is what does effective peer feedback look like and how do we teach students how to engage in this so it is productive, helpful, and meaningful?

This book is organized into three sections: the power of feedback, introducing students to feedback, and the nuts and bolts of peer feedback. I think this order worked well. As teachers we need to understand peer (student) feedback ourselves before we try to engage students in the practice. We need to fully front load our students and build a culture in our classroom before we use peer feedback. We know this, but often we do not spend enough time doing this. As teachers, we always say that time is our enemy; there is never enough of it. We must prevent ourselves from always letting time stop us from doing what we want to do.

Filled with examples, anecdotes, rubrics, checklists, and reflection questions at the end of each chapter, the book is helpful. At only 116 pages, it's a quick read, but one that is worthwhile.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is clearly-written and practical. It gives a firm philosophical background for using peer feedback in the classroom, and gives lots of examples and suggestions to help teachers start using peer feedback or to "hone" their current practices.

I loved the enthusiasm and honesty of the author, and found several things that I put into practice immediately after reading it!

Highly recommended for individuals and PLCs. (And not just for English!)

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another useful teacher book. I really like the idea of using more peer feedback in the classroom, and this book set out a good plan for implementing it in your classroom. I like the idea of expert groups.

[Daina Jaeger Mundt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great ideas, and a lot of validation of what I already do and believe.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is short, but it packs some powerful thinking and illustrating. I am in desperate need to take much of the pressure off of me, the red pen, and hours of writing feedback that’s usually ignored. This book is a great start for generating peer feedback strategies. The book lacks concrete strategies—other than Google Forms and expert groups—on what is quality feedback, and occasionally the author’s suggestions are vague and mystifying. I rated the book as a four because its content did challenge me for how I will redesign my teaching methods for more peer feedback and reflection, but I need to research more concrete effective feedback and reflection. So many of my students lack motivation to “do school” and read/write under grade level, so I need more than just “have students create sentence stems for feedback.” I need more guidance so that I can lead my ah-mazing students into doing what Ms. Sackstein’s fine students do.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sackstein is a journalism teacher who uses peer feedback regularly in the classroom. She fleshes out what strategies have worked in her classroom so students can take more autonomy in their learning. Beyond the foundations of feedback, Sackstein also lays out how she uses expert groups.

I found this a valuable resource for strategies to use with feedback. While I’ve tried getting students to give feedback to others, they don’t always give anything beyond “that was great.” I have a few more tools in my tool belt after reading this one.

[Jess Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, while valuable for some teachers, was pretty much a review for someone who has been teaching for over a decade. It has some really great strategies about how to get students to be more autonomous in their learning, with an emphasis on feedback and peer groups. I am currently still unsure how expert groups would work with my high school population, but I feel that the reflective qualities of the book allowed me to look back on my practices and improve lessons for the future.

[Adam Gutschenritter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Offering the beginnings and some tips on how to set up peer feedback as a strong common practice in your classroom instruction. I found the book a great starter, with great tips but ultimately the advise beyond those rested on just do it, but go slow.

[Kathy Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Practical advice for empowering students with peer feedback strategies.

[Джамила Джина · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for phd contest preparation.

[Melissa Braden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing I didn't already know. Glad I got it used.

[Dana Foy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good starter’s guide for beginners.