Feedback Flow

See how it works

At a glance

Time in class

15 minutes

Prep

2 minutes: write 3 focus questions, one per round.

Materials

Student drafts; sticky notes or pens

Grouping

Individuals rotating

Use it when

Students have a draft: writing, a lab report, a design, a solution

Why it works

Feedback helps most when it answers three questions: Where am I going? How am I doing? What’s next? A single focus question per round keeps comments specific instead of “Good job!”, and reading others’ work shows students what quality looks like.

1. Set up1 minuteDrafts on desks, a blank sticky note or comment sheet beside each.
2. Round 14 minutes“Move one desk to your right. Read. Focus question: Is the main idea clear? Leave one comment that starts ‘I noticed…’ or ‘Try…’”
3. Rounds 2 and 34 minutes eachRotate again with a new focus question each time.
4. Return and read2 minutesStudents go back to their own draft and read all the comments.
5. Act1 minute“Circle the one comment you’ll use. Start revising now.”

See it in action

Watch out for

• Vague comments: require a starter and a specific line or spot.
• Hurtful comments: model kind, specific and helpful before round 1.
• Readers who don’t finish: keep drafts short or have them read one section.

Level up

• Authors pick the comment that changed their draft most.
• Readers suggest a rewrite of one sentence.

Make it work for everyone

• Multilingual learners: post comment starters; allow comments in home language plus English.
• IEP and 504 supports: provide a checklist version of the focus questions.
• Early finishers: leave a second comment on a different focus.

Tech option

Students rotate through shared docs and leave comments instead of sticky notes.

Resources