UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGING IN YOUR CHILD’S FEEDBACK
As the term progresses, feedback will be coming to both students and families in a range of ways about different aspects of your child’s progress. Before the end of Term 1 this will include progress reports, Parent Teacher Interviews and specific feedback on learner progress against the Victorian Curriculum levels through the GSC assessment cycle.
Although feedback has been established as one of the most powerful factors to make an impact on student learning, experts also assert that to be effective the feedback must be received- not just given (Hattie, 2013). This means that in order for students to be able to use feedback to progress and move forward with their learning, they need to look beyond ticks and crosses, numerical scores or curriculum levels, and truly understand what they have been successful in and what they need to do next to improve.
Families have an opportunity to be an important part of this process. Teacher expertise on skills and content for their subject areas, as well as pedagogical knowledge in providing feedback in a range of ways means that we at the GSC are at the centre of the provision and understanding of feedback. However, the powerful voices at home can play a part in helping students ‘receive’ what their teacher is saying. Your input can reinforce and give more meaning to our words.
Families and teachers form a vital team to support student success in learning. According to research (Clarke, 2022) when schools and families work together:
- student learning is enhanced
- students stay in school longer
- students are more engaged with their schoolwork
- students go to school more regularly
- students have better social skills.
Engaging in and unpacking teacher feedback with your child is a straightforward and impactful way to regularly support your child’s progress. Together we can continue to strengthen the team of GSC, your child and your family.
Clarke, M. (2022). Supporting Family-School-Community Partnerships for Learning – Department of Education, Australian Government. [online] Department of Education. Available at: https://www.education.gov.au/supporting-family-school-community-partnerships-learning
John Hattie: “Think of feedback that is received not given.” (2013, January 2). VISIBLE LEARNING. https://visible-learning.org/2013/01/john-hattie-visible-learning-interview/#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20things%20I
