Feedback That Moves Writers Forward: How to Escape Correcting Mode to Transform Student Writing

by Patricia Grawehr McGee

Overview

Student writing is only as good as the feedback we give

In this remarkable book, Patty Mc Gee shares research-based how-to’s for responding to writers that you can use immediately whether you use a writing program or a workshop model. Put down the red-pen, fix-it mindset and help your writers take risks, use grammar as an element of craft, discover their writing identities, elaborate in any genre, and more. Includes lots of helpful conference language that develops tone and trust and forms for reflecting on writing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506349923
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	04/05/2017
Series:	Corwin Literacy
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Patty Mc Gee is a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker, and educator with a passion for transforming classrooms into spaces where language and learning come alive. With decades of experience as a teacher, coach, and advocate for delightful literacy practices, Patty has worked alongside educators across the country, partnering to unlock the full potential of their students through innovative and practical teaching strategies.

Table of Contents

How This Book Works for Writing Teachers of All Stripes
Foreword
Acknowledgments
PART 1. WHY FEEDBACK MATTERS AS MUCH AS (OR MORE THAN!) THE LESSONS WE TEACH
Chapter 1. Effective Feedback in Writing: What We Know Works
Feedback: The Research Support
Why Don’t We Live the Research?
The Way Forward
Growth Mindset and Feedback
Making Space and a Place for Effective Feedback
Wrapping It Up
Chapter 2. “Integrading”: How to Live in a Grading World and Still Give Feedback
Grading Versus Feedback: What Are the Differences?
One Historical Perspective of Grading and Feedback
Designs to Help Feedback and Grading Play Nicely in the Classroom
Translating These Tools Into Different Grading Systems
What to Grade? A Subjective Answer to an Important Question
Wrapping It Up
Chapter 3. Feedback Fundamentals
Fundamental 1: Discover the Writer’s Identity
Fundamental 2: Set the Tone
Fundamental 3: Use Formative Assessment
Fundamental 4: Deliver Feedback That Has the Power of Three
Wrapping It Up
PART 2. WORDS AND WAYS TO TRANSFORM WRITERS AND WRITING
Chapter 4. When Writers Are Stuck: Feedback to Support Risk Taking
The Iceberg Illusion: The Bulk of the Writer’s Work Is Beneath the Surface
Risk Taking: How Students See It
When Writers Feel Stuck Coming Up With Ideas: Strategies to Try
When Writers Feel Stuck Elaborating: Strategies to Try
When Writers Feel Stuck With Taking Risks: Strategies to Try
Wrapping It Up
Chapter 5. When It Is Time to Stretch and Grow: Feedback for Goal Setting
Goal Setting: A Few Essentials
How to Set and Use Goals Effectively
Feedback on Goals From Classmates
Teacher Feedback on Goals
Designing Written Feedback
Wrapping It Up
Chapter 6. When Writers Need Ownership and Agency: Feedback to Support Choice Making
A Need for Choice, Now
Originality, Ownership, and Agency
Research Support
The Trust Fall of Developing Writers
Building in Choice as Part of Feedback
Feedback That Offers Choices in Research Writing
Feedback That Offers Choices in Text Structure
Feedback That Offers Choices in Elaboration
Feedback That Offers Choices in Grammar and Conventions
Wrapping It Up
Chapter 7. Feedback Comes Full Circle: Reflecting for Learning
Reflecting for Learning
Reflection as Feedback
Writer-Centered Reflecting
Writing-Centered Reflections
Conclusion
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

I’ve always believed that true success in the classroom relies heavily on relationships. If you aren’t connected to a student, you don’t have much. In [Feedbck That Moves Writers Forward] Patty Mc Gee says, ‘Essential to effective feedback is to know our young writers-who they are, what makes them tick, and how they identify their strengths.’ She goes on to say that this identity is so important because ‘when a writer possesses a positive and strong writing identity, he or she is more inclined to invest in writing with passion and engagement.’ The book has many suggestions for ways to get to know your writers and even examples that show the power of knowing a writer’s identity.

Where’s the Joy (blog)

Anyone who teaches ANY sort of writing (ahem, social studies and science teachers too) must read Feedback that Moves Writers Forward: How to Escape Correcting Mode to Transform Student Writing and take Patty Mc Gee‘s ideas to heart as she explores the language teachers can use to motivate students in the classroom.

Teachers Going Gradeless (blog) - Joy Kirr

Writing identity, growth mindset, and ownership and agency are central themes throughout the book. What stood out to me is the way Patty Mc Gee makes the case that teacher language about students as writers and student writing is one of the biggest factors in a student’s growth. . . . If you’ve ever found yourself unsure of what to say in a conference, [Feedback That Moves Writers Forward] is the book for you! Mc Gee offers helpful language for teachers to use with writers in all situations. I was struck by how supportive and strategic the words she suggests were- tweaks in phrasing that will make all the difference.

Two Writing Teachers (blog) - Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski

[Feedback That Moves Writers Forward] changed my mindset from teaching writing to teaching writers. It’s a subtle difference, but an important one.. . . Planning scaffolds, real world examples, prompts will all become part of our regular learning. Students loved the JK Rowling example of planning for one of the Harry Potter books (Order of the Phoenix). The practical processes, reflection, conferencing, and feedback that Patty describes in the book have already helped me begin to meet students where they are with their writing.
I loved seeing them struggle with planning timelines, the collaboration and sharing of ideas, and actual writing that has been evident in our first few days back for term (or trimester) three. They value what they are writing because it has meaning to them, and because they themselves will be self-assessing, students are carefully editing as they go.”

Abe Moore

I’ve always believed that true success in the classroom relies heavily on relationships. If you aren’t connected to a student, you don’t have much. In [Feedbck That Moves Writers Forward] Patty Mc Gee says, ‘Essential to effective feedback is to know our young writers-who they are, what makes them tick, and how they identify their strengths.’ She goes on to say that this identity is so important because ‘when a writer possesses a positive and strong writing identity, he or she is more inclined to invest in writing with passion and engagement.’ The book has many suggestions for ways to get to know your writers and even examples that show the power of knowing a writer’s identity.

Where’s the Joy (blog)