2025 MidSchoolMath National Conference

“You should already know how to do this.” We’ve all offered that feedback to students more than we are willing to admit to our peers (or ourselves). In most cases, that feedback is probably true. And, arguably, that feedback is immediate, relevant to the task, and non-comparative - it may even “lead the way to some next steps.” It’s even likely that the student(s) needed to hear it.

But if we are really being honest, we have to admit that there is more to this story. Students need much more specific feedback that helps them to grow, allows them to fail safely, and ultimately encourages them to acquire the skills they need. We also have to admit that the best way to do this is one-on-one with a student. In most cases, the best time to meet one-on-one with a student is outside of school hours, and it takes more than just a few minutes. Who has time for that?

So… how do we do it? How do we ensure students receive the feedback they need and deserve without compromising our own time or simply “passing the buck” to somebody or something else? We'll explore my quest for a solution to this challenge, trade ideas and (hopefully) share success stories!