Flash Feedback: Responding to Student Writing Better and Faster – Without Burning Out (Corwin Literacy)

I think this book is slightly mismarketed in that the title leads you to believe that its main focus is on saving you time. The time-saving strategies are all pretty common sense, in my opinion. Where this book really stands out is in the later chapters about how to produce more EFFECTIVE feedback. It has some really great research-backed ideas for how to get students to actually read feedback, absorb and reflect on it, and apply it in their writing. Some of these ideas are frankly going to take you awhile, but the point of this book is to stop you from feeling like your feedback is falling on deaf ears. I'm looking forward to trying some of these ideas in my classroom next year and would rate this book in the top 10% of teaching books I've ever read, in terms of providing practical strategies that seem like they will produce results in student writing (because they are hooked into reputable research about student motivation and metacognition).

Johnson proves that it is possible to both enhance the quality of the feedback you give your students on their writing AND avoid spending hours of your weekend time doing it. I'm impressed with how useful the strategies have been, and I enjoy tailoring them to my own needs/students/schedule. A book that will make you think in all the best ways about your feedback and assessment practices.

I agree with another reviewer who said this book might be slightly off with the title. It really isn't about responding faster as much as it is about giving truly quality feedback and investing in the students. The book repeatedly considers a teacher's time and understands how little of it English teachers have. (Other books can seem to have a disconnect with the "real world" that this one does not--Johnson feels the pain of grading stacks of essays).I agreed with almost every single point Johnson made in the book, but reading about how he looks at each aspect of giving students feedback gave me some fresh ideas and ways to take my evaluation practices to the next level. It made me stop and think about why I do certain things certain ways, and I am sure many, many English teachers will benefit from the work he put into this book. There are also online links that are very helpful for teachers that want to use some of his ideas. Everything is clearly backed with research. He is also extremely respectful of students and how they might feel about feedback, peer reviews, etc.As a side note, I am a 7th and 8th grade teacher, and while I felt a few things might need slight modifications in a middle school classroom, it was all very applicable to middle school. I highly recommend this book to any writing teacher who wants to do the best possible job at giving students great feedback.

Most educators know that writing is not only a cognitively demanding task, but also an emotionally vulnerable activity. And most educators know about rubrics and grading. However, Flash Feedback demonstrates how teachers can effectively respond to student work that “provides a path forward, not an autopsy”—in a targeted and efficient manner without burning out in their jobs. Most importantly, students need “plenty of safe harbors where they can stumble, play, practice, and learn far away from teachers’ pens of any color.” Johnson did a beautiful job of outlining best practices in offering feedback, making feedback memorable for students, and especially cultivating positive mindsets and identities as writers. A must-read professional development book during our school closures as it may contain silver linings toward developing what is really the bottom line in distance learning and eventual return to schools.

12/10 highly recommend this book! I rarely write reviews, but I cannot say enough good things about Matthew Johnson and Flash Feedback! This book is positive and encouraging and has strategies to make your life easier and more efficient as an educator. Buy this book!

This book is perfect for English teachers who want to try something new and change the status quo of grading essays, which is often time-consuming for instructors and not very helpful for students. Well-researched with proving methods for improving student writing.

Based on rigorous research and personal experience, Johnson's book provides clear steps for creating high impact feedback procedures with immediate returns for you and your students. Johnson's writing is succinct and personable, academic but not pedantic. As an instructional coach and ELA teacher, I am using Flash Feedback as an essential tool in my short and long term planning.

This book has given me much food for thought and will most certainly have a positive impact on how I give feedback. The author skilfully blends research and theory with real life examples and practical strategies to maximise the impact of feedback while helping teachers reclaim their lives. I highly recommend this book to both new and veteran teachers.