by Amber Harrison
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of our website, Ethical ELA, I have created a Top Ten List, which takes me back to the reason why I am in the teaching profession: the people of our future!
Student feedback has been one of the most helpful implementations I use in my classroom. Getting student feedback seems scary, but if I look at the results as inventory, rather than criticism, I can continue to connect with my students in ways that are meaningful for them on their learning journeys.
Below is a list of my favorite end-of-semester feedback questions (open-ended, checklists, or multiple-choice). I use a Google Form set for anonymity. Google Forms allows me to easily review responses. Feel free to adapt these questions to fit any classroom – subject or grade level. Make it yours.
- Which activities or lessons in English with Ms. Harrison did you enjoy the most?
- What is one change you would like to see in Ms. Harrison’s English class?
- What are some achievements in English class you’re proud of this semester?
- What new skill did you learn this semester?
- What is the number one motivator for you to learn?
- Does Ms. Harrison encourage you to perform at your best?
- Give an example to support your answer to the question above.
- What is one question you have for Ms. Harrison?
- If you could summarize this semester in just one word, what word would you use?
- Who made a real positive difference in your life this year?
Student responses from these questions, not only provide feedback for myself, but insights to students that I can share with my co-workers or other teachers who teach these same ages or content areas.
If you teach high school English, here are some insights from my fall 2024 semester:
The learners of today in my English classroom enjoy getting to collaborate in groups, are proud about learning more skills in writing, and are mostly motivated by having access to extracurricular activities and learning in a variety of ways. I learn that my students overwhelmingly find me to be motivating as an educator because I’m happy to help when they ask me questions, but that I don’t just give them the answers. I’m mostly surprised the students actually do want to know about us, as their educators–what we do, and why we do what we do. For Fall 2025 my students’ most used word was fun. Finally, the people students name, who make a real difference in their lives, are rarely teachers or coaches, but their friends and family, and for one of them–Batman.
What a reward for students to have an opportunity to use their voices in reflection on their learning. Other than at the end of a semester, when and how might be another time you could implement student feedback in the classroom to help maximise their learning experience?
Amber teaches HS ELA in Oklahoma and is an instructional coach for the First Class Teacher Induction Program. Amber promotes life-long learning for all people.
Love these questions and this feedback from students! Thanks for sharing. We also elicit feedback in preparation for student led conferences. This happens in October for 7th graders. It’s a good mid-term check in.