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Foundations of Literacy and Expression · Senior Infants

Active learning ideas

Presenting and Receiving Peer Feedback on Writing

Active learning works because young writers need to hear their words aloud and see how peers respond. When children share their informational pieces in pairs and groups, they practice clarity and confidence. The feedback process helps them notice details they might have missed on their own.

NCCA Curriculum SpecificationsNCCA: Junior Cycle English - WritingNCCA: Junior Cycle English - Reviewing and Editing
25–40 minPairs → Whole Class4 activities

Activity 01

Fishbowl Discussion25 min · Pairs

Pair Share: Feedback Partners

Pair students to share one informational sentence or drawing. Partner gives one like and one suggestion using prompt cards. Switch roles, then each revises their work on mini-whiteboards. Display revisions for class applause.

How do I effectively present my written work to an audience, explaining my choices and intentions?

Facilitation TipDuring Pair Share, model how to hold the writing and point to text or images while speaking to help students stay grounded in their work.

What to look forAfter sharing, students use a simple checklist with three items: 'Did my partner share their writing?' 'Did I say one kind thing about their writing?' 'Did I give one idea for improvement?' Students check 'yes' or 'no' for each.

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Activity 02

Fishbowl Discussion35 min · Whole Class

Circle Time: Group Feedback Rounds

Form a circle with a talking stick. One child presents work; others pass stick to give feedback using 'glow and grow' phrases. Presenter thanks group and notes one change. Rotate until all share.

What are the principles of providing constructive and specific feedback to peers?

Facilitation TipIn Circle Time, use a talking stick or soft ball to signal whose turn it is to speak, teaching patience and respect for turns.

What to look forTeacher observes students during the revision stage. Teacher asks individual students: 'What feedback did you receive?' and 'What change did you make based on that feedback?'

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Activity 03

Stations Rotation40 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Revision Workshops

Set three stations: present to partner, receive sticky note feedback, revise at drawing table. Groups rotate every 7 minutes, collecting feedback slips to apply in final piece.

How do I critically evaluate and integrate feedback to improve my writing?

Facilitation TipAt Revision Workshops, provide colored pencils for students to mark changes directly on their pages so revisions feel tangible.

What to look forGather students in a circle. Ask: 'What was one helpful thing you heard from a friend about your writing today?' and 'What was one helpful thing you told a friend about their writing?'

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Activity 04

Fishbowl Discussion30 min · Pairs

Role-Play: Author Interviews

Students role-play as authors being interviewed by peer 'reporters.' Answer questions about choices, receive two feedback questions, then edit shared work together.

How do I effectively present my written work to an audience, explaining my choices and intentions?

Facilitation TipFor Author Interviews, give students a small notepad to jot down key phrases to repeat during their interview, building confidence.

What to look forAfter sharing, students use a simple checklist with three items: 'Did my partner share their writing?' 'Did I say one kind thing about their writing?' 'Did I give one idea for improvement?' Students check 'yes' or 'no' for each.

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Templates

Templates that pair with these Foundations of Literacy and Expression activities

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A few notes on teaching this unit

Start with clear examples of feedback using sentence stems on anchor charts. Model how to receive feedback by revising one sentence in front of the class after a peer comment. Avoid letting feedback become vague praise or harsh criticism by setting clear expectations for kindness and specificity. Research shows young children benefit from repeated, scaffolded practice in structured settings before independent work.

Students will take turns presenting short writing pieces while peers listen and respond with specific, kind comments. By the end of the activities, children will revise at least one part of their writing based on peer feedback. Clear role modeling and structured practice ensure every child participates meaningfully.


Watch Out for These Misconceptions

  • During Pair Share, watch for students who only point out mistakes in their partner's writing.

    Provide sentence stems like 'I like how you... because...' and 'What if you added...?' on cards to guide responses. Model using these stems in a whole-class example first.

  • During Circle Time, watch for students who believe their writing is perfect after sharing and receiving one compliment.

    Bring two versions of a simple writing example to the circle: one original and one revised. Have the class vote on which version is clearer or more interesting.

  • During Role-Play Author Interviews, watch for students who assume only the teacher can give useful feedback.

    Create an anchor chart during Author Interviews showing examples of peer feedback heard during the session. Highlight phrases like 'I noticed your drawing really helped me understand...' to validate student input.


Methods used in this brief