Marked work - NO positive/encouraging comments - normal?

[EarthboundMisfit]

Hello. Feeling a bit sad for Y1 DS today. He brought all his school exercise books home tonight. I've enjoyed looking at his work, but am a bit upset by the marking.

He's doing well at school... lots of 'mastery' on his report. But on every piece of work all that's been written by his teacher is what to improve. 'Watch this' 'Slow down' 'Try to do x' etc.

I nearly fainted when I saw a smiley face next to one piece. It was an evaluation of a junk model he made at home and spent hours on. The comment was - 'you have done well at evaluating how you could improve your model'.

There's one piece of work marked by a Y2 teacher who covered their class. It's nice...it has a 'well done, you've done a great job of x', followed by a suggestion for how to improve.

All I can think is that if I'd received that marking for a year I'd feel like shit about myself.

Am I being unreasonable and PFB? Is this normal?

Thanks.

I've been teaching a long time. Am in Year 1 btw, and I'm not crap!

Live marking is the best. I circulate constantly (usually small group or half class, sometimes whole class), and mark as I go, so the comments I'm saying to the children can be actioned straightaway e.g "next sentence must have a capital and full stop". Go back and check. I initial the work both times so I can keep track of who I've seen/spoken to.

I also write questions for the children to answer "Where is your monster going next? " and then we can extend writing over a few days into some long pieces., or write something like "tell me a scary thing that happens to the girl" etc.

I never do two stars, or tickled pink or any of that.

I mean, I do this for my children who can read. Otherwise, same but verbally.

We keep 2 stars and a wish for verbal feedback of work that is presented and for one piece of formal writing at the end of a unit of work. I am a fan of the short phrase ( with 60 books or more to mare at the end of the school day) as I've spoken to the children about what they were doing as they worked. I have a stamper that says verbal feedback given too.

mrz, when was your last inspection? OFSTED told our school that they needed to see evidence of children responding to written feedback in their books, which has resulted in 3 years of a pointless, time-consuming, never ending cycle of marking, getting children to respond to it, marking the response etc etc.
Interesting, isn't it?
In response to the OP - at one school
I did a teaching placement in, we were told not to use any positive comments or stickers as rewards for good work in books as the children are then drawn to that rather than what they've actually done and how to improve. Comments had to be very factual and specifically relate to the learning intention/success criteria.
I still haven't found the golden rule for marking/feedback that will keep everyone happy to be honest - other than that it needs to be immediate (not always possible!)
Also have to agree with mrz - absolutely impossible to hide crap teachers anywhere in the current climate. It's a fucking hard job and support from parents is essential. Please talk to your child's teachers if you have a problem or any questions at all about education! We're human! We need meaningful relationships with parents to get the best out of your child!

Last year

While inspectors will consider how written and oral feedback is used to promote learning, Ofsted does not expect to see any written record of oral feedback provided to pupils by teachers. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/463242/Ofstedinspectionsclarificationfor_schools.pdf

They say that in their guidance but the reality from the inspectors is very different. We were told there needs to be evidence.

I hate the banality of it all, let me do things that actually benefit the children.

Did you challenge and wave the guidance under their noses ...it does work.

Could it be that the teacher said something encouraging to your child but just left next steps feedback as the written record? (and none of it sounds 'negative', to me, it sounds constructive. I teach older children though)

Plus, you're only supposed to praise effort, right? You can demotivate a child by praising ability, maybe that's why the exercise books are light on praise?

How very telling that not one post has mentioned Nicky Morgan's workload challenge marking response!

www.gov.uk/government/news/teacher-workload-new-measures-announced

My twopence:
1)Year 1 children aren't going to read your marking.
2)They need reminding about capital letters etc at the point of writing
3). It will be obvious where a good teacher has intervened
4)Children love stickers.

I think 2 stars and a wish is good. A teacher should be able to find two positive things to say about any piece of work, and any more than one wish I think could be overwhelming. Some teachers are a bit too ready with the criticism and I think this helps them to see positives while having room for guidance/ constructive criticism. This is surely a good thing for children? Particularly those who struggle a bit with their work? OP, I would not be happy at all with a teacher who just criticises- that's just poor teaching.

Should mention that I'm in Scotland, free of the clutches of Morgan, Greening etc and not inspected by Ofsted, if that makes a difference!

A teacher should be able to find two positive things to say about any piece of work this is exactly the attitude that causes so much damage. Seriously, think about it. How would YOU feel if your boss insisted on writing two positive comments about every single thing you do. Wouldn't you be insulted, bored, irritated, demeaned?

This totally destroys chidren's confidence

after years of being force fed this pap, many are left desperately needy, and at the same time unable to accept, value or evaluate positive feedback. This is immensely damaging.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/511256/Eliminating-unnecessary-workload-around-marking.pdf

I was trying to ignore "tickled pink" Feenie!

We considered what ineffective marking looks like:

It usually involves an excessive reliance on the labour intensive practices under our definition of deep marking, such as extensive written comments in different colour pens, or the indication of when verbal feedback has been given by adding ‘VF’ on a pupil’s work.

I really disagree with you. Adults in a workplace are not marked on their work on a day to day basis! And the 'shit sandwich' is usually part of formal appraisals isn't it? I've seen children being ground down by constant criticism from not-great teachers and think it's so, so important to tell them what they're doing right.

Slow typing! That was to longlasting.

FS, longlast!!

No polly it doesn't make any difference it just shows some are willing to accept this rubbish without question or the threat of Ofsted

Don't get me started on different colour pens!

I also.hate seeing other schools where teachers highlight bits of children's work in different colours (for whatever reason). What a horrible thing to do to anyone's work. Woe betide the person who ever dares to highlight anything I've written - just tell me your point, don't drag a luminous orange pen over it.

Off topic but regarding finger spaces that previous posters have mentioned. It's worth remembering that for left handed kids, finger spaces are really bloody awkward and makes writing very difficult. None of my teachers identified this when I was taught years and years ago and I was too young to figure it out. I remember tying myself in knots trying to do finger spaces - you have to write over your own hand. Please try ro ensure you figure out a workable solution for left handed kids!

As you were...

Well I don't accept things without question, and my view is perhaps influenced by observing bad teaching, but it's interesting to get other perspectives.

So you've read all the research around effective feedback /marking rather than join the fad?

Drop- we have used card cut into finger spaces for left handed children. That way they can slide it along he page after each word and it eliminates the confusion of trying to use their right hand.

Oooo Feenie I really upset a deputy head in one school saying that!

You have a point, and I will be doing that as I'm starting teacher training next month. I was speaking as a former college tutor, school SN assistant and parent, and someone with a general interest in education. For what it's worth, being rubbished has made me feel like crying. I accept that this is because I am a sensitive snowflake, but so are some children. I now feel stupid and out of my depth here on a thread started by a parent and don't want to contribute any more. If you'd sandwiched your comments in something positive I don't think I would have felt like this. Some kids are like me!