Fun and Educational Brain Breaks for the Classroom

Introduction

Peer assessment encourages students to take ownership of their learning by evaluating each other's work. When done well, it builds collaboration, critical thinking, and accountability.

Why Use Peer Assessment?

Beyond saving teacher time, peer assessment helps students understand criteria for quality work and develop constructive feedback skills.

• Promotes active learning and reflection
• Encourages collaboration and respect
• Helps students internalize rubrics and expectations
• Fosters a supportive classroom community

Clear Criteria and Rubrics

For peer assessment to be effective, students need clear guidance. Rubrics or checklists ensure fairness and consistency.

• Provide simple, student-friendly rubrics
• Model how to use the rubric with sample work
• Focus on a few key criteria rather than overwhelming detail

Training Students to Give Feedback

Students often need guidance on how to give constructive feedback that is specific, kind, and helpful.

• Teach sentence starters like "One strength is..." and "One suggestion is..."
• Role-play peer feedback sessions
• Encourage balance between positive notes and improvement areas

Different Peer Assessment Formats

Variety keeps the process engaging and allows for different learning styles.

• Pair or small group discussions
• Anonymous digital peer reviews
• Gallery walk with sticky note feedback
• Peer editing checklists for writing tasks

Conclusion

Peer assessment is more than a grading shortcut—it's a teaching strategy that empowers students to think critically, learn from each other, and grow as reflective learners. With the right structure, it truly works.