What characteristics should feedback emphasize to support Standard 1 goals?

• A. Specific, actionable, timely, and growth-focused feedback on both accuracy and strategy use; emphasize progress and next steps.
• B. General praise without guidance on next steps.
• C. Feedback should focus only on accuracy.
• D. Delayed feedback after several weeks.

Answer: (A)

Feedback that supports growth in literacy focuses on guiding students to improve by naming what they did well, what needs work, and exactly how to get there. The strongest feedback looks at both accuracy and the strategies students use to understand text, not just whether an answer is right. When feedback is specific and actionable, students receive clear steps they can try next—such as rechecking a detail, using a particular comprehension strategy, or annotating a paragraph to track main ideas.

Timeliness matters because students can apply that guidance immediately in their next reading or writing task, reinforcing learning while the moment is fresh. Framing feedback around growth—highlighting progress and outlining the next steps—helps students see improvement as a result of effort and strategy, not fixed ability, and it supports developing independent, self-regulated learners.

General praise without guidance, or feedback that focuses only on correctness, or feedback delivered too late, don’t equip students to advance. The described approach provides both the practical steps and the mindset shift students need to strengthen their reading and thinking over time.