Feedback is one of the most powerful tools in an educator’s repertoire. When applied positively and constructively, it shapes student achievement, supports mental health, and creates an environment that counters the negative effects of prior traumatizing experiences or maltreatment. Drawing from principles of education and behavior analysis, this post explores how intentional feedback fosters academic growth and emotional resilience, with examples to guide practitioners in its effective use.
Heather Volchko, BCBA
The Power of Feedback:
A Behavioral Perspective
In behavior analysis, feedback serves as a consequence that can strengthen (reinforce) or weaken (punish) behaviors. Positive feedback, when aligned with specific, observable actions, reinforces desirable academic and social behaviors. Constructive feedback, on the other hand, identifies areas for growth while preserving the student’s dignity and encouraging continued effort.
For example, when a student submits an essay, instead of marking it with generic comments like “Good job” or “Needs improvement,” positive feedback might highlight, “Your introduction clearly states your argument, which makes your essay engaging to read.” Constructive feedback could then follow: “To make your argument even stronger, consider providing more examples to support your main points.” This dual focus on strengths and growth areas ensures that students leave the interaction feeling capable and motivated.
Healing Through Positive and Constructive Feedback
Traumatizing experiences, such as neglect, abuse, or repeated academic failures, can lead to negative self-perceptions and maladaptive behaviors in students. For these students, feedback that focuses on effort, improvement, and their ability to succeed can challenge those internalized beliefs and counteract the damaging effects of their past.
Positive and constructive feedback provides more than academic guidance—it offers a sense of stability and predictability. Trauma often disrupts a student’s ability to feel safe and trust others. However, consistent and compassionate feedback can rebuild that trust, demonstrating to students that their efforts are noticed and valued.
Consider a student who hesitates to participate in math class due to a history of academic struggles. Feedback like, “I noticed you completed three of the most challenging problems today—well done!” not only reinforces their effort but also builds a new narrative of competence. Adding, “Next time, try explaining your process out loud so we can celebrate how you got there,” frames feedback as a tool for growth, not a measure of inadequacy.
Beyond academics, feedback can also help students develop emotional regulation and interpersonal skills. For example, a teacher might say, “You showed a lot of patience waiting for your turn during the group activity. That’s a skill that will help you work well with others.” By tying feedback to personal growth and strengths, educators help students see themselves as capable and worthy, countering the feelings of helplessness and worthlessness that trauma can instill.
Such feedback counters maltreatment by replacing negative messages (e.g., “You’re not smart enough” or “You’re a problem”) with affirming ones (e.g., “Your efforts lead to success” and “You are improving every day”). Over time, this approach helps repair self-esteem, builds resilience, increases engagement, and promotes positive mental health outcomes.
In this way, educators become not just instructors, but agents of healing and transformation, leveraging the power of feedback to create safe and nurturing learning environments.
Academic Feedback
and Mental Health
Constructive feedback supports mental health by reducing anxiety, fostering a sense of control, and encouraging a growth mindset. Students who receive clear, actionable steps in feedback are less likely to feel overwhelmed or helpless. When educators replace vague criticism with specific guidance, students can see a path forward and feel empowered to take it.
For example, instead of saying, “This project isn’t acceptable,” try, “Your project has some great visuals, and to align with the rubric, you could add a section explaining your research findings.” This approach not only clarifies expectations but also conveys belief in the student’s ability to succeed, reinforcing their sense of competence.
Consistent and intentional feedback also helps students manage performance-related stress. When feedback is framed positively, even constructive comments become opportunities to celebrate progress rather than highlight shortcomings. For instance, acknowledging effort (“You’ve improved a lot in organizing your ideas—great job using an outline!”) can mitigate the fear of failure that often accompanies academic challenges, especially for students with histories of anxiety or perfectionism.
Moreover, incorporating behavior-analytic techniques like reinforcement systems amplifies the impact of feedback. Specific praise such as, “You asked two thoughtful questions during today’s group discussion,” not only reinforces desirable behaviors but also helps students build an identity as capable and valued contributors. These positive interactions foster emotional resilience and provide students with a sense of belonging—key protective factors against mental health challenges.
Finally, academic feedback promotes self-regulation, a critical skill for mental health. By pairing positive reinforcement with constructive guidance, educators can model how to handle setbacks productively. For example, after a student makes an error in problem-solving, a teacher might say, “Mistakes are part of learning, and I appreciate how you kept trying. Let’s look at this together and figure out the next step.” This type of response normalizes struggle as a natural part of the learning process, reducing feelings of shame and building perseverance.
When used thoughtfully, academic feedback does more than address a student’s current performance—it equips them with the confidence, strategies, and mindset they need to face future challenges both in and outside the classroom. It becomes a cornerstone of their emotional well-being, reinforcing the message that they are capable, valued, and supported.
Heather Volchko, BCBA
Bridging Feedback with Equity
For students who have experienced inequitable treatment—whether due to disability, race, or socioeconomic status—feedback can serve as a tool to level the playing field. Culturally responsive feedback that respects students’ lived experiences and avoids deficit language is critical.
Instead of, “Your sentence structure is incorrect,” a more constructive approach might be, “Your ideas are strong, and refining sentence structure will help them stand out even more.” This approach acknowledges the student’s ideas as valuable and worth developing, fostering a sense of belonging and validation.
Equity in education ensures all students receive the support they need to succeed. The following scenarios highlight common challenges, such as addressing bias or providing culturally responsive feedback, and offer opportunities to reflect on equity-driven solutions. Use these examples to explore practical strategies that foster fairness, inclusion, and opportunity for every student.
Scenario 1: A Struggling Reader
A third-grader who struggles with fluency reads a passage aloud. Positive feedback might include, “I noticed how you used context clues to figure out that tricky word!” Constructive feedback could add, “Next time, try slowing down to sound out unfamiliar words—you’re already doing so much right.”
Scenario 2: A Resistant Writer
A high school student turns in a short, underdeveloped essay. Feedback might begin with, “I can tell you’ve put effort into organizing your ideas.” Then, constructive guidance might follow: “To expand your argument, let’s work on adding examples that connect to your main point.”
Scenario 3: A Behavior Challenge
A student known for off-task behavior completes a science lab without interruptions. Immediate positive feedback like, “You stayed focused and completed every step of the experiment—excellent work!” reinforces their success. Constructive feedback might add, “Let’s aim to use this same focus during group discussions tomorrow.”
The Long-Term Impact
When students consistently receive positive and constructive feedback, they begin to internalize the belief that they can succeed through effort and perseverance. This belief fosters a growth mindset, builds resilience, and improves academic performance. Equally important, it creates a classroom culture where mistakes are learning opportunities, not sources of shame.
Positive and constructive feedback does more than improve academic outcomes—it can rewrite a student’s story. For those who have experienced trauma or maltreatment, feedback becomes a pathway to healing and growth. By grounding feedback in behavioral principles and equity-driven practices, educators empower students to thrive academically and emotionally.
As you reflect on your own feedback practices, consider: Are your words reinforcing effort, fostering growth, and building a foundation for resilience? If not, small shifts in language and approach can make all the difference—for the student and the educator alike.
Heather Volchko, BCBA
written by
Heather Volchko
Heather Volchko is a school-based consultant and program evaluator specializing in emotional and behavioral disorders, trauma-informed behavior analysis, organizational behavior management, and leadership psychology. She has been a coordinator, teacher, and paraprofessional in therapeutic, alternative, self-contained, resource, and correctional settings. Outside of her professional work, she has worked abroad with various international education organizations as well as stateside with organizations facilitating upward mobility with disadvantaged populations. Heather is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with her Bachelors in Special Education, Masters in Educational Psychology, and is currently pursuing her doctorate.
University Product
product description in relation to blog post
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.
Download our resource and start learning!
Learn the tools used by the world's top professionals. Boost your confidence, master the field, become a certified professional. We hope our guide provides you with valuable insights and practical tips.
Everywhere you listen to podcasts!
Little Bits of TLC Podcast
Join us for more!
Listen to [EPISODE TITLE] with [GUEST]
Project Thrive
Build an inclusive, proactive classroom that supports students with behavioral and mental health needs.
Join the next cohort to develop effective environments, behavior strategies, targeted instruction, essential collaboration skills, and more!
Project Onward
Build a transformative intensive program with your complex at-risk students.
Join the next cohort to develop your self-contained or alternative education program from design through implementation!
Project Bace
Build an effective, individualized functional skills program for your low-incidence students.
Join the next cohort to develop your instructional environment, responses to behaviors, functional academics, and more!
Project Thrive
Listen to this episode about HLPs in general ed. and resource!
Project Onward
Listen to this episode about HLPs in intensive EBD!
Project Bace
Listen to this episode about HLPs in life skills programming!