PQRS on the 4Fs
                                                                   by Mr. Ramos

                         Mrs. Barbeau introduced the PQRS system in critiquing peer work. PQRS stands for praise-questions-respond-suggestion. It ensures that peer review happens within a safe environment where all students feel comfortable about reviewing work and in the same way that his/her own work is being reviewed. The main objective is for students to look at work using the lens of an objective observer in making sure that all students in the class will grow as readers, writers, and presenters after being provided with feedback. In doing so, the student is made aware of the criteria or rubric in grading one's work and consistently strive for attaining his/her personal best.

                        Today's PQRS activity focused on giving a review of a peer's work on the 4Fs (4 Squares), as pictured above. The students were assigned a final paper of a random peer for review.  They used their self-created form for PQRS and Mrs. Barbeau went through each criterion as she guided the class in reviewing each component of the PQRS and their peer's work. Finally, they were asked to assign points and calculate the total number of points out of 13 possible points, given that the student did not write any extra sentences. Mrs. Barbeau made the rubric open to students that wanted to go above and beyond.

                      I thought that this activity was great as it does not only promote a safe environment in the class, but it also makes each student aware of the criteria or rubrics that he/she needs to set himself/herself against so each student is insured that he/she is going to the right direction in meeting the state standards. This activity also represents the real world when they start keeping a job, competing in tournaments, and other scenarios where professionalism is regarded with utmost importance.