According to research evidence, it is a mistake to give false praise in an effort to motivate students and boost self-esteem. At the same time, straightforward, let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may, negative feedback can undermine learning and students’ willingness to make subsequent effort. Therefore an understanding of the motivational consequences of feedback is as important as knowing its cognitive purpose. The formative assessment model, consistent with the cognitive literature, shows that feedback is most effective when it focuses on particular qualities of a student’s work in relation to established criteria, identifies strengths as well as weakness, and provides guidance about what to do to improve. In addition, teachers must establish a climate of trust and develop classroom norms that enable constructive criticism. This means that feedback must occur strategically throughout the learning process(not at the end when teaching on the topic is finished); teacher and students must have a shares=d understanding that the purpose of feedback is to facilitate learning; and it may mean that grading should be suspended during the formative stage. Given that teachers cannot frequently meet one-on-one with each student, classroom practices must allow for students to display their thinking so the teacher will be aware of it, and for students to learn to become increasingly effective critics of their own and each other’s work.