Challenge 6
What strategies do you use for non-graded checks for understanding in your class?
Formative Frenzy!
Welcome to this week's challenge! Please complete the entrance ticket below. You could share a similar form with your students via a QR code as they enter your class to help them access prior knowledge or check for understanding throughout a unit. Click Here for instructions.
Why Formatively Assess?
Frequent checks for understanding can help build student confidence, can inform the student when they need further study, and have been shown in studies to increase understanding by 29% (Marzano, 2006). Formative assessment can also be a useful tool in adjusting the pacing of a lesson, they can help you identify misconceptions and structure small-groups in a way that is most effective. Incorporating formative assessments 2-3 times per week can help your students experience greater depth of understanding.
A Smile is Contagious
Formative assessments must be encouraging in nature to show gains in students understanding. If assessments are discouraging in nature there is a drop in student learning of 5% (DeNesi and Kluger, 1996). Help your students realize that learning involves growth; frequent checks for understanding help them identify areas of clarity and areas where they have the opportunity to grow.
Specific
Feedback from formative assessment needs to be specific in nature and timely.
Observation
Listening and observing is a vital part of formative assessment in the classroom
Student Self-Assessment & Practice without Penalty
Build in opportunities for students to check their own learning. This can be done through small quizzes built into activities. Student want to know if they are "getting it". Begin to teach students that every activity, quiz or assignment isn't for a grade...some activities are built for them to learn and should be looked at as an opportunity for improvement in their understanding.
Check out this goal setting sheet for ideas: drive.google.com/open?id=1brCSl3VJB_1Av7NM8PHFeSH1_dC3wko0M69VQ7quEBU
Check out this goal setting sheet for ideas: drive.google.com/open?id=1brCSl3VJB_1Av7NM8PHFeSH1_dC3wko0M69VQ7quEBU
Lights, Camera, Action...
Click on this link to view formative assessments in action in a classroom setting. The following strategies are demonstrated:
- Triangle, Square, Circle
- One minute sentence
- One minute problem
- Four Corners
- Back and Forth
Quick Checks for Understanding
Lead4Ward is a wonderful resource for formative assessments. Click here to explore your options. Once you are at Lead4Wards site, Download the Instructional Strategies Playlist. There are 75 strategies to choose from and over half require little to no prep.
Below are a few of my favorites:
Below are a few of my favorites:
- Always, Sometimes, Never True
- Thinking Partners
- Odd One Out
- Justified List
- etc.
Digital Tool for Formative Assessment
Explore the resources below for fresh ideas in digital assessment. You can also add you own by double-clicking anywhere on the Padlet to post your favorite tool. You can build in self-paced checks for understanding throughout a unit with digital tools that will empower your students in their learning journey.