Formative Assessment

Why should I use formative assessment?

• to make decisions about current instruction
• to check for understanding of student learning
• to make decisions about future instruction
• all of the above

Why is formative assessment important? 

• It is used to guide instruction
• Adds a grade to the gradebook
• Tells teachers who their advanced learners are
• Shows administration evidence of teacher planning

Formative assessment is assessment

• given prior to instruction

• used during instruction

• used for standards based grading

• given at the end of a unit

Of the following statements, identify which of these are TRUE of formative assessment.

• they must always be graded

• they provide valuable feedback for students

• they provide valuable feedback for teachers

• B & C

What's an example of a good piece of feedback?

• I like how you entered the classroom today.

• That's wrong. You need to improve

• Nice job! Keep it up.

• You are not quite there yet.

To realize its power, feedback must result in a student thinking about  _________

• An emotional response
• Comparing work to others
• How they failed
• How to improve 

Why should I use formative assessment?

• to make decisions about current instruction
• to check for understanding of student learning
• to make decisions about future instruction
• all of the above

All formative assessments must be graded.

• Oh yes! I have to grade everything my students do. How else would I know if they've learned?
• Oh no--never! I never grade anything so I don't risk hurting my students' feelings!
• I don't grade most of my formative assessments because I use them to modify instruction or set goals for my students.
• None of the above.

What question(s) should a teacher ask him/herself after gathering formative assessment data?

• When is Spring Break? I need to plan my next holiday.

• Why should I look at data? I don't teach math!

• Who needs my attention? Which students need a different approach? Which students need to be challenged more?

• Why am I the only one bothering about this assessment stuff when other teachers just chill?

Another positive result of using formative assessments is:

• legoland will offer discount tickets to all teachers

• the Principal will declare a teacher appreciation day and everything will be free for that day

• students will have more relaxing time since they wont have to sit for Exams. XBox anyone?

• students will get the feedback they need in order to increase their learning