Formative Assessment
We all want students to succeed, but how do you know if your students achieve their goals? How do you know if the lesson you taught is successful?
One way to check is through formative assessment which guides student learning during instruction and informs instructional decisions. It is ongoing, contextualized, authentic, and classroom-based. Students want to know about their progress, and this is one way to provide regular feedback. Here are some resources to help:
1. ESOL Formative assessment toolkit: a teaching and formative assessment resource from English Language Services for Adults (ELSA), a government funded program that provides English training for adult newcomers to Canada;
2. 60 Types for Formative Assessment: a list of techniques to check for understanding and processing activities put together by the Levy County School District, Florida;
3. Examples of Formative Assessment: a list of formative assessments (e.g., observations, questioning, exit/admin slips, learning logs, peer/self-assessments) from the West Virginia Department of Education;
4. Formative Assessment Strategies: informal assessment and engagement strategies (e.g., quick write, 12-word summary) compiled by the Boston Public Schools; and
5. Five Key Strategies for Effective Formative Assessment: an article on how to build a comprehensive framework for formative assessment from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
From DESE July 2015 : Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is a key factor in students’ pathway to success. Use formative assessment to provide feedback, check for understanding and guide students on their next steps in each lesson. We encourage practitioners to check out these resources on formative assessments to learn about some real-classroom examples of formative assessment practices.
Attributes of Effective Formative Assessment: http://www.ccsso.org/Documents/2008/Attributes_of_Effective_2008.pdf
Formative Assessment-Examples of Practice: http://www.ccsso.org/Documents/2008/Formative_Assessment_Examples_2008.pdf
Feed Up, Back, Forward by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov09/vol67/num03/Feed-Up,-Back,-Forward.aspx http://fisherandfrey.com/uploads/posts/Science_Assess.pdf
Classroom assessment: Minute by Minute, Day by Day: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov05/vol63/num03/Classroom-Assessment@-Minute-by-Minute,-Day-by-Day.aspx
Five Key Strategies for Effective Formative Assessment: http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/40877F5B-D6C0-4EB5-A5A4-5644A86CA523/0/Research_brief_04__Five_KeyStrategies.pdf
Using Common Formative Assessment as a Source of Professional Development:
http://fisherandfrey.com/uploads/posts/CFA_TeacherEd.pdf
Fact Sheet, Formative Assessment: https://teal.ed.gov/tealGuide/formativeassessment
For any assessment-related questions, please contact: Dana Varzan-Parker, Assessment Specialist at [email protected], tel: 781-338-3811.
One way to check is through formative assessment which guides student learning during instruction and informs instructional decisions. It is ongoing, contextualized, authentic, and classroom-based. Students want to know about their progress, and this is one way to provide regular feedback. Here are some resources to help:
1. ESOL Formative assessment toolkit: a teaching and formative assessment resource from English Language Services for Adults (ELSA), a government funded program that provides English training for adult newcomers to Canada;
2. 60 Types for Formative Assessment: a list of techniques to check for understanding and processing activities put together by the Levy County School District, Florida;
3. Examples of Formative Assessment: a list of formative assessments (e.g., observations, questioning, exit/admin slips, learning logs, peer/self-assessments) from the West Virginia Department of Education;
4. Formative Assessment Strategies: informal assessment and engagement strategies (e.g., quick write, 12-word summary) compiled by the Boston Public Schools; and
5. Five Key Strategies for Effective Formative Assessment: an article on how to build a comprehensive framework for formative assessment from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).
From DESE July 2015 : Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is a key factor in students’ pathway to success. Use formative assessment to provide feedback, check for understanding and guide students on their next steps in each lesson. We encourage practitioners to check out these resources on formative assessments to learn about some real-classroom examples of formative assessment practices.
Attributes of Effective Formative Assessment: http://www.ccsso.org/Documents/2008/Attributes_of_Effective_2008.pdf
Formative Assessment-Examples of Practice: http://www.ccsso.org/Documents/2008/Formative_Assessment_Examples_2008.pdf
Feed Up, Back, Forward by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov09/vol67/num03/Feed-Up,-Back,-Forward.aspx http://fisherandfrey.com/uploads/posts/Science_Assess.pdf
Classroom assessment: Minute by Minute, Day by Day: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/nov05/vol63/num03/Classroom-Assessment@-Minute-by-Minute,-Day-by-Day.aspx
Five Key Strategies for Effective Formative Assessment: http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/40877F5B-D6C0-4EB5-A5A4-5644A86CA523/0/Research_brief_04__Five_KeyStrategies.pdf
Using Common Formative Assessment as a Source of Professional Development:
http://fisherandfrey.com/uploads/posts/CFA_TeacherEd.pdf
Fact Sheet, Formative Assessment: https://teal.ed.gov/tealGuide/formativeassessment
For any assessment-related questions, please contact: Dana Varzan-Parker, Assessment Specialist at [email protected], tel: 781-338-3811.