Formative Assessment Strategies
Is formative assessment feeling overwhelming to you? Having a good data collection system in place helps teachers to make effective, informed decisions. These formative assessment strategies will help you to get organized and ready to make data driven instruction a part of your teaching practice.
If you are ready to begin teaching and assessing through a standards based approach that allow data to drive instruction, then sign up below with your name and email to download the First Steps towards Data Driven Instruction: ideas for formative assessment organization that will get you started on the right track. This guide will get you moving in the right direction as you learn how to first organize your instruction and assessment process.
Strategies for Formative Assessment
Strategy 1: Take Anecdotal Notes
The first step is focusing on formative assessment strategies through data collection. Take good notes, reflect and decide on next steps. Time and practice will lead to good instructional decisions that become second nature!
- Checklists– These are my best friend. I use them in every subject area with a simple +/- system. I look around and check for understanding based on verbal or written responses. Those who seem to get it, receive a check. Those who don’t get a minus. When looking at student work, I use the same system. In the notes section at the bottom of the checklist, I jot notes about the assignment and descriptors for a +/-.
- Whole class– This anecdotal sheet works well when assessing the same skill for the whole class and need a space to write notes. The checklist and the whole class anecdotal sheet go hand and hand.
- Small group– Use data from checklists and whole class sheets to create informative small groups. These forms are helpful as you hone in on a skill and explicitly teach. Keep more detailed notes here so that you can make informed decisions as you plan for future strategy based groups.
- Individual conferring page– One stop shop for any 1 on 1 conversations or conferences that you may have with a student. Keeping individual notes make parent conferences, grading and MTSS protocol much easier. It is important for teachers to keep good data on a regular basis especially when you have a student with an academic concern.
Grab a FREE quick class checklist here or more templates with this anecdotal notes pack.
Strategy 2: Have the Right Tools for Formative Assessment
While you don’t need much, having a few tools for formative assessment could make a huge difference. I keep a box with my data collection binder, a clipboard, highlighters, and felt tip pens.
Be prepared. Have tools on hand.
Strategy 3: Create a coding system
Before you start a lesson or review student work, plan how you will code students. You may use percentages, a scale, rubric, or a check/minus system. How you code is up to you, but it’s important to have clear expectations before you begin. This will help you analyze data after your lesson and inform instruction quickly as you create reteaching groups.
Note the coding section at the bottom of the checklist. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate! Use highlighters after assessing to create instant groups.
Strategy 4: Be Flexible
Be decisive. When using formative assessment to drive instruction, there are multiple approaches. Find your class needs and make a decision. It’s important to be flexible in your mindset and groupings. Give yourself permission to move students around as you see fit. Students who are demonstrating understanding may be dismissed from a reteaching group earlier than expected.
Keep track with anecdotal notes so that you can go back and reflect. All of this evidence is especially helpful when reporting progress to parents or talking to a school team about a student. Document, document, document…
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