Formative Assessment Guide

Formative assessment is one of the new education “buzzwords.” This product is meant to get you oriented with formative assessment!

• Formative assessment is a way for you to gather data on your students.

• It has been described as assessment for learning rather than assessment of learning.– But what does that mean?

• Formative assessment should be used during the learning process.

• The goal is to gather data that will inform your teaching.– Does material need to be retaught?– Are your students ready to move on?– Are your students ready for a test, quiz, essay,

etc.?• Ideally, you will use this data to change

what/how you teach during the next lesson.

• There are two forms of formative assessment.– Informal Formative Assessment– Formal Formative Assessment

• Hint: It doesn’t involve what your students wear while taking the assessment!

Informal vs. Formal

• Informal formative assessments give you an idea of where the class is.

• Formal formative assessments give you specific data about where individual students are.

• Informal formative assessment is like looking at a thermometer.– It’s quick and easy.– It gives you the average temperature of the room.

Part 1

The Analogy

• Let’s say you want to “take the temperature” of your classroom.

Examples of Informal Formative Assessment

Cell Phone ReceptionAsk your students to make a fist and place it over their heart. Ask them to use their fingers to indicate the following number of bars.• No bars = Totally Lost• 1 bar = I get a little, but not a lot• 2 bars = I’m with you, but I have questions• 3 bars = Full signal, I’m ready to move on

WindshieldsWhen your students leave the classroom, ask them to write down the following words on an index card• Muddy = I do not understand what’s going

on• Lots of Bugs = Things are a little clear, but I

have a lot of questions• Some Bugs = I’m with you, but I have

some questions• Clear = I’m with you and I’m ready to

move on

Part 2

• Formal formative assessment is like using a thermal gun.– It takes more time.– It tells you where the hot and cold spots are in

your classroom

Examples of Formal Formative Assessment3-2-1 Exit CardAsk your students to write on a half sheet of paper or an index card:• 3 things you learned• 2 things you need clarified• 1 question you have

QuickwriteAsk your students to write on a half sheet of paper or an index card:• A response to a short prompt that

requires students to show their understanding of a concept.

3-2-1

Quickwrite

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