We’re up to eight…and counting!

Eight formative assessment ideas that can provide you with evidence of learning that can help you adjust your lesson plans to ensure all your students understand what’s being taught. Eight formative assessment ideas that engage your entire classroom, creating a truly student centered learning environment.

So far, our blogs have touched on the following formative assessment ideas:

1. The Popsicle Stick
2. The Exit Ticket
3. The Whiteboard
4. Corners
5. Think-Pair-Share
6. Two Stars and a Wish
7. Carrousel Brainstorming

Piecing it all together

The eighth formative assessment idea we’d like to share with you is commonly referred to as Jigsaw.  With this concept, the class is broken into groups ranging in size from four to six students.

• Each student is given an index card with a different question and reads their question aloud to the group
• One student in each group is assigned to be a record keeper, keeping track of the number of students that a) get it, b) sort of get it, c) aren’t quite sure, or d) just don’t get it
• Once each question has been read, the groups reassemble so the groups are comprised of students who all had the same question. They then work collaboratively as a team to prepare one answer
• The groups then reform to their original members where the answers are shared and the record keeper rescores

This formative assessment idea is quite collaborative, giving students the ability to self- and peer-assess their work, something that really helps drive formative assessment success.

Learn more

Get more formative assessment tips and tricks in our e-book “Making it work: How formative assessment can supercharge your practice.”