Full Description
"Hammerman focuses on the meaning and centrality of formative assessment, providing insights, examples, and ties to numerous individual initiatives to improve science experiences for students and to inspire better teaching for teachers."
—Robert E. Yager, Professor of Science Education
University of Iowa
"This book addresses the various assessments used in our schools and how they can be approached to improve learning."
—Elizabeth Alvarez, Math and Science Coach
Chicago Public Schools, IL
Use formative assessment to guide successful teaching and learning in science!
Proven to be one of the most powerful tools for promoting effective learning, formative assessment enables teachers to capture evidence of student thinking and learning and use that information to adjust instruction. In this concise resource, science educator Elizabeth Hammerman clearly outlines the formative assessment process and provides practical strategies for embedding assessments into the K-8 standards-based science curriculum.
This research-based book demonstrates how student-centered assessment helps students assume more responsibility for what they learn and how they learn. Teachers can use the various models of formative assessments to monitor student progress and evaluate learning. The author guides readers through discussions, "thought and reflection" activities, analyses of assessment techniques, and applications to classroom practice.
Ideal for teachers and science and curriculum specialists, this user-friendly resource provides all the necessary tools to:
Assess student understanding using observation checklists, questioning strategies, notebooks, reports, graphic organizers, projects, and performance tasks
Differentiate science instruction to reach all learners
Use rubrics as a means of discovering student strengths and weaknesses
Collect student data to inform instructional decisions
With this easy-to-implement guide, any teacher can effectively use formative assessment strategies to enhance instruction and increase student achievement in science.
Contents
Preface
The Goals of Formative Assessment Strategies for Enhanced Learning in Science
Uses for Formative Assessment Strategies for Enhanced Learning in Science
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
Student-Centered Instruction and Assessment
Changing Practice to Improve Learning
An Overview of Chapters
1. Formative Assessment and Science
New Ways of Thinking About Assessment
Goal-Centered Assessment
Research Support for Formative Assessment
Creating a Vision for Formative Assessment
Examining Beliefs and Practices
Traditional Versus Student-Centered Views of Assessment
Formative Assessment as "Authentic" Assessment
Clear Targets for Instruction and Assessment
2. Using Rubrics to Guide Learning
The What and Why of Rubrics
Holistic Rubrics
Designing Holistic Rubrics
Generalized Rubrics
Examples of Generalized Rubrics
Analytic Rubrics
Assessment Tasks With Analytic Rubrics
Designing Analytic Rubrics
Rubrics for Self-Assessment and Peer Assessment
Design a Rubric
3. Observation Checklists and Effective Questioning
Observation Checklists
Sample Observation Checklists
Effective Questioning
Questions for Thinking and Problem Solving
Questions for Instruction and Assessment
4. Notebooks, Reports, and Graphic Organizers
Notebooks
Notebooks as Assessment Tools
Rubric for a Science Notebook
Lab Reports
Lab Reports for Learning and Assessment
Rubric for a Lab Report
Graphic Organizers
Descriptive Organizers
Sequential Organizers
Process-Casual Organizers
Categorical Organizers
Comparison-Related Organizers
Problem-Solution Organizers
Four Corner Organizers
5. Projects and Presentations
Learning Through Projects
Assessing Projects
Rubric for a Project
Learning Through Presentations
Assessing Presentations
6. Performance Tasks and Embedded Assessments
Performance Assessment
Performance Tasks
A Generalized Rubric for a Performance Task
Embedded Assessments
A Model for Embedded Assessments
Sample Embedded Performance Task
Designing Embedded Performance Assessments
Performance Assessments Following Instruction
Sample Performance Assessments
Performance Assessment as Benchmark Assessment
Characteristics of Benchmark Assessments
Sample Benchmark Assessment
7. Planning and Implementing Formative Assessment
Characteristics of High-Quality Instruction and Assessment
Planning Formative Assessment
A Planning Guide for Formative Assessment
A Planning Guide for a Unit on Cells
Using Assessment Data to Modify Instruction
Project Choices
Adjusting Assignments
Stations for Active Learning
Differentiating Instruction Through Centers
Creating Contracts
Formative Assessment and Accountability
References and Further Reading
Index
