Full Description
Supercharge your formative assessment skills and watch student learning soar!Teachers routinely ask and answer a series of three questions with and for students: Where are my students headed? Where are they right now? How can I close the gap between where they are and where I want them to be? This text suggests that teachers also ask these parallel questions of themselves:Where am I going?What can formative assessment practice look like?Where am I currently in my formative assessment practice?How do I close the gap?Readers are then encouraged to select a specific aspect of formative assessment to investigate, explore relevant personal practice relevant to that aspect, implement necessary changes, reflect on those changes, and continue the change process. This practical guide can be used by individual teachers or collaboratively as a study guide for a learning community. The authors describe an effective four-step process for improving teachers' formative assessment practices that provides opportunities to reflect, consider alternative instructional approaches, and apply what they have learned. Case studies provide examples of formative assessment in practice, along with examples of teacher-implemented changes. A companion website includes an array of tools and templates for organizing, gathering, and systematically using information to strengthen formative assessment skills.This practical guide can be used by individual teachers or collaboratively as a study guide for a learning community. Case studies provide examples of formative assessment in practice, along with examples of teachers implementing changes in their practice. A companion website includes an array of tools and templates for organizing, gathering, and systematically using information to strengthen formative assessment skills.
Contents
List of Web ToolsForewordAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorsPrefaceWho Is This Book For?Special Features of This BookChapter Highlights1. Introduction to Improving Formative Assessment PracticeFormative and Summative AssessmentEvaluation and Formative AssessmentEvaluation and Professional DevelopmentThe Self-Evaluation ProcessOverview of the Chapters2. Examining Formative AssessmentFormative Assessment in PracticeUnderstanding Formative AssessmentThe Impact of Formative Assessment on LearningFormative Assessment Characteristics Used in the "How-To Guide"Summary: The Big Idea of Chapter 2Questions for Individual ConsiderationQuestions for Consideration as a Learning Community3. Getting Started on Your Self-Evaluation JourneyBeginning the Self-Evaluation ProcessDeveloping Familiarity with Formative AssessmentAm I Ready to Engage in This Process?Summary: The Big Idea of Chapter 34. A Targeted Look at One AreaPersonal Reflection on Strengths and Areas for ImprovementCollecting Evidence of PracticeAssessing Quality of InformationSelecting an Area for ImprovementAct-Reflect-ReviseSummary: The Big Idea for Chapter 45. Support for Making Changes to PracticeThe Cycle-Within-The-Cycle: Act, Reflect, ReviseSources of SupportHow Will I Know When I am Ready to Choose a New Target or Characteristic?Summary: The Big Idea of Chapter 56. Self-Evaluation of Changes to PracticeChain of EvidenceCollecting Evidence of EffectsSources of EvidenceAdditional ConsiderationsSumming UpSummary: The Big Idea of Chapter 67. Putting It All TogetherIndex
