Todd Adams - Health Science Technology

 FORMATIVE ASSESSEMENT CONTINUED

 

 

****THE MOST IMPORTANT KEY TO FORMAL ASSESSEMENT IS BUILDING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS WHILE EVALUATING STUDENT LEARNING****

 

FUNNY TEACHER VIDEO

 

1.  The Two Minute Paper revisited:

      I like to turn the two minute paper into the five minute paper because you want students to think deeper about they have learned plus you have to allow for 30 seconds of whining from students who hate to write!

Here are a couple of examples:

 2.  Paint the Picture: 

     Paint the picture visually depicts students' thinking about an idea without using any annotations.  This strategy prompts students with a question and asks them to design a visual representation that reveals their thinking.  The picture needs to stand alone without labels and can be used to explain their thinking.

Examples with labels:

 



 

It is important for students to use both sides of their brain when they are doing projects.  Projects using art focus on the right side of the brain more.  Considering 20 to 30 percent of students learn better using this side of their brain, it is essential to use formative assessments that also focus more on the right side of the brain.

 

 

 

3.  Road Signs: 

 

      Road signs asks students to indicate their understanding of a topic or procedure by selecting a road sign that indicates where they are in learning an objective/topic.

 

 

 

 

****Most students will never admit that they are lost or don't understand unless you probe them individually****

 

4.   North-South-East-West:

     Provides students the opportunity to reflect on their learning, self-assess and provide immediate feedback at any time.  Students respond to four questions.  What do you need to move forward?  What is your next step?  What do you find worrisome?  What excites you about the topic or concept?

 

 5.  Whip Around:

 

     Is often used as a closure activity .  Students are asked to make a list of three items related to the lesson, unit, or study.  Students individually respond on a piece of paper.  After they have listed at least three items, they stand up.  The teacher randomly calls on a student to share an item.  Students check off any items shared by another student and sit down when all of their ideas have been shared with the group.

 

6. I used to think....But now I know:

 

     This asks students to compare their ideas from the beginning of a lesson to the ideas they have at the end of a lesson or unit.  Students can respond in writing or orally. 

 

7.  Time Pair Share:

 

     This becomes a formative assessment tool when a teacher listens in order to assess students' understanding and adjust instruction.  Steps in the process include:  1) Teacher announces a topic and states how long each student will have to share.  2)  Teacher provides think time.  In pairs, partner A shares partner B listens.  3)  Partner B shares and partner A listens. 4)  Switch partners and start the process over.  

 

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BONUS

 

 

The 5 keys to being a successful teacher:

 

 

1.  Staying positive everyday:

 

     Being positive is contagious and rubs off on the students (even other teachers) and their attitude about being in school.  Get excited everyday by setting goals and coming prepared to do your best.  That means getting a good night of sleep on work days.

 

2.  CANI:   Constant and never ending improvement.

 

     Always assess yourself as a teacher, and ask yourself how can you do things better and more efficiently.  The key is to be honest with yourself about your weaknesses and your strengths.  Challenge yourself to come up with at least one good idea a day that will improve classroom management and or various formative assessments.  

 

3,  Build and maintain relationships with students and other teachers everyday:

 

     Successful teachers know that building relationships is the key to classroom management and students wanting to learn,  Most students shut down when they don't like a teacher and teaching then becomes a lot harder.  The key is focusing on the students that cause the most trouble in your class and building a relationship with them so that you can understand what motivates them to learn.  Anyone one can teach the student who always listens and wants to get an A in your class. The real challenge is the students who don't want to be there and don't care if they learn.  Remember it only takes one or two trouble making students to disrupt an entire classroom.

 

4.  Preparation is paramount:

 

     Your success in the classroom is most times determined more by what you do when your not in school.  There is no substitute for a great lesson plan, and game plan as to how to get the most out of each class.  The better your lesson plan the better your chance of great classroom management, students learning, and you enjoying your job.  I recommend getting as organized as possible before you start each day, and not getting behind on grading or other activities that will cause you stress.

 

5.  Using good formal assessments daily: 

 

     Formal assessments not only help the teacher to really know what the students have learned, but helps reinforce the students learning.  How do you know if your doing good and accurate formal assessments?  If your surprised by the results of your summative testing then you weren't doing enough formal assessments, and or didn't do the proper formal assessment to find out what your kids really know.  TEST RESULTS SHOULD NEVER BE A SURPRISE WITH ACCURATE AND WELL THOUGHT OUT FORMAL ASSESSMENTS!  Make formal assessments a daily ritual.