Formative Assessments

Introduction to Assessing for Learning in lieu of Assessing of Learning:

 Common Formative Assessments Performance Tasks: Powerpoint on two CCSS testing consortia (SBAC and PARC) which delves into the main components of assessment for learning vs assessment of learning.

"Teachers May Need to Deepen Assessment Practices for Common Core" by Liana Heitin:  an article from Educational Week suggesting how formative assessments must be deepened and re-thought in light of CCSS (March, 2014).

"Chapter 1: Formative Assessment and Assessment for Learning":

The first 14-page chapter from Seven Strategies of Assessment for Learning by Jan Chappuis provides a comprehensive look at formative versus summative assessments, the power of formative assessment, and an overview of the seven strategies to be further explored in the book (July, 2014).

"What Does Research Say the Benefits of Formative Assessment Are?" published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a succinct research brief which provides insight into the formative assessment process (2007).

Sample CCSS formative assessments:

LAUSD interim assessments in English Language Arts, Math, History, and Science

Sample NGSS formative assessments

Sample Mathematics and ELA/Literacy SBAC items and performance tasks available by grade-level

Take a practice Smarter Balanced Mathematics or ELA/Literacy assessment :  Sign in as a "guest student" to experience taking a practice SBAC in the subject and grade-level of your choice.

   

Articles about Writers’ Workshop as Formative Assessment: 

"The Writing Workshop:  A Valuable Tool for Differentiation and Formative Assessment" from Edutopia
An article focusing on how the Writing Workshop classroom model can serve as both a means of formative assessment of students' capabilities and a format to differentiate instruction to support individual student writing development (October, 2010).

Videos:

"The Formative Classroom":  This 5-minute video shows teachers using formative assessment strategies in the classroom and provides teacher reflection around the formative assessment process.

"Using CFAs to Improve Teaching and Learning":  In this 6-minute video, ELA teachers at Covington Middle School in Vancouver, Washington explain how creating and using Common Formative Assessments, SMART goals, and daily learning targets improves teaching and learning in their classrooms. (ELA) 

"Guiding Instruction through CFAs": 

In this 10-minute video, Math teachers at Wilson Middle School in Yakima, Washington take viewers through the process they use to develop Common Formative Assessments and analyze student results to inform and improve their teaching and the students’ learning. (Math)
   

Resources for creating common formative assessments:

The Smarter Balanced Digital Library:

This website offers a large collection of math and literacy resources for creating your own common formative assessments.  Teachers should be receiving user name and password information from their principal in the new year (2015).