We’ve blogged thus far on six formative assessment ideas that can be used at virtually no cost in your classroom to engage your entire class while providing you valuable information on student understanding and comprehension. This feedback is critical for you to be able to adjust your lesson strategy to improve student learning for the entire class.
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
The next formative assessment idea we’ll share is called Carousel Brainstorming.
How it works
With Carousel Brainstorming, the class is split up into groups of four to five students. Each group gets their own chart and colored marker.
The idea is to have each group write down what they know about a topic or possible answers to an open-ended question. Place a time limit on each group and when the time is up, have each group pass their chart along to another group, or move to the next chart.
Be sure to walk the classroom while the charts are being completed and note engagement levels for student understanding.
Students must read what the other groups have recorded for answers and then add to the list. They can also circle or highlight answers they feel hit the mark or add question marks to answers they feel missed the mark.
When the charts have been viewed by each group, they can be reviewed as a class and used by the students to write essays that note relationships, make comparisons, or summarize information. Be sure to walk the classroom while the charts are being completed and note engagement levels for student understanding, which can be used to adapt instruction accordingly.
Learn more
Get more formative assessment tips and tricks in our e-book “Making it work: How formative assessment can supercharge your practice.”
