Formative+Assessment

I use many different kinds of formative assessment, both formal and informal in the classroom. My journal reflections about assessment are in my blog mostly, but I will deliver some specific information here.

I used formal assessment in the form of a rubric and Write to Learn. The rubric is attached on my Lesson Plans page. The data from Write To Learn is on my Baseline Data page. It also shows the post-activity scores there. The rubric used for the final assignment of writing is a little different and is also located on the Lesson Plans page.

I used informal assessment by asking for a show of hands of how many students didn't really know how to make word choice in writing better. I also had the students journal about what they already knew about word choice and told them to be honest. We did this in a word document and continued to add to it throughout the initial stages of the unit. I planned on having them turn them in to me but made sure I had an initial understanding of where each student was by walking around while they were writing and reading what they wrote. I also had them share with each other so I could overhear what they were saying. In their podcasts they were required to explain what word choice was and what effect it had on writing. They were also required to give an example of bland writing and then show it changed, keeping their audience of fifth graders in mind. This is another form of informal assessment as I observed their definitions in the same manner.

Their podcasts will be graded with a rubric. So will their final essays for the advantages/disadvantages essay.