Check for Understanding

The teacher uses a variety of methods (such as verbal, illustrated, and written checks) to elicit feedback and evidence from each student about what they understand, and intentionally uses formative information and knowledge of content to adapt the lesson with scaffolds, supports, and strategic grouping for students at all levels as necessary. To do this, a teacher believes that there are multiple ways to demonstrate learning and that it is their responsibility to identify, assess, and push student understanding throughout various stages of learning. (Adapted from TeachingWorks High Leverage Practices)

RANDA Connections: IIB; IIC; IIIB; IIID; IIIF

What the Research Says...

Formative Assessment - Planning: Jim Knight’s checklists on developing and implementing formative assessments.
Excerpt from Leaders of their Own Learning: Ron Berger names the four crucial components of formative assessment.
Checking for Understanding: Formative Assessment for Your Classroom: Fisher and Frey’s tips for making formative assessment more effective and improving learning for students.

Coaching to Check for Understanding...

In order to develop a teacher's capacity to Check for Understanding, the coach will use the continuum above, as well as available data sources, to facilitate reflection and identify next steps. One approach may be to turn the continuum bullet points into questions.

The following resources align with the continuum:

Designing Checks for Understanding
- Check for understanding techniques (Engage NY)
- Check for understanding strategies
Incorporating Opportunities for Students to Monitor Progress
- Monitoring techniques that deepen student understanding (Learning Sciences)
- How to guide and monitor student learning
Incorporating Opportunities for Students to Provide Feedback/Determine Next Steps
- Getting students to engage with feedback (Edutopia)
- Importance of providing meaningful student feedback (U of SC Center for Teaching Excellence)
Adapting Instruction with Appropriate Scaffolds and Strategic Grouping
- WIDA Can Do Descriptors
- Supports vs. Modifications (UnboundEd)

See also Check for Understanding Checklist (Developed by APS Coaching Cadre, 2021-22)

Related Teacher Practices, Student Actions, and Classroom Interactions...

Connection to District-Wide Professional Learning

The indicator "Check for Understanding" supports teachers' ability to monitor student learning. When utilizing discourse as an instructional move, it is imperative that teachers monitor student learning by collecting a variety of data. This ensures that students are being held accountable to the rigor of the standard and the discourse is leading to student learning.

Page updated

Report abuse