Checking for understanding is a formative assessment practice where educators ask questions or give short assignments and students select or construct their responses. If done during the lesson, the assessment is embedded seamlessly in instruction, and educators adjust instruction in the moment.

Checks for understanding are important because they inform the teacher about the student’s current level of knowledge and understanding. There are several benefits of checking for understanding when responses are obtained from all students. Checking for understanding:

• gives educators information quickly about the need to differentiate instruction; 

• helps educators understand students’ background knowledge, skills, and misconceptions; and 

• models for students how to monitor their own understanding. 

Adjustments are important because teachers adjust instruction and learning based on evidence to improve students’ achievement of intended instructional aims. In adjustments to teaching, the teacher uses evidence of student understanding in relation to learning targets to verify or modify teaching and learning activities.