formative assessment

Formative Assessment is the ongoing process of gathering evidence of student learning during instruction to inform next steps. It’s not a test — it’s a mindset and a cycle: Plan → Check → Respond → Adjust. It helps teachers know where students are, where they need to go, and how to get them there.  

• Provides real-time insight into what students know and don’t know
  
  

• Supports responsive, targeted teaching instead of “one-size-fits-all”
  
  

• Reduces gaps and misunderstandings before they grow
  
  

• Involves students in monitoring their own learning
  
  

• Has one of the highest effect sizes for improving student achievement (0.68–0.75)
  
  

Formative assessment is not extra work — it’s the work of teaching well.

🔹 BEFORE THE LESSON
☐ Define clear learning intentions and success criteria
☐ Plan when, where, and how you’ll gather evidence (quick checks, tasks, observations)
☐ Choose methods that fit the lesson: exit tickets, quizzes, think-alouds, peer/self-assessment
☐ Prepare tools for capturing and organizing evidence

🔹 DURING THE LESSON
☐ Use Checks for Understanding often — don’t wait for a quiz
☐ Gather evidence through observation, questioning, student work, or dialogue
☐ Look for patterns — who’s ready? Who’s stuck?
☐ Adjust instruction in real time (reteach, regroup, clarify)

🔹 AFTER THE LESSON
☐ Review evidence to identify trends or gaps
☐ Use results to plan targeted next steps (reteaching, enrichment, flexible groups)
☐ Share feedback with students to guide improvement
☐ Involve students in reflecting on their learning progress

• Learning intentions and success criteria are clear and visible
  
  

• Teachers use multiple methods to gather evidence, not just tests
  
  

• Students know how they’re doing and what they need next
  
  

• Instruction adjusts visibly based on what students show
  
  

• Formative data informs PLC or team planning, not just the teacher’s next steps