Exit Tickets
Every teacher struggles from time to time with the art of closing a lesson effectively. We all know the importance of wrapping up the lesson, linking it to prior knowledge, and building anticipation for the next lesson. Ideally, that daily wrap-up should include some quick from of assessment or check for understanding
The Importance of Ongoing Checks for Understanding
Picture this classroom scenario. After 5 days of lessons, Ms. Jones, a third grade teacher, administers an assessment over area and perimeter to her class. As she grades the assessments, she quickly realizes that over half of her class does not have a clear understanding of the distinction between area and perimeter.
Using Aggressive Active Monitoring to Maximize Student Learning
It is now independent practice time for your lesson, and to an outside observer it appears that students are silent, working hard, and grappling with task at hand. All looks well, but how do know that students are actually mastering the material they are working on and will be ready for your planned exit
The Value of Rubrics for Assessment
In what year did World War II begin? What type of energy is generated from the sun? How many cookies are in 15 boxes if there are 6 cookies in each box? These types of questions are easy to assess. The student response is either right, or it’s wrong. You can simply
Using Text Evidence to Respond to Questions
I regularly tell my students, “Reading tests are completely manageable. The evidence is right in front of you, you just have to take the time to find it.” So often, students rush through a multiple choice test, not giving much thought to each individual answer and just choosing one that sounds accurate.
The Importance of a Growth Mindset for Students
We’ve all heard a student complain, “This is too hard, I’ll never understand.” Or maybe even, “I’m not a math person, I just don’t get it.” These statements both reflect a fixed mindset, and one of our responsibilities as educators is to encourage a shift in our students from a fixed mindset
The San Diego Quick Assessment
If you are looking for a quick way to get a general idea of a new student’s reading level, the San Diego Quick Assessment may be the right tool for you!
Some educational diagnostic tools truly stand the test of time! The San Diego Quick Assessment is certainly one of those tools.
How To Analyze The STAAR Reading Test Using Lexile or ATOS
Have you chosen a passage for your students to read in class but weren’t sure whether the level of complexity was right? Do you wonder about the real Lexile® level of STAAR passages or other standardized tests? Or, perhaps you’d like to type up your own sample passages for students, but want
SAT vs. ACT – Which One Should You Take
With the recent changes made to the SAT®, the ACT and SAT are now quite similar. Despite this, there are still some major differences to consider. Students who are getting started with the college admission process may be considering which test makes the most sense for them based on their individual skills