8 Informal Assessments.

  Yesterday, I spoke about assessing students who cannot express themselves in written form.  This lead me to wondering if there are informal assessments I can use in class to tell me how they are doing in learning the material other than standard quizzes or tests.

The other day while searching for additional information on assessing students who do not write well, I discovered a lovely eight page pdf filled with informal assessments.  Some are based on writing but some can easily be done using alternative ways so all students can participate.

I am not sharing every suggestion, just a few I like and ways I see using them. Yes I already downloaded the pdf because I need more informal assessments to use.

1. Application cards on which students write real life applications which use the math being studied.  These could be shared on a Padlet or similar type wall so everyone can see.  In addition to the application, students can include a bit more on it such as how the application is used.  Students could include a photo with the description.

2. Blogs replace the paper as math journals.  The good thing about blogs is they can be done in both written and video form.  In the past, Mac OS has had a blog part that could be set up to be viewed for the whole school.

3. Chain notes in which a teacher writes a question on the outside of the envelope.  The envelope is passed around.  Each student reads the question, writes an answer on a piece of paper before slipping the the paper in the envelope.  Then the envelope has had a chance to make it all the way around the classroom, it is returned to the teacher. 

4. Directed paraphrasing where students are asked to explain something in everyday terms with a specific audience in mind.

5. Gallery walk where the teacher places 3 to 5 questions on large sheets of paper or on an iPad.  Small groups of students move around the gallery, looking at questions, discuss the questions before recording an answer.

6. Minute questions  where students are given to answer a question in one minute.  The teacher  collects the answers, makes a quick response, and returns the papers.

7.  Traffic cards - Each student ecieves three cards, ed, yellow, nand green.  The student can flash the cards during the lesson to let the teacher know if they need help.  For instance, if they flash a yellow card while the teacher is talking, it might mean, please slow down., you are going too fast.

8. Umpires is where the teacher glistens to a student answer before calling upon another student to determine if the answer given is correct.

These are just a few ideas given but many of the suggestions can be done quickly and easily.  With a bit of adjustment, technology can be used instead of paper.  I look forward to trying use several of these next year.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.