Formative Assessment Models: A day in the life of a nounours

In order to be an effective educator, a teacher must frequently check for student understanding. These formative assessments may take many forms, and are applicable in both in-person and online learning environments. Understanding different forms of assessment will enable teachers to easily incorporate formative assessment into their planning and practice. Here are some models I made that can used to ensure all learners in the classroom are reached.

Assessment Title: A day in the life of a nounours

​Grade Level: 1-5

Subject Area: English as a foreign language: topical vocabulary

Skills or Content Knowledge: What information or ideas will be evaluated with this formative assessment? In other words, what data are you aiming to gather?

Students will take a nounours (stuffed animal) and create a journal of it “doing activities” that are related to the vocabulary in the unit/term (times, present continuous, hobbies, work, navigating the city, etc.)

​Assessment Description/Link: What activity or technology (app, tool, etc.) will students use to demonstrate their knowledge or skills? In other words, how will students provide data?

Students will create a written or video journal for a portfolio in either the student’s voice or the nounours’ voice depending upon the relevant vocabulary and grammar.

Modifications & Adjustments: How will you administer this formative assessment in an online, hybrid, and physical learning environment? How will you make this accessible to students with language barriers and those with special needs?

The flexibility of the journal format allows easy accessibility. It can be done on paper either handwritten or typed, recorded video, recorded audio, photo collage with written or spoken commentary, etc.

No change is necessary for students with language barriers. They must try to do what they can in English, attempt to look up vocabulary they don’t know, and anything else they can use another language.

Data Collection: How will you gather and record data from this formative assessment? How will you use the data to inform instruction?

When done as an ongoing activity throughout the term/year, the regular supply of feedback will help the teacher make adjustments to activities throughout the period and monitor the general improvement of the target vocabulary and grammar usage

Student-Centered Learning: How will this formative assessment promote a student-centered learning environment in your classroom?

• Students learn the material, students use the material in near real-life situations, and the near-real-time feedback will allow the teacher to quickly make adjustments to their lessons to focus on student needs.