Double Entry Journal #11

What is formative Assessment?
A formative assessment is a type of assessment that measures where the students are and how they are doing with the learning process.
What is the CENTRAL purpose of formative assessment? 
The central purpose is student learning and improving it.
Connect a best practice in formative assessment to one research-based strategy. 
Providing feedback is a research-based strategy that is one in the same with formative assessment. Timely feedback leads to motivation and overall improvement.
Give an example of how a specific assessment can be used formatively and summatively. 
A rubric is a great example because it provides clear instructions and feedback, and can be used to grade a final product.
Give an example from your field placement related to formative assessment and timing.
My host teacher does a good job of providing timely feedback when the students turn in written work. The teacher leaves comments on the rough drafts and allows students to reflect on their work based on the comments. It really seems to help and gives the students confidence when they turn in their final paper.
What are some strategies to help formative assessment be more effective when providing students with feedback?
The feedback needs to be timely and encouraging to prevent the feeling of failure. Formative assessment allows for students to feel motivated and encouraged, so positive comments and advice are key.
Name two advantages to high quality formative assessment.
One advantage is that the teacher can see from the start what problems the students are having and jump at the first signs by giving timely feedback and motivators. Students can also use the feedback to keep on track, which is another advantage. Building this relationship should (over time) allow the students to be more independent with school work.
What are some challenges to implementing high quality formative assessment?
Linking assessment to instruction so that both teachers and students benefit is a challenge. Another challenge is adjusting assessment to that students move beyond just completing the work to actually excelling at it. It all leads back to confidence and motivation. Once these are built within the student, the student will become more independent and will improve academically.

Resource: 


NCTE. (2010). Fostering high-quality. Retrieved from http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Journals/CC/0201-sep2010/CC0201PolicyBrief.pdf