Mapping out an authentic assessment

You will love this post from C. Ross Flatt on Edutopia on how a classroom game became a tool for assessment for his sixth graders. In Galactic Mappers, a social studies game about physical geography, students in his classroom compete in teams to create the most geographically diverse continent in a shared hemisphere. This project encourages students to collaborate, design, iterate, and present a finished product in a single class period. The thing I like most about Flatt’s use of the game is the many ways he uses it to [Read more…]

Using 1:1 to teach each one

If you have not visited Edutopia lately, now is the time. They have assembled so many teacher-friendly materials on differentiation in the last few years. They not only have lesson ideas, templates, and support materials, but some nice video excerpts as well. Since I am focusing on assessment this month, I chose this fantastic [Read more…]

Exit cards

To continue with the May theme of assessment, I am featuring this fantastic video on tiered exit cards today. This clip is from The Teaching Channel, the home of many useful [Read more…]

TODD’S TECH TUESDAY: On-line collages

If you are looking for a quick formative assessment or a way to let your artistic students shine, you have to visit Photovisi. Students simply select a template, drop the photos into place, and print to create their product. Photo collages can be quick alternatives (or supplements) to an essay or quiz. Or for a […]

Differentiation from the moment they enter

How do you informally assess learners? Miss. Roeckle (over at Cheryl’s Classroom Tips) sometimes asks students to complete an entrance slip math problem to see if they understand the previous day’s lesson. For instance, before teaching multiplication, she gave all of her students the addition/subtraction money problem below. Then she introduced a new math game […]

Students as test authors

The featured post today is written with college students in mind, but you can use it with almost any grade level. At The BOK Blog, they are suggesting that educators “flip” test prep and have students write and discuss their own proposed test questions as a way to prepare for big exams. Read more about […]

Assessment and differentiation for the little ones

I adore the The Differentiated Kindergarten because the site is filled with freebies, colorful graphics and rich examples. Today’s post offers great advice on how to use assessment to differentiate instruction.

TODD’S TECH TUESDAY: Fun with stickman

Be prepared to lose hours of your life to doodling once you click over to Draw a Stickman. How could you use this in the classroom? To teach and reinforce vocabulary for ELL students, to assess the following of written directions for children with disabilities, to inspire a reluctant writer, to teach young students how […]

Helping students use time wisely

Learning how to use your time effectively is an important life skill. Why not help students learn it early? Sarah of Mrs. T’s First Grade keeps a Time Wisely Chart to teach time management to her first graders. Her chart is a simple hanging panel with pockets; students have their own pocket labeled with their […]

Differentiating the Islamic Empire

Today’s feature is this great little piece on differentiating content and assessment in secondary social studies. Pass it on to those in your school trying DI for the first time!