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Formative Assessment Strategies for Enhanced Learning in Science, K-8
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Formative Assessment Strategies for Enhanced Learning in Science, K-8


Courses:
Science Methods

September 2008 | 144 pages | Corwin

"Hammerman focuses on the meaning and centrality of formative assessment, providing insights, examples, and ties to numerous individual initiatives to improve science experiences for students and to inspire better teaching for teachers."
—Robert E. Yager, Professor of Science Education
University of Iowa

"This book addresses the various assessments used in our schools and how they can be approached to improve learning."
—Elizabeth Alvarez, Math and Science Coach
Chicago Public Schools, IL

Use formative assessment to guide successful teaching and learning in science!

Proven to be one of the most powerful tools for promoting effective learning, formative assessment enables teachers to capture evidence of student thinking and learning and use that information to adjust instruction. In this concise resource, science educator Elizabeth Hammerman clearly outlines the formative assessment process and provides practical strategies for embedding assessments into the K–8 standards-based science curriculum.

This research-based book demonstrates how student-centered assessment helps students assume more responsibility for what they learn and how they learn. Teachers can use the various models of formative assessments to monitor student progress and evaluate learning. The author guides readers through discussions, "thought and reflection" activities, analyses of assessment techniques, and applications to classroom practice.

Ideal for teachers and science and curriculum specialists, this user-friendly resource provides all the necessary tools to:

  • Assess student understanding using observation checklists, questioning strategies, notebooks, reports, graphic organizers, projects, and performance tasks
  • Differentiate science instruction to reach all learners
  • Use rubrics as a means of discovering student strengths and weaknesses
  • Collect student data to inform instructional decisions

With this easy-to-implement guide, any teacher can effectively use formative assessment strategies to enhance instruction and increase student achievement in science.


 
Preface
The Goals of Formative Assessment Strategies for Enhanced Learning in Science

 
Uses for Formative Assessment Strategies for Enhanced Learning in Science

 
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction
Student-Centered Instruction and Assessment

 
Changing Practice to Improve Learning

 
An Overview of Chapters

 
 
1. Formative Assessment and Science
New Ways of Thinking About Assessment

 
Goal-Centered Assessment

 
Research Support for Formative Assessment

 
Creating a Vision for Formative Assessment

 
Examining Beliefs and Practices

 
Traditional Versus Student-Centered Views of Assessment

 
Formative Assessment as "Authentic" Assessment

 
Clear Targets for Instruction and Assessment

 
 
2. Using Rubrics to Guide Learning
The What and Why of Rubrics

 
Holistic Rubrics

 
Designing Holistic Rubrics

 
Generalized Rubrics

 
Examples of Generalized Rubrics

 
Analytic Rubrics

 
Assessment Tasks With Analytic Rubrics

 
Designing Analytic Rubrics

 
Rubrics for Self-Assessment and Peer Assessment

 
Design a Rubric

 
 
3. Observation Checklists and Effective Questioning
Observation Checklists

 
Sample Observation Checklists

 
Effective Questioning

 
Questions for Thinking and Problem Solving

 
Questions for Instruction and Assessment

 
 
4. Notebooks, Reports, and Graphic Organizers
Notebooks

 
Notebooks as Assessment Tools

 
Rubric for a Science Notebook

 
Lab Reports

 
Lab Reports for Learning and Assessment

 
Rubric for a Lab Report

 
Graphic Organizers

 
Descriptive Organizers

 
Sequential Organizers

 
Process-Casual Organizers

 
Categorical Organizers

 
Comparison-Related Organizers

 
Problem-Solution Organizers

 
Four Corner Organizers

 
 
5. Projects and Presentations
Learning Through Projects

 
Assessing Projects

 
Rubric for a Project

 
Learning Through Presentations

 
Assessing Presentations

 
 
6. Performance Tasks and Embedded Assessments
Performance Assessment

 
Performance Tasks

 
A Generalized Rubric for a Performance Task

 
Embedded Assessments

 
A Model for Embedded Assessments

 
Sample Embedded Performance Task

 
Designing Embedded Performance Assessments

 
Performance Assessments Following Instruction

 
Sample Performance Assessments

 
Performance Assessment as Benchmark Assessment

 
Characteristics of Benchmark Assessments

 
Sample Benchmark Assessment

 
 
7. Planning and Implementing Formative Assessment
Characteristics of High-Quality Instruction and Assessment

 
Planning Formative Assessment

 
A Planning Guide for Formative Assessment

 
A Planning Guide for a Unit on Cells

 
Using Assessment Data to Modify Instruction

 
Project Choices

 
Adjusting Assignments

 
Stations for Active Learning

 
Differentiating Instruction Through Centers

 
Creating Contracts

 
Formative Assessment and Accountability

 
 
References and Further Reading
 
Index

"Hammerman focuses on the meaning and centrality of formative assessment, providing insights, examples, and ties to numerous individual initiatives to improve science experiences for students and to inspire better teaching for teachers."

Robert E. Yager, Professor of Science Education
University of Iowa

"Addresses the various assessments used in our schools, but most importantly how they can be approached to improve learning."

Elizabeth Alvarez, Math and Science Coach
Chicago Public Schools, IL

"With so many teachers trying to meet the needs of NCLB, using strategies that we find credible and do-able is a major goal. The many good suggestions with reasonable rationale make this a valuable book."

Judith A. Filkins, K-8 Math and Science Curriculum Coordinator
Lebanon School District, NH

"The book fills a gap left open by many teacher credential programs: how to teach and assess science. New and veteran teachers will benefit from the specific examples of assessment strategies given and the prompts to reflect on practice."

Regina Brinker, Science Teacher
Christensen Middle School, Livermore, CA
Key features
•Provides models for each type of assessment and shows how they can be used to instruct, monitors and guides student progress, and evaluates learning.
•Overview of research on formative assessment
•Introduces a variety of classroom assessment strategies
•Creates a vision for assessment
•Links classroom instruction and assessment to standardized testing
•Address a broad range of assessment strategies and provide examples of each type of assessment
•'Teaches teachers' how to use classroom assessment strategies to enhance instruction and increase achievement
•Introduces concepts and strategies – aka an Assessment Toolkit (about 8 different assessment "tools")
•Elaborates on the concept or strategy through activities and models
•Challenges teachers to apply the strategies to classroom practice

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781452280479

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