Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Ways to Quickly Check for Understanding

 

From: https://www.edutopia.org/article/quick-ways-to-check-for-understanding?utm_content=linkpos1&utm_campaign=weekly-2024-04-24&utm_medium=email&utm_source=edu-newsletter

28 Ways to Quickly Check for Understanding

From sketching comics to drafting tweets, these fun—and fast—ways to check for understanding are creative and flexible.

April 19, 2024

Quick learning “pulse checks” during and after lessons can be a powerful way to “improve and enhance student learning,” says veteran teacher and author Jay McTighe. Designed to assess students’ understanding of concepts or their ability to apply new skills, formative assessments can also inform next instructional steps.

Importantly, they’re generally not graded, since the point of these in-process checks is to “obtain feedback to use in improving teaching and learning, not to evaluate learning,” McTighe clarifies. “It’s important that students understand the purpose of these techniques, that mistakes are OK—and even expected—and that they will not be graded on their responses.”

Drawing from our archives and hundreds of comments on the topic from educators across our social media channels, we compiled a list of quick, low-stakes—and fun!—formative assessments designed to offer a variety of low-lift, flexible options in your classroom.

Write a Headline: Following a lesson, ask students to write a headline about it. Teacher Sarah Cook caps her students’ headlines at six words: “They really have to think about what is most crucial to say,” she writes on our Facebook feed.

Sit Down/Stand Up: Midway through a lesson, or at the end, ask the class several true/false questions related to what you just covered and have them stand up if they agree, stay seated if they don’t, or squat if they’re uncertain, suggests educator Celeste Kirsh. To make kids comfortable, educator Jess Mark asks students to keep their eyes shut during this quick check for understanding.

Draw a Comic: After a lesson, “ask students to draw the lesson in a comic strip—max five frames,” proposes educator Kim Allsup, then have them explain the comic to classmates. It’s a helpful review strategy, and kids gain insights into what their peers found important about the lesson, says Allsup.

Color Cards: Periodically, stop the lesson and have students hold up color cards. Green means “Keep going, I understand”; yellow means “I’m a little confused”; red means “Stop, I need help.” We heard several variations: Bobin Manchanda has students write their names on Post-it notes and stick them in green, yellow, or red zones on the board. Sarah Marlatt Petrie’s students place a green or red dot on their desk to show their understanding, an approach that helps “other students identify an ‘expert’ when working in groups or pairs,” Petrie writes.

Mini Debate: In class, select a few student “experts” to debate or discuss a topic you’ve just covered while the rest of the class listens, suggests Todd Finley, a professor of English education at East Carolina University. If you record it, you can even have students turn the discussion into a mini podcast using free audio editing software like Audacity.

Connect to Your Life: Educator Sarah Nawras Sandouk uses a strategy that she calls Connect to Life Objective. “Whether it’s a poem, a text, a history fact, or even a grammar rule,” she asks students to explain how they’ll use something they’ve learned in their day-to-day lives.

Create a Quiz: Students can write a set of test questions related to the lesson they’ve just had, then pick two of them to answer in a paragraph, Finley suggests. For a twist, consider having students trade papers to answer each other’s questions.

Quick Check-In: At the end of class, ask students to “take a selfie, or use an emoji, that represents how you felt about today’s lesson,” proposes teacher Tarita Reeves. “Include a caption that tells what you learned that made you feel this way.”

Compose an Acrostic: Have students pick a vocabulary word or key term from the day’s lesson and write an acrostic poem—a short poem where each line begins with the next letter in the chosen word—suggests Kristin Shapiro.

Knowledge Walk: On the whiteboard or on sticky notes hung around the class, students can write a single sentence summarizing something new they learned, says educator Greg Evans on our thread on X. Then the class strolls around the classroom reading what their peers have written.

Have a Chat: If you have the time, quick one-on-one conversations with students—scheduled or off the cuff—can reveal what they understand and what they’re struggling with. “Five minutes per student would take quite a bit of time,” says educator and education researcher Laura Thomas, “but you don’t have to talk to every student about every project or lesson.”

Tweet It: Have students write a 280-character tweet summarizing a central takeaway from the lesson, suggests Finley. And if there’s time, have students write responses to each other’s tweets, says educator Jackie Ferguson. Consider having students generate related keywords or hashtags, too.

Use Your Hands: McTighe recommends hand signals to quickly gauge kids’ understanding:

  • Thumbs up: I understand _____ and can explain it in my own words.
  • Wave hand: I’m not completely sure about _____ and doubt I could explain it.
  • Thumbs down: I don’t yet understand _____ and cannot explain it.

Holding up fingers also works, says Sherri Rockstad Simpson, who asks students to hold up fingers from one to five to quickly show their level of understanding. 

Note It: Ask students to write one takeaway from the lesson on a sticky note, then affix the notes to a poster or whiteboard so classmates can browse and learn from their peers, suggests educator Kim Roberts.

Misconception Check: Give students a common misconception about the topic they’re studying. Their first challenge is to identify the flaw or error in the statement, says McTighe. The bigger challenge: correct the error with an accurate explanation.

Assess Yourself: The ability to assess their own learning is an important metacognitive skill for students. “You can give your rubric to your students and have them spot their strengths and weaknesses,” says Thomas. For a lighter lift, write three or four topics on the board that you think the whole class should work on, then have students write their names under the topic they need the most help with.

Just One Word: Have students provide a single word to describe a person, event, or concept they learned about. “I’m always amazed at the creative, thought-provoking words the kids come up with,” writes Meredith Adelman.

Summary Poem: Ask students to list 10 useful vocabulary words from an assigned text, then write a free-verse poem using those words, says Finley. Or have them write a quick summary of the reading that incorporates their 10 chosen vocab words.

Concept Maps: Many teachers use graphic organizers and concept maps to support learning—but they can also work as formative assessments, writes McTighe. For example, students might draw a visual web of factors affecting plant growth or develop a concept map to illustrate how a bill becomes a law.

Help Me Plan: At the end of a lesson, educator Mark Hansen breaks his class into small groups at separate tables to discuss how their learning went. Groups report back to Hansen to share “what we should review or clarify tomorrow, and where we should go deeper.”

3-2-1: Many teachers in our audience check for understanding via 3-2-1 prompts—with some interesting variations. Meghan Mannarino asks for three things students learned, two things they found interesting, and one question they have. Jessica Case-Martinez, meanwhile, starts her 3-2-1 by asking for three words to describe the day; Lorraine says on Instagram that she ends with one connection they can make about the class material.

A $2 Summary: Tell students that they have a $2.00 budget to summarize the day’s lesson or a recent reading, and each word costs 10 cents. Besides quickly showing students’ grasp of the lesson’s key idea, this activity gets elementary-age students engaging in mathematical thinking, says educator Sunaina Sharma.

What Are Others Wondering?: To avoid the sea of blank stares after he prompts his class to ask questions, educator Paul Holimon suggests a different approach: Ask students to “think of a question you think someone else in the class might have about today’s lesson. This solves the problem of a student thinking, ‘I don’t have any questions.’”

Vote With Your Feet: Hang four signs in the corners of your classroom: “Agree,” “Mostly Agree,” “Mostly Disagree,” and “Disagree.” Then read statements related to the day’s lesson—for example, “Orwell was trying to call attention to animal rights with Old Major’s speech”—and ask students to agree or disagree by migrating to the appropriate corner of the room, writes an educator from Rhode Island on Instagram. 

One Minute Jot: Teacher Angie Huels gives students 60 seconds to write a reflection on the day’s lesson, answering the following prompts: Name the most important thing you learned in class today; what questions do you still have?; and offer a suggestion about our class.

Help a Classmate: At the end of a lesson, students with questions can write them on the whiteboard, and classmates who think they know the answer can write a response below the question—or volunteer to discuss the topic one-on-one, writes educator Heather Brown.

Get Creative: “Whether students draw, create a collage, or sculpt,” a creative formative assessment can help students “synthesize their learning,” writes Thomas. “They can create a dance to model cell mitosis or act out stories like Ernest Hemingway’s ‘Hills Like White Elephants’ to explore the subtext,” she adds.

Teach Someone: To expose gaps in students’ understanding, ask them to “teach a new concept or skill to someone else—a new student, a student who has just returned from absence, or a younger child,” writes McTighe. Or have students write a letter explaining a new concept to a friend, Finley suggests.

HELP OTHER TEACHERS OUT!

What are your favorite ways to check for understanding? Please share your strategies and ideas in the comments so other teachers can try them out in their classrooms.

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Friday, April 19, 2024

Project Based Learning for Pre-K Through Second Grade

 From: https://www.edutopia.org/article/project-based-learning-young-students?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Spring+24&utm_id=Spring24&utm_term=young+PBL&utm_content=practitioner&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2JOryOjpI21WQmr0yfTQuWIOMNUkVkVATGlQfODQlyCZCxJMCCMEMOxWY_aem_Adn9sHaKQNzidq2rH3F5ZcbNYs75y9QH5cWhQz2lNNFee_LabqZL67lBWMQ2o4AxAldYwASXY92IFNilZpzbkhT1

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING (PBL)

PBL for Pre-K Through Second Grade

Very young students can benefit from project-based learning, as these detailed steps for a project conducted by preschool students demonstrate.

April 16, 2024
Young girl playing in the water
Leigh Ann Speake / iStock

Observation, exploration, and discovery are three main skills that young children (kindergarten to second grade) generally develop when they interact with their surroundings. Some children prefer to take time to observe the environment before moving around to explore, while others choose to immediately start actively discovering the wonders within the environment. Nurturing an environment that ignites curiosity and facilitates exploration, therefore, is paramount.

Early-years educators who work with children 2 to 7 years old play a pivotal role in laying the foundation for lifelong learning by creating spaces where children can freely explore their diverse interests and learn how to expand explorations and inquiries into meaningful in-depth projects. 

In this post, I share a project I developed for a pre-K class with 3-year-olds that offers clear examples of each step and process feature. The project began when a boy became fascinated by the sound that came out of a bottle when he blew into it. He shared his findings with his peers, and the Sounds Exploration project began.  

CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR EXPLORATION

The environments where young children interact become learning spaces and serve as educators, generating dialogue between children and/or between each child and the environment, developing processes of inquiry, reflection, observation, and active listening. What should these spaces be like? 

Versatility: Design flexible learning environments that allow spontaneous exploration and discovery in different areas and disciplines. Incorporate adaptable learning materials to accommodate diverse interests and activities. Equip your classroom with a rich variety of resources, including books, art supplies, natural materials, and sensory experiences. Allow children to access natural open spaces that offer enough room for free exploration.  

In the example of the Sounds Exploration project, the teacher offered different materials and contexts for the learners to make and identify sounds, both outside and indoors. In the open air, the teacher helped learners focus on sounds by inviting them to close their eyes and name the sounds they could hear. This takes some time and guidance to help learners to listen beyond the sounds in the foreground and pay attention to those in the background. The learners were then made aware of the sounds they made by walking on different surfaces—like pebbles, grass, and mud—and the sounds they made with sticks or by hitting the water. Outdoors contexts are full of discovery possibilities. 

Indoors, the children used materials such as plastic tops, foil, plastic, cellophane, construction paper, and cardboard to make sounds. Wood blocks, musical instruments, and toys (cars, trucks, dolls, balls, construction blocks) are also an option, as are the different surfaces (floor, carpets, tables) in the classroom. 

In both environments, the children had guidance to help them discover more about the sounds they produced. This connects with the next point.

Curiosity: Encourage a culture of inquiry by posing open-ended questions, stimulating wonder, and inviting children to explore topics of interest. Offer provocations and invitations to learning that spark curiosity and prompt further investigation. 

Collaboration: Facilitate opportunities for children to explore together, interact, learn from one another, and question their findings. 

INTERACTING WITH CHILDREN DURING EXPLORATION PERIODS

The most successful interactions a teacher can carry out in the period of inquiry are those that don’t have a single answer but allow for different responses. The children’s answers will likely be the result of the connections they make with themselves, their previous knowledge, their interaction with their peers, and the context in which they’re interacting.

As a consequence, the teacher has an opportunity to develop and model an attitude of listening and of inquiry into the children’s responses and the construction of their learning. 

For example, related to the Sounds project, the teacher might ask the following questions: 

  • “How do you do it? Can you teach me?”
  • “This sound... what does it remind you of?” 
  • ”What other sounds can we make?”
  •  ”What causes sound to be produced?”
  •  ”What can we use this sound for?”

Engage in active observation: Observe children closely as they play: as they interact with each other, the decisions they make, and how they choose to communicate their feelings, emotions, thoughts. Pay attention to their interests, preferences, and inquiries.

Listen actively: Listen to the children’s conversations when you ask open-ended questions to stimulate their thinking and foster reflection and critical thinking. Encourage them to communicate their ideas and their thoughts, share observations, and voice their desire to know. 

Let the children express freely: Let them show you their willingness to deepen their knowledge. Follow their interests and curiosity, allowing them to guide the direction of their exploration. Facilitate support and resources based on their inquiries, empowering them to build knowledge and take ownership of their learning journey.

Provide research tools: Offer the children access to age-appropriate tools and materials, including books, digital resources, and hands-on experiences. Support them in navigating these resources independently, fostering self-directed learning skills.

Facilitate tools to document their findings: Provide materials and resources for learners to document their discoveries in various ways: different art forms, notes, oral dialogues, audio/video recordings. 

TRANSFERRING EXPLORATION INTO RESEARCH PROJECTS

Children’s active exploration, properly documented, will generate a lot of information and, in turn, will create the possibility of continuing work on a specific project.

In the example of the Sounds Exploration project, the learners were invited to use the sounds they had collected, identified, and documented to make a Sound Story from a well-known story they usually read in class and enjoyed. The guiding question was this: How can the learners in this class turn [the name of the story] into a sound story?

Assist project planning: Guide children in planning and organizing their research project, and deconstruct the process into manageable steps. Help them create research questions, collect information, and develop a short-term plan of action. 

Analyze the data collected: Facilitate understanding of the findings and guide the children to become aware of which subject area they’re willing to learn more about. 

Ignite Intrinsic motivation: Provide steps for the learners to become aware of  what they already know about the specific topic in that subject area and what more they want to know, and guide them in finding where they can collect the information they’re looking for. 

Foster reflection: Promote reflection throughout the research process. Provide opportunities for children to share their findings with peers and reflect on their learning experiences and strategies.

Research projects enable teachers to empower children to make choices and decisions about their learning journey when they have a range of options and opportunities to explore their interests authentically. In addition, research projects foster collaboration and peer learning by encouraging children to work together and share what they’ve learned. 

It’s important to recognize and celebrate children’s achievements and contributions throughout the research process. Create opportunities for them to showcase their work, share their findings with others, and receive feedback and praise.

In essence, by creating an environment that nurtures exploration, supporting children during their inquiries, and empowering them to take on leadership roles in their learning, early years educators can lay the groundwork for a lifetime of curiosity, discovery, and success.

 

"What to Say to Your Kid Instead of How Was School?"

Good ideas!
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