Overview
Teaching is only half of the equation; ensuring learning occurred is the other. This institute helps educators master the art of using assessment as a dynamic tool for instructional navigation. It provides school leaders and instructional teams with a coherent framework for designing and implementing effective formative assessment systems that accelerate student learning.
Institute Outcomes
Participants will leave the institute with:
- A clear framework for designing and implementing effective formative assessment systems.
- A set of standards-aligned common formative assessments (CFAs) ready for classroom use.
- Protocols for analyzing student work and identifying instructional next steps.
- Tools for ensuring alignment between Tier 1 instruction, assessment, and intervention.
- A plan for embedding formative assessment practices into PLC structures and instructional routines.
What You Will Learn
Key focus areas include:
- Designing High-Quality Formative Assessments: Aligning assessments to priority standards and rigor; developing questions and tasks that accurately measure student understanding.
- Checks for Understanding in Real Time: Embedding frequent, intentional CFUs into daily instruction; using student responses to adjust pacing, grouping, and support.
- Developing Common Formative Assessments (CFAs): Building CFAs that are rigorous and instructionally meaningful; creating assessment calendars tied to pacing.
- Using Data to Drive Instruction: Analyzing student work to identify trends, misconceptions, and gaps; planning targeted reteach and intervention.
- Embedding Formative Assessment in PLCs: Establishing protocols for collaborative planning and data analysis.
Who Should Attend
This institute is ideal for:
- School and district leaders responsible for instructional systems.
- Instructional coaches and facilitators.
- Teacher teams committed to strengthening Tier 1 instruction.
- Schools seeking to improve alignment between instruction, assessment, and intervention.
Logistics
Format: 2-Day In-Person Institute
Ongoing Support: Quarterly support available in-person and virtual. (Recommended for schools in the first year of implementation with fidelity.)
Impact
When implemented effectively, formative assessment becomes the engine that drives instructional precision, accelerating student learning and ensuring that all students succeed.