​Formative Assessment Strategies are used to gain information on where students are in their learning process and where they need to go from there. Here are a few ideas that promote quality feedback to move learning forward.

• Defending Multiple Choice: rather than have students just select an answer, have them defend it, explaining why it is the correct answer. In addition, you can have student explain why another answer is incorrect. This method gives much more accurate feedback to the teacher on the student’s actual knowledge.
• All Respond: use a white board, which can easily be made with a plastic sleeve, cardboard insert and white paper, to have all students write a response when asking a group question. Students use dry erase to record their answers. They write their answer, and turn it face down until it is time to share, when the “hold it to their heart” (in front of their chest). Holding it close keeps the responses controlled. This provides a much clearer picture to the teacher regarding understanding.
• White Board Plates: use a plastic plate as a white board. Use permanent marker to make any marks you want to remain and then dry erase for other marks. These are great for teaching graphing, fractions, and analog time. Excellent for elapse time too. All students respond, so again it is better feedback.
• Foldables: Using foldables creates graphic organizers that help students organize and present their thinking in a variety of ways.