Formative+Assessment+Lessons+(FALs)


 * What is a Formative Assessment Lesson? **
 * a scripted lesson written by the Shell Center in partnership with the Gates Foundation (see **Mathematics Assessment Project **website)
 * a challenging task that is out of the ordinary and involves problem solving with "productive struggle"
 * builds student's ability to become confident problem solvers; eliminates the "GPSing" of teaching
 * used during each unit of study about half to two-thirds way through the unit (used as a Medium Cycle Formative Assessment)
 * uses the "5 Strategies for Effective Teaching" in order to move learning forward everyday
 * These lessons are NOT about getting to the correct answer. They are about **generating thinking and discussion** among students.


 * 5 Key Strategies for Effective Formative Assessment**


 * 1) Clarifying, sharing and understanding goals for learning and criteria success for students.
 * 2) Engineering effective classroom discussions, questions, activities, and tasks that elicit evidence of students' learning.
 * 3) Providing feedback that moves learning forward.
 * 4) Activiating students as owners of their own learning.
 * 5) Activating students as learning resources for one another.

When planning your unit, consider the following question: //**"How can I bring problem solving, collaboration, learning, engagement, and student ownership to teaching this content?"**//
 * Strategies for setting up Group Work **

Here are two lessons that would be great to start your kids "thinking and discussing" problems:

[|MARS Tasks by grade level]
 * Formative Assessment Lessons can be found at the following sites: **
 * Mathematics Assessment Project **
 * Christa Lemily**
 * Kenton County Math Design Collaborative**




 * *When you're ready to try one, let me know. I would LOVE to help!! **