Formative Assessment Resources for Parents

Also known as assessment for learning, formative assessment supports learning during the learning process. It Involves both teachers and students in ongoing dialogue, descriptive feedback, and reflection throughout instruction.

In a classroom where students and teachers are actively engaged in the formative assessment process, you may notice a decrease in grades and an increase in feedback. This is because feedback is a critical component of the formative assessment process. It helps students understand where they are in the learning process, where they need to go, and how they will get there. "The primary goal of grading and reporting is communication... Grading and reporting certify attainment of learning goals, identify where additional work is needed, and provide a basis for improvement efforts" (Guskey & Marzano). Research has shown that students often experience grading as evaluation and judgment. If a paper is returned with both a grade and a comment, many students will pay attention to the grade and ignore the comment. To be most effective, feedback must be experienced as information and description. Feedback has a bigger impact when it is not accompanied by a grade.