Formative assessment is ongoing evaluation during instruction that helps teachers adjust teaching in real-time. Unlike summative assessments (tests, final projects), formative assessments are low-stakes checks for understanding like exit tickets, thumbs up/down, quick writes, and observation. They provide immediate feedback about student learning, allowing you to reteach, slow down, or move forward based on actual student understanding.
Key Points
- Ongoing assessment during instruction, not just at the end
- Low-stakes—used to inform teaching, not grade students
- Provides immediate feedback for instructional decisions
- Examples: exit tickets, quick polls, think-pair-share
- Helps identify misconceptions before they solidify
- Should be planned into every lesson
AI lesson plan generators automatically include formative assessment strategies throughout each lesson. TeachMap AI suggests specific check-for-understanding moments and provides ready-to-use formative assessment activities appropriate for your content and grade level.