Actionable Assessment: A Step-by-Step Guide to Responsive Teaching and Student Growth

Effective teaching involves checking and responding in the moment to learning, as you discover which students are getting it and which ones need more support. But how do you make decisions on the fly based on information gleaned during class?

In this handy playbook, Sackstein and McDowell help you collect formative assessment data in real-time, and then they provide step-by-step flowcharts and images to demonstrate how best to proceed once you have the data you need. They offer set plays for secondary students below, at, and above standards. They also provide specific instructional advice for when the challenges occur at the beginning, middle, and end of lessons, or in full group or small group settings. And finally, they cover ways to shift instruction based on student needs, engagement, and metacognitive opportunities.

With this helpful resource, you'll have a plethora of instructional moves that work in different situations, so you can continually adjust to where students are and help them truly grow in their learning.

Michael McDowell, Ed.D., is an internationally recognized author and educational leader, known for helping schools design rigorous, equitable, and sustainable learning systems. He is a former teacher, principal, and superintendent, and has served as national faculty for the Buck Institute for Education, adjunct professor at San Francisco State University, and advisor to organizations advancing student agency and instructional excellence. His books and professional learning frameworks are used worldwide to help educators create the conditions for every student to thrive.

Starr Sackstein is an assessment reform advocate and education consultant transforming teaching practices. With more than 20 years as an educator (16 years as a high school English teacher, 2 years as a K-12 curriculum director, and 7 years as an instructional coach and consultant), she champions standards-based learning that emphasizes metacognition and feedback over grades. She partners with institutions to empower teachers, engage students, and leverage data for growth. A prolific author and speaker committed to reshaping global assessment practices, Starr is also a dedicated parent, partner, animal enthusiast, and adventurer seeking new challenges.