On Formative Assessment: Readings from Educational Leadership (El Essentials)

This collection of articles from Educational Leadership pulls together some of the best pieces on formative assessment and feedback that will help educators understand how to best use the data they have at their fingertips.

The articles provide insights into the purpose of formative assessment (Guskey; Tomlinson); the principles to follow for giving the most effective feedback (Wiggins; Hattie; Brookhart; Dweck); and multiple strategies for using effective formative assessment in daily lessons (Wiliam, Duckor, Chappuis, Fisher and Frey, Dueck, and Grdina).

The authors tell fellow educators about how to use formative assessment to shape the next phase of instruction and how to look for patterns in students' assessments and assignments—the mistakes students frequently make and the signals that tell what individuals need, what groups of kids need, and what the whole class needs. And they present excellent advice about how to make your feedback more apt to be heard and acted upon by your students.

Whether you are a new or experienced teacher, a school leader, a teacher educator, or a member of a professional learning community, this collection of articles can help you reflect on ways to use assessment to more powerfully boost learning.