Embedding Formative Assessment: Practical Techniques for K-12 Classrooms

by Siobhan Leahy Dylan Wiliam

Effective classroom formative assessment helps educators make minute-by-minute, day-by-day instructional decisions. This clear, practical guide for teachers centers on five key instructional strategies, along with an overview of each strategy and practical formative assessment techniques for implementation in K-12 classrooms. The authors provide guidance on when and how to use the techniques, tips, cautions, and enhancements to sustain formative assessment.
Educators will learn how

Tips, Cautions, and Enhancements
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction
Chapter 1: Why Formative Assessment Should Be a Priority for Every Teacher
Chapter 2: Your Professional Learning
Chapter 3: Strategy 1--Clarifying, Sharing, and Understanding Learning Intentions and Success Criteria
Chapter 4: Strategy 2--Engineering Effective Discussion, Tasks, and Activities That Elicit Evidence of Learning
Chapter 5: Strategy 3--Providing Feedback That Moves Learning Forward
Chapter 6: Strategy 4--Activating Students as Learning Resources for One Another
Chapter 7: Strategy 5--Activating Students as Owners of Their Own Learning
Conclusion
Resources
Appendix
References
Index

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2015

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this topic would only appeal to classroom teachers/coaches, and while it's VERY similar (even some of the same paragraphs!) to Wiliam's previous book, it offers practical suggestions and clear directions for making effective formative assessment happen in your classroom.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I read two of Wiliam's books back to back. The first one I struggled through (despite the message being good), but this one was a breeze to read, and I think it's because of the format. Citing many resources and references, the author melds the ideas of many to provide his thoughts on formative assessment. He is good to credit, when applicable, the ideas he suggests from others.
One such example is from Leahy which distills formative assessment to five key strategies.

Determine where the learner is going
Determine where the learner is now
Determine how to get the learner there

This relies on the teacher, learner, and peers working together.

Oh, how happy I was to see the comments about transference (pages 34 - 35). Our school is stressing this with our competencies' work. I found the author's examples of "confused learning intentions" vs. clarified learning intentions" helpful here.

The chapter on effective discussions was illuminating. Full of ideas for engaging students to participate, the author also stresses the pitfalls of some strategies and reminds us how important it is to provide thinking time, wait time, and the right questions (including teaching students to ask the questions themselves - amen!).

And the chapter on feedback...oh, my. It's good, really, really good. I would love all staff at my school to read this chapter. In a grade-conscious society (and not a learning society), I think some of these strategies can really help us, especially the ones about peer feedback and assessment and group work.

Each chapter provides summary points and reflection checklists which are helpful. Additional templates are included in the appendix.

[Helene · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I thought Embedded Formative Assessment was great. This book is even better. It does review the case for formative assessment AND gives a thorough explanation of classroom strategies. This practical resource for teachers wanting to increase their use of formatives explains the strategy, give tips, cautions, and enhancements for each one. The end of each chapter has an "RECAP" outline.

There are duplicatable resources, checklists, and surveys at the end of each chapter, at the end of the book and on their website.

You could do worse than just start with one strategy, use it, and keep adding to your repertoire. This is a very user-friendly book and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their practice and who want to help students own their learning.

[Kaitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good ideas, but you have to sift through a haystack of things you shouldn't do as a teacher to find the "needle" of things they do recommend. I feel if authors are going to strip things away that you shouldn't do there needs to be suggestions of what to do in replacement of those things for their words to be helpful.

[Lindsay Bowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical, easy-to-implement formative assessment strategies.

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great strategies for utilizing formative assessments consistently in daily classroom work; however, the exhaustive discussion of research bogs down the work in spots.

[Trent Mikesell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource for using formative assessments in the K-12 classroom. Appropriate amount of theory but an emphasis on practical advice that can be implemented immediately.

[Lysh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusingly, the last part of this book states that the authors don't expect us to read this cover-to-cover, but that's exactly what I did. I really liked how these strategies were classroom friendly and the authors considered all environments and levels. The evidence provided was easily digestible and examples helped to envision how this would work in my space. I look forward to trying some of these strategies when I'm back in the classroom.

[Aaron Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wiliam, D., & Leahy, S. (2015). Embedding formative assessment: Practical techniques for K-12 classrooms. West Palm Beach, FL: Learning Sciences International.