Amy Reese

Formative Assessments
ESL 5
October 5, 2014

Formative assessments are tools teachers use to give feedback to students or guide
a teachers instruction. Formative assessment has the potential to enhance teaching
and learning, especially for ELLs. Some formative assessments that I either used or
observed in the classroom include the following:
1. Thumbs up, Thumbs middle, Thumbs down I have observed this
assessment quite often and have used it in class. After a concept is taught,
students are asked if they get the concept. If students think they got it, they
put thumbs up. If students are not sure, thumbs middle. If the students do
not understand, thumbs down. This is a good self-reporting strategy that
seems to work well in class. When I see lots of thumbs down, then I reteach
the concept using a different strategy. With ELLs in the classroom, it is a good
tool to make sure the concept is being understood in English.
2. Cold Calling I have observed the use of cold calling in class. Cold calling is
asking a question about a concept that is being taught in class and then calling on
someone who is not volunteering to respond. I have seen this assessment work
very with ELLs. Sometimes ELLs are just too shy or not confident enough to
raise their hand, so cold calling helps them at least try to answer the question and
it gives them the confidence necessary to answer future questions.

3. Visualize Read a page of a story and do not show the illustration. Then have
students draw a picture or illustration about what they just read about the story.
This assessment has worked well from what I have observed, especially in level 1
and level 2 ELLs who do not have strong writing skills. It is good way to assess
their listening skills. I also have seen students be encouraged to write a sentence
or two about their illustration or label the parts of the illustration.