14.1

(14.1) Think of a lesson plan from your licensure area. Knowing that assessment is an integral part of teaching, explain at least four informal and formal assessments that you will use in your lesson plan to provide you with feedback and involve the students in assessing their own learning.

Consider a lesson plan for teaching absolute values and solving algebraic equations involving absolute values. The teacher will introduce the lesson by giving the students the definition of absolute value (both orally and visually) and demonstrating the concept as the distance from zero using a number line. While introducing the concept of absolute value, the teacher will survey the room for any confused looks and signs of student engagement (or lack of) as an informal assessment. Any confused looks would call for a slower pace, different presentation method, and/or encouragements for student questions. Any lack of engagement would call for some motivation strategies or even a faster pace when the students are already familiar with the definition.

After a brief introduction, the teacher will then present a sample algebra problem involving absolute values. The teacher will present the method to solving equations with absolute values and demonstrate the method using the sample problem. Afterwards, the teacher will summarize the method orally and visually (writing on the blackboard). As a possible informal assessment, the teacher will ask the students for any questions or comments.

After the demonstration, the teacher will then present another algebra problem on the board. Then, the teacher will ask the students for volunteers to identify and carry out the first step of the method in solving the problem. Then, the teacher will ask volunteers for the second step and so on until the problem is successfully solved. This process is another opportunity for informal assessments.

Then, the teacher will pass out a worksheet with equations involving absolute values and ask the students to try the first one. The teacher will then walk around the room to observe students and assist them (informal assessment opportunities). For any students that are done early, the teacher will announce that they can try more problems on the worksheet.

Finally, the teacher will assign homework (finishing the rest of the worksheet). The homework will help the students in assessing their own learning. At the end of the lesson, the teacher will announce that a quiz (formal assessment) on this material is scheduled two classes from today’s class. The teacher will also assure the class that any questions regarding today’s material and homework will be addressed in the next class.