Summary of Common Formative Assessments 2.0: How to Write Quality Assessment Questions Aligned to the Rigor of the Standards by Larry Ainsworth and Donald Viegut

Unlock the secrets to creating high-quality assessments with 'Common Formative Assessments 2.0'. Transform your classroom with effective strategies!

Ah, Common Formative Assessments 2.0! The title alone sounds riveting, doesn't it? If you ever wondered how to write high-quality assessment questions that are as aligned to educational standards as a toddler's finger painting is to Picasso, then this book is your new best friend. Let's dive into the glorious pool of knowledge that Ainsworth and Viegut have poured into a hefty 304-page guide that's all about transforming the dreary world of assessments into a sparkly oasis of rigor and relevance.

The authors kick things off by claiming that formative assessments are not just fancy buzzwords slapped onto a PowerPoint slide. They are, in fact, essential tools in today's classrooms! Surprised? Well, grab a seat because they delve into the nuances of creating assessments that actually measure what students know-rather than just testing their ability to guess which answer looks the most colorful.

Next, we navigate through a buffet of principles, ideas, and what they call "timeless practices." Yep, that's right. These are not your run-of-the-mill, one-season wonders. We're talking about time-tested strategies that even your grandfather would approve of if he were still grading papers by hand with a quill.

As the book unfolds, it breaks down the process of crafting quality assessment questions. This is where you'll learn about bloom's taxonomy. No, it's not some metro station, but rather a hierarchy of cognitive processes that'll take you from simple recall of facts to high-level thinking like analyzing and creating-basically leveling up from an educational noob to a scholarly boss.

The dynamic duo also discusses the importance of aligning assessments with standards. Because let's face it, you can't just throw random questions at a student and call it an exam unless you're aiming for total chaos. The authors will have you nodding along as they explain that good assessments are aligned with learning outcomes-think of it as the GPS guiding your students to knowledge-ville without going off-roading into a ditch of confusion.

Also revelatory is their take on feedback. Ainsworth and Viegut stress that feedback should be more than just a "C-" scrawled on the top of a paper. They champion the idea of constructive feedback that helps students grow. Shocking, right? Who knew the secret ingredient to improving student performance was actually giving them useful advice rather than blanket judgments?

As we coast towards the end-spoiler alert!-no major plot twists here, just a delightful summary of all you've learned. They wrap it all up by encouraging educators to embrace a culture of collaboration. Because why should teachers be isolated in their classrooms like a hermit crab in its shell? The authors believe in teamwork! So, gather your fellow educators and get busy crafting a revolution in assessments because, as they say, "many hands make light work"-or in this case, better assessments.

In conclusion, Common Formative Assessments 2.0 serves some serious educational wisdom on a silver platter. If the idea of writing assessments without falling into a black hole of mediocrity excites you, grab a copy. Who knows? You might just become the assessment wizard your school never knew it needed!

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.