ABSTRACT
Ms. Ford and Oscar also need dashboards to monitor learning as it unfolds in the lesson. Gauges for student variables such as background knowledge, strengths, questions, and interests provide teachers with the information needed to adjust lessons to meet learner needs. Teachers also need shoulders along the road in every lesson to examine problems occurring as learning unfolds. There are four types of task structures typically used in lessons: explicit instruction, table talk or free discussion, and individual and group learning routines. It is important to consider how the structures foster different types of student engagement and autonomy as well as how teacher time for thinking differs. Elbow Exchange offers students an opportunity to clarify and consolidate their thinking. The roles of students and teachers shift in classrooms that routinely use formative assessments—from one that is more teacher-directed to one that is more student-centered.
