ABSTRACT
Assessment for learning is any assessment for which the first priority in its design and practice is to serve the purpose of promoting pupils' learning. Formative assessment is a powerful tool for the rigorous classroom. Classroom discussions are an excellent way to gather data for formative assessment. Formative assessment can be teacher-driven, general classroom strategies, specific activities, and metacognitive strategies. Learning how to think about their own thinking is a skill students can learn, and it is one that is necessary for improved learning. If they can't assess themselves, students are always dependent on the teacher. Formative assessment works best in a collaborative environment, where the teacher collaborates with students, but also where students collaborate with each other. Instead of choosing to only use one type of assessment, such as an exit slip, effective teachers use a wide range of assessments to best understand students' strengths and weaknesses.
