Assessment and Student Success in a Differentiated Classroom

Description

Carol Ann Tomlinson and Tonya R. Moon take an in-depth look at assessment and show how differentiation can improve the process in all grade levels and subject areas. After discussing differentiation in general, the authors focus on how differentiation applies to various forms of assessment―pre-assessment, formative assessment, and summative assessment―and to grading and report cards. Readers learn how differentiation can: Capture student interest and increase motivation. Clarify teachers' understanding about what is most important to teach. Enhance students' and teachers' belief in student learning capacity. Help teachers understand their students' individual similarities and differences so they can reach more students, more effectively. Throughout, Tomlinson and Moon emphasize the importance of maintaining a consistent focus on the essential knowledge, understandings, and skills that all students must acquire, no matter what their starting point. Detailed scenarios illustrate how assessment differentiation can occur in three realms (student readiness, interest, and learning style or preference) and how it can improve assessment validity and reliability and decrease errors and teacher bias. Grounded in research and the authors' teaching experience, Assessment and Student Success in a Differentiated Classroom outlines a common-sense approach that is both thoughtful and practical, and that empowers teachers and students to discover, strive for, and achieve their true potential. Review: Must have info for admin and classroom teachers! - As a former classroom teacher who currently works with educators and administrators in a professional development capacity, I strongly recommend this book. It clearly organizes and expresses research-based best practices in assessment and demonstrates how those practices are essential for responsive teaching. There are also "case in points" included with every chapter, which illustrate how these aspects of assessment would like in a real classroom (to my knowledge these are actual examples that occured and not just made up illustrations). Like most of Tomlinson's work, there is not much "make and take" in this book. This might be frustrating for educators looking for a quick and easy strategy or tool. In my opinion, that just not how good teaching works (either from pd to teachers or teachers to students). What you do get is a clear understanding of best assessment practices and how to use them effectively to better understand how to meet learners' needs. Review: Excellent Book! - Full of practical tips for educators to adopt for use in DI classrooms. A good book for educators to find out how they can use Assessment Literacy in DI classrooms for their students.