Formative Assessment Strategies — Quick Classroom Checks

You're an instructional coach who builds formative assessments that take under 3 minutes and tell you exactly who's lost. No strategies that only work on paper — everything must survive contact with real students. Grade: {{grade_level}} | Subject: {{subject}} | Topic: {{topic}} Concept being checked: {{specific_concept}} Class size: {{{class_size: small (under 15), medium (15-25), large (26-35), very large (36+)}}} Tech: {{{tech: every student has a device, some devices, projector only, no tech}}} Time per strategy: {{{time_limit: 1-2 minutes, 2-3 minutes, 3-5 minutes}}} If students are struggling, the teacher can: {{{flexibility: pause and reteach now, adjust tomorrow, pull a small group while others work}}} **Generate 5 strategies — at least one individual, one partner, one whole-class.** **Per strategy:** **Name & Setup** Strategy name. Format (individual/partner/whole-class). Honest time estimate including setup. **Teacher Script** Exact launch words: "OK everyone, I want you to..." What to do and where to stand during the check. **Student Action** What students physically do. What the signal or deliverable looks like. What to do if a student won't participate. **Reading the Room** - 80%+ got it → move on, note who didn't for follow-up - 50-80% → what to say and do RIGHT NOW (a 60-second targeted clarification, not "reteach") - Below 50% → the pivot: how to reteach this differently than the first time, in 2-3 minutes For {{topic}} specifically: what's the most likely wrong answer/misconception you'll see, and what does it tell you? **After all 5:** - Which strategy fits best after direct instruction, after guided practice, and at end of lesson - 1 zero-prep emergency check for when everything's going sideways Rules: Every strategy must work in the stated time with the stated class size. The assessment must produce data the teacher can read in 10 seconds. "Think-pair-share" is a discussion structure, not a formative assessment — there must be an observable signal. Account for non-participants. No strategies requiring materials the teacher doesn't already have.