Learning Opportunities

Series Overview:
This workshop helps educators who have begun implementing Thinking Classroom practices align their assessment methods with this transformative pedagogy to measure what truly matters: student thinking and understanding.

While the assessment practices discussed are applicable across all grade levels and subject areas, the discussion will be largely grounded in examples from math classrooms, with connections made to other disciplines.

(Prerequisite: It is recommended that participants have previously attended an Introduction and/or Intermediate Thinking Classrooms workshop.)

Session 1: Valuing Thinking & Formative Feedback
This session champions the principle of "Evaluate What You Value," exploring assessment practices that powerfully shape positive student behaviors in a Thinking Classroom. You'll receive a versatile template for assessing diverse competencies and also discover a unique type of formative assessment—done by students, for students—that has been shown to significantly boost student achievement.

Session 2: Practical and Effective Reporting in a Thinking Classroom
Dive into contemporary grading practices by exploring the paradigm shift from points to data, using methods like outcomes-based assessment and triangulation of data. This session is focused on equipping you with practical, authentic, and effective practices for summative assessment and reporting student learning in a Thinking Classroom environment.

Session 3: Building and Utilizing Assessment Instruments
Learn how to practically implement Building Thinking Classrooms' assessment instruments within the realities of your classroom. This hands-on session also offers an opportunity to collaborate with peers and begin developing custom assessment instruments tailored to your students and classroom.