Let’s be honest—just hearing the word assessment can make teachers cringe. It brings to mind piles of tests to grade, data meetings, and those moments when you realize your students didn’t quite grasp a concept as well as you thought.
But here’s the thing—I don’t see assessment as a dreaded task. In fact, I think it’s one of the most powerful (and freeing!) tools we have as teachers. When done right—especially through informal assessments—it doesn’t mean more stress. It actually makes teaching easier because it helps us adjust instruction in real time, target small groups effectively, and provide the right interventions before students fall behind.
Let’s break down different types of assessments, why informal assessment is the real MVP, and how making it a daily habit can transform your teaching.
These are the structured, more traditional assessments that measure student progress in a concrete way. They include:
✅ Standardized tests
✅ Unit and chapter tests
✅ Quizzes
✅ Benchmark assessments
✅ Performance tasks with rubrics
Formal assessments are important because they give us data to track student growth over time. But the problem? They often tell us what students didn’t understand after it’s too late to adjust instruction.
Informal assessments happen all the time—often without students even realizing it. These quick, flexible check-ins give us real-time insight into student understanding. Examples include:
✅ Observing students as they work
✅ Listening to student discussions
✅ Exit tickets
✅ Whiteboard responses
✅ Think-pair-share activities
✅ Self-assessments
The best part? Informal assessments allow us to pivot before misconceptions solidify and before students get discouraged.
A unit test tells you what students didn’t get after you’ve moved on. But a quick check-in during a lesson? That gives you the chance to catch misunderstandings in the moment and clear them up right away.
🔹 Example: During a math lesson, students hold up whiteboards with their answers. You immediately notice a handful of students are using the wrong strategy, so you pause and clarify before moving forward.
When you’re constantly assessing, grouping students becomes a natural, fluid process instead of a stressful guessing game.
🔹 Example: After a reading lesson, exit tickets reveal that half the class is struggling with context clues. The next day, you pull those students into a small group while the rest move on to enrichment. No wasted time, no unnecessary reteaching for students who already get it.
A quiz might show that a student is struggling—but by then, they could be really behind. Informal assessments help you intervene early.
🔹 Example: You notice a student consistently struggles with digraphs during phonics activities. Because you’ve been informally assessing daily, you catch the pattern early and provide extra support before it becomes a bigger issue.
When students see that their responses actually shape what and how they learn, they’re more likely to take ownership. Plus, informal assessments often feel less intimidating than tests.
🔹 Example: You use a simple thumbs-up, thumbs-sideways, or thumbs-down check-in during a science lesson. Students who are struggling get instant help, and those who are confident feel empowered to move ahead.
The key to informal assessment? It doesn’t have to be extra work! Here are some easy ways to weave it into your routine:
📌 Start with a Quick Check-In: Warm-up questions or entry tickets help assess prior knowledge.
👀 Observe & Listen: Pay close attention to student discussions and work habits.
📊 Use Exit Tickets: Have students jot down something they learned or a question they still have.
🎭 Incorporate Movement: “Four Corners” and “Stand Up, Sit Down” are great for gauging understanding.
📖 Keep Notes: A simple checklist or anecdotal notes can help track progress over time.
Assessing students doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, when done informally and consistently, it actually makes your job easier. The more we assess, the more we know—and the more we know, the better we can support our students exactly where they need it.
So, let’s ditch the fear of assessment and start seeing it for what it really is: a powerful tool to make learning meaningful and effective for every student.
Reading Exit Tickets
Math Exit Tickets:
Reading Benchmarks
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