Information Age Education

Teaching Strategies: Check for Understanding

March 18th, 2007

There are plenty of ways that teachers check for understanding. Many of the ways that we assess students involve a limited number of students. For example, “Raise your hand if…” allows for only a few students to respond.

Here are several ways to engage more of your students while simultanteously using multiple intelligences. These strategies are also helpful for ELD. Many of these methods can also be used for standardized test practice too.

Multiple choice question using total class response.

For multiple choice questions, you can get the entire class involved by asking, “Show 1 finger if the answer is A, 2 fingers if B, ….”

Check for the level of comfort with the material.

“Show me 5 fingers if you feel like you could teach another student. 1 finger if this is still really confusing.” This gives you a quick gauge of whether or not you can move ahead. It also helps to identify which students can assist others and who will need your assistance.

Teach agreement and disagreement symbols.

I teach my students “thumbs up” is a yes and shuffling their hands in front of them is a no. This allows a student to speak without other students verbally interrupting, yet encourages active engagement. If a student gives the incorrect answer, others can give feedback without disturbing the speaker or shutting him or her down by a negative verbal feedback. I’ll do intentional “misteaks” on the board, to check if students understand the concept. Students can give me a nonverbal clue that they disagree with something I said or wrote with interrupting.

Use total physical response to engage learners.

I’m a math teacher, and I’ll often ask things like, “What operation does ‘product’ mean?” Then they make an “x” with their hands to indicate that they know.

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Entry Filed under: Education, Best Practices