Formative assessment: What is it and why use it?

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Formative assessment: What is it and why use it?

December 9, 2021

Products: DnA, FastBridge, SchoolCity, Star 360, Star Phonics

Classroom formative assessment is widely used in schools. However, there are multiple definitions of this term. There can also be confusion around whether formative assessment is a process or a product. So, what is formative assessment in education? And why [...]

How teachers can use item analysis to evaluate assessments

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How teachers can use item analysis to evaluate assessments

November 18, 2021

Assessments are one of the primary ways educators can gain insight into student learning. These assessments may take the form of quizzes, tests, midterms, or final exams. Assessments also provide a key way for teachers to address students’ needs, [...]

How Accelerated Reader supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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How Accelerated Reader supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

November 5, 2021

As we celebrate 35 years of Accelerated Reader, we recognize the importance of not only honoring the past but also looking ahead to the future. In this blog, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about how books [...]

New insights on progress monitoring this school year

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New insights on progress monitoring this school year

October 22, 2021

In K–12 education, we often use medical analogies to describe our assessment practices. For example, it’s common to hear the state summative test described as a “post-mortem” on the school year. In contrast, formative assessments are often compared to a [...]

Understanding Depth of Knowledge

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Understanding Depth of Knowledge

October 21, 2021

Alignment between standards or unpacking learning targets during assessment creation and instructional planning is crucial for developing a year-long Curricular/Assessment Scope and Sequence. Depth of Knowledge (DOK) is the thread that ties everything together. Consider the following scenario: educators [...]

Striking the right balance: Why a balanced assessment system is key to student success

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Striking the right balance: Why a balanced assessment system is key to student success

October 15, 2021

Assessments are an essential part of K–12 education. Without them, teachers, education leaders, and policymakers would be in the dark about critical pieces of the education puzzle—including what students are retaining and where resources can most effectively be allocated to [...]

Product Highlights: Supporting continuous student learning

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Product Highlights: Supporting continuous student learning

October 8, 2021

The COVID-19 disruptions have accelerated a process that was already well underway. Teaching and learning are no longer confined to brick-and-mortar classrooms and face-to-face interactions. Instead, technology allows teachers and students to connect from anywhere—and helps teachers to provide personalized, [...]

The critical role of Trip Steps in math recovery

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The critical role of Trip Steps in math recovery

September 24, 2021

Categories: Math, Math

If learning is a staircase, then all steps are not created equal. In math especially, some skills along the staircase are extraordinarily difficult for students to master. At Renaissance, we call these skills “Trip Steps” because they can cause a [...]

Supporting marginalized students through culturally relevant pedagogy

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Supporting marginalized students through culturally relevant pedagogy

September 10, 2021

The disproportionate effect of the pandemic As a Latina and African American woman from the New York City area, I knew the COVID-19 pandemic would have a disproportionate effect on people from my community even before the media outlets announced [...]

5 observations on the new school year from a researcher and parent

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5 observations on the new school year from a researcher and parent

August 27, 2021

As I sent my kids back to school last week, I felt a mix of emotions. I was excited that they were going back to in-person learning, with new teachers and new courses. I was nervous about the impact of [...]

Renaissance Blog

Latest Post

Formative assessment: What is it and why use it?

Formative assessment: What is it and why use it?

Recent Posts

How teachers can use item analysis to evaluate assessments

How teachers can use item analysis to evaluate assessments

How Accelerated Reader supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

How Accelerated Reader supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

New insights on progress monitoring this school year

New insights on progress monitoring this school year

Understanding Depth of Knowledge

Understanding Depth of Knowledge

Striking the right balance: Why a balanced assessment system is key to student success

Striking the right balance: Why a balanced assessment system is key to student success

Product Highlights: Supporting continuous student learning

Product Highlights: Supporting continuous student learning

The critical role of Trip Steps in math recovery

The critical role of Trip Steps in math recovery

Supporting marginalized students through culturally relevant pedagogy

Supporting marginalized students through culturally relevant pedagogy

5 observations on the new school year from a researcher and parent

5 observations on the new school year from a researcher and parent