53 Ways to Check for Understanding
- Summary Poem Activity
- List ten key words from an assigned text.
- Do a free verse poem with the words you highlighted.
- Write a summary of the reading based on these words.
- Invent the Quiz
- Write ten higher-order text questions related to the content. Pick two and answer one of them in half a page.
- The 411
- Describe the author’s objective.
- Opinion Chart
- List opinions about the content in the left column of a T-chart, and support your opinions in the right column.
- So What? Journal
- Identify the main idea of the lesson. Why is it important?
- Rate Understanding
- Clickers (Response System)
- Teacher Observation Checklist
- Explaining
- Explain the main idea using an analogy.
- Evaluate
- What is the author's main point? What are the arguments for and against this idea?
- Describe
- What are the important characteristics or features of the main concept or idea of the reading?
- Define
- Pick out an important word or phrase that the author of a text introduces. What does it mean?
- Compare and Contrast
- Identify the theory or idea the author is advancing. Then identify an opposite theory. What are the similarities and differences between these ideas?
- Question Stems
- I believe that ________ because _______.
- I was most confused by _______.
- Mind Map
- Create a mind map that represents a concept using a diagram-making tool (like Gliffy). Provide your teacher/classmates with the link to your mind map.
- Intrigue Journal
- List the five most interesting, controversial, or resonant ideas you found in the readings. Include page numbers and a short rationale (100 words) for your selection.
- Advertisement
- Create an ad, with visuals and text, for the newly learned concept.
- 5 Words
- What five words would you use to describe ______? Explain and justify your choices.
- Muddy Moment
- What frustrates and confuses you about the text? Why?
- Collage
- Create a collage around the lesson's themes. Explain your choices in one paragraph.
- Letter
- Explain _______ in a letter to your best friend.
- Talk Show Panel
- Have a cast of experts debate the finer points of _______.
- Study Guide
- What are the main topics, supporting details, important person's contributions, terms, and definitions?
- Illustration
- Draw a picture that illustrates a relationship between terms in the text. Explain in one paragraph your visual representation.
- KWL Chart
- What do you know, what do you want to know, and what have you learned?
- Sticky Notes Annotation
- Use sticky notes to describe key passages that are notable or that you have questions about.
- 3-2-1
- Three things you found out.
- Two interesting things.
- One question you still have.
- Outline
- Represent the organization of _______ by outlining it.
- Anticipation Guide
- Establish a purpose for reading and create post-reading reflections and discussion.
- Simile
- What we learned today is like _______.
- The Minute Paper
- In one minute, describe the most meaningful thing you've learned.
- Interview You
- You’re the guest expert on 60 Minutes. Answer:
- What are component parts of _______?
- Why does this topic matter?
- You’re the guest expert on 60 Minutes. Answer:
- Double Entry Notebook
- Create a two-column table. Use the left column to write down 5-8 important quotations. Use the right column to record reactions to the quotations.
- Comic Book
- Use a comic book creation tool like Bitstrips to represent understanding.
- Tagxedo
- What are key words that express the main ideas? Be ready to discuss and explain.
- Classroom TED Talk
- Podcast
- Play the part of a content expert and discuss content-related issues on a podcast, using the free Easypodcast.
- Create a Multimedia Poster with Glogster
- Twitter Post
- Define _______ in under 140 characters.
- Explain Your Solution
- Describe how you solved an academic problem, step by step.
- Dramatic Interpretation
- Dramatize a critical scene from a complex narrative.
- Ballad
- Summarize a narrative that employs a poem or song structure using short stanzas.
- Pamphlet
- Describe the key features of _______ in a visually and textually compelling pamphlet.
- Study Guide
- Create a study guide that outlines main ideas.
- Bio Poem
- To describe a character or person, write a poem that includes:
- (Line 1) First name
- (Line 2) 3-4 adjectives that describe the person
- (Line 3) Important relationship
- (Line 4) 2-3 things, people, or ideas the person loved
- (Line 5) Three feelings the person experienced
- (Line 6) Three fears the person experienced
- (Line 7) Accomplishments
- (Line 8) 2-3 things the person wanted to see happen or wanted to experience
- (Line 9) His or her residence
- (Line 10) Last name
- To describe a character or person, write a poem that includes:
- Sketch
- Visually represent new knowledge.
- Top Ten List
- What are the most important takeaways, written with humor?
- Color Cards
- Red = "Stop, I need help."
- Green = "Keep going, I understand."
- Yellow = "I'm a little confused."
- Quickwrite
- Without stopping, write what most confuses you.
- Conference
- A short, focused discussion between the teacher and student.
- Debrief
- Reflect immediately after an activity.
- Exit Slip
- Have students reflect on lessons learned during class.
- Misconception Check
- Given a common misconception about a topic, students explain why they agree or disagree with it.
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