Today I returned my English students first essay. In my formative assessment manner, I carefully explained that I want them to improvement in their writing during the course and to do so, I had to identify what they have done well and what they need to improve. Í reminded them that the rubric checklist has a plus (+) for doing well, a question mark (?) for inconsistent work, and negative (-) for needs improvement. I marked 20+ items on their checklist. I did not give them a grade like a B since the grade tells them nothing about what they did well or have to improve in. I also explained that, for each student, I have identified the three areas that will lead to the greatest improvement. I stressed that I expect to see improvement in those three areas on the next essay. They copied these three improvement areas on an Essay Improvement sheet that they will hand in with their next essay. I explained that I will provide new strategies for those learning gaps demonstrated by the greatest number of students at the beginning of each class. More ideas are in my Successful Student Writing Through Formative Assessment
How do you help your students to continually improve?
My book, Formative Assessment: Responding to Your Students, is available through Eye on Education.
Also, my book, Successful Student Writing Through Formative Assessment, is available through Eye on Education.
Education with Technology Harry G. Tuttle 
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