Formative Assessment Tool to use with Newcomers

Perhaps you are wondering if you are reaching your ELL newcomer.  Try this simple formative assessment.

  1. Make two cards and at the top of one card illustrate a question mark and on the other illustrate a light bulb.  The question mark card is for concepts not understood by the student and the light bulb card represents concepts understood.
  2. Model how to use the cards to your student by writing a single academic concept word or drawing a picture to represent your question or your understanding of that concept.
  3. If this assessment strategy proves useful you can expand upon it by rating the understanding with numbers.

Ask your ELL teacher to help provide comprehensible input for your content in the ESOL classroom, especially once you have identified specific challenges facing your newcomer.