I assess my students formatively based on specific skills and award badges as they show their understanding. I know my students are ready to show mastery of certain concepts/skills at different times on different days, and that is okay with me. I share the blank award certificates with my classes at the beginning of the unit and they earn stickers (badges) throughout the unit as they show understanding. My students are welcome to tell me they are ready to show they know any of the skills at nearly any time.
I am proud to share that every day my students ask for more math problems to solve because they want to complete their certificate of badges and hang it on our class bulletin board!
The skills included in this badging system are important to overall understanding in the unit of study. For this unit on division, I included:
- divide two-digit dividends by two-digit divisors
- divide three-digit dividends by two-digit divisors
- divide four-digit dividends by two-digit divisors
- check the solution to a division problem with multiplication and addition
- identify the dividend, divisor, quotient, and remainder in a division problem
- estimate quotients and check solutions for reasonableness
- divide decimal dividends by two-digit divisors
I use standing dry erase boards for various tasks in my classroom, including solving problems for badges. The picture below shows one student's work to demonstrate understanding of the skill: divide decimal dividends by two-digit divisors.
I appreciate the one-on-one time I get with my students with this badging system to observe their mathematical processes, gain a peek into their thinking, formatively assess their understanding, and give specific and timely feedback.
How are you using badges in your classroom for formative assessment? Share your ideas in the comments below.
October 31, 2024
I’m sure that students love to see their accomplishments posted for everyone to see and celebrate! Badges would have been a huge motivation for me as a student. I use the Leaderboards on IXL in my classroom, maybe I can incorporate badges as well. Thanks for sharing!
This action is unavailable while under moderation.
This action is unavailable while under moderation.