Actionable Assessment
A Step-by-Step Guide to Responsive Teaching and Student Growth
1st Edition
Published on 27. March 2026
176 pages
978-1-040-53530-1 (ISBN)
Description
Effective teaching involves checking and responding in the moment to learning, as you discover which students are getting it and which ones need more support. But how do you make decisions on the fly based on information gleaned during class?
In this handy playbook, Starr Sackstein and Michael McDowell help you collect formative assessment data in real time, and then they provide step-by-step flowcharts and images to demonstrate how best to proceed once you have the data you need. They offer set plays for secondary students below, at, and above standards. They also provide specific instructional advice for when the challenges occur at the beginning, middle, and end of lessons, or in full group or small group settings. And finally, they cover ways to shift instruction based on student needs, engagement, and metacognitive opportunities.
With this helpful resource, you'll have a plethora of instructional moves that work in different situations, so you can continually adjust to where students are and help them truly grow in their learning.
In this handy playbook, Starr Sackstein and Michael McDowell help you collect formative assessment data in real time, and then they provide step-by-step flowcharts and images to demonstrate how best to proceed once you have the data you need. They offer set plays for secondary students below, at, and above standards. They also provide specific instructional advice for when the challenges occur at the beginning, middle, and end of lessons, or in full group or small group settings. And finally, they cover ways to shift instruction based on student needs, engagement, and metacognitive opportunities.
With this helpful resource, you'll have a plethora of instructional moves that work in different situations, so you can continually adjust to where students are and help them truly grow in their learning.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
23 Tables, color; 79 Line drawings, color; 3 Halftones, color; 82 Illustrations, color
File size
65,95 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-040-53530-1 (9781040535301)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Michael McDowell | Starr Sackstein
Actionable Assessment
A Step-by-Step Guide to Responsive Teaching and Student Growth
Book
approx. 03/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€225.50
Not yet published
Michael McDowell | Starr Sackstein
Actionable Assessment
A Step-by-Step Guide to Responsive Teaching and Student Growth
Book
approx. 03/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€57.80
Not yet published
Persons
Michael McDowell, Ed.D., is an internationally recognized author and educational leader, known for helping schools design rigorous, equitable, and sustainable learning systems. He is a former teacher, principal, and superintendent, and has served as national faculty for the Buck Institute for Education, adjunct professor at San Francisco State University, and advisor to organizations advancing student agency and instructional excellence. His books and professional learning frameworks are used worldwide to help educators create the conditions for every student to thrive.
Starr Sackstein is an assessment reform advocate and education consultant transforming teaching practices. With 16 years as a high school English/journalism teacher and leadership in humanities education, she champions standards-based learning that emphasizes metacognition and feedback over grades. She partners with institutions to empower teachers, engage students, and leverage data for growth. A prolific author and speaker committed to reshaping global assessment practices, Starr is also a dedicated parent, partner, animal enthusiast, and adventurer seeking new challenges.
Starr Sackstein is an assessment reform advocate and education consultant transforming teaching practices. With 16 years as a high school English/journalism teacher and leadership in humanities education, she champions standards-based learning that emphasizes metacognition and feedback over grades. She partners with institutions to empower teachers, engage students, and leverage data for growth. A prolific author and speaker committed to reshaping global assessment practices, Starr is also a dedicated parent, partner, animal enthusiast, and adventurer seeking new challenges.
Content
Part 1: Laying the Foundation 1. Understanding the Formative Assessment Process 2. Overview of Clarity and Effective Assessment Design Part 2: Breaking Down the Phases 3. Assessing and Responding to Where Students Are at the Beginning of Learning in a Lesson or Unit 4. Assessing Throughout the Learning in the Moment 5. Assessing Depth of Understanding at the End of a Lesson or Unit 6. Building Assessment into Learning Systems
