4.2 Responding to Formative Assessment

Creating personalized instruction that targets student learning outcomes needs to be centered around real-time data. Embedding formative assessment thoughtfully into tutoring allows tutors to quickly address learning gaps, create targeted skill-based sessions, and accelerate student growth. Integrating formative assessment guidance into tutor training can improve its implementation. Section 4.2 addresses building an assessment strategy, creating assessment infrastructure, and leveraging blended learning software effectively.

Before You Begin
Formative Assessment Infrastructure
Key RecommendationsCorresponding Resources
  • Align formative assessments with session targets and classroom curriculum (e.g., using exit tickets or running records) to ensure coherence in student evaluation.
Template: Assessment and Progress Monitoring Plan
  • Collaborate with district and school teams to identify existing formative assessments and minimize student overtesting.
  • Establish key benchmarks within an assessment calendar that clearly outline completion timelines for formative assessments.
  • Balance formal and informal formative assessments to provide relevant data that tutors can use for real-time and long-term instructional adjustments.
  • Schedule daily, dedicated time for tutors to review tutoring session data (e.g., 15 minutes after the tutoring session to analyze data and responsively plan the next session).
Reflection Guide: Standard Data Review Protocol
Formative Assessment Content
Key RecommendationsCorresponding Resources
  • Maintain a suite of formative assessments aligned to the instructional model (e.g., exit tickets, observational assessments).

Website: 7 Smart, Fast Ways to Do Formative Assessment

Website: 27 Formative Assessment Tools for Your Classroom

  • Embed formative assessment guidance in tutor training materials, including clear expectations and practical examples for effective implementation in sessions.
Website: Check for Understanding
Blended Learning Software
Key RecommendationsCorresponding Resources
  • Select blended learning software that aligns with your instructional goals, provides real-time, actionable data, engages students through adaptive and research-based design, supports multiple learning modalities, and functions reliably on available devices and internet access.
Checklist: Choosing Blended Learning Software
  • Implement blended learning software with clear routines for use before, during, and after sessions, including tutor training, data-informed grouping, and connections between software activities and live instruction to reinforce learning goals.
Reading: Using Blended Learning Software

Planning for the Long Term
Tutoring Quality Standards and Self-Assessment Indicators

Take the free, 15-minute, and research-based Tutoring Provider Self-Assessment. This subsection addresses these tutoring quality standards and Self-Assessment indicators.

Data Use
Formative Assessment		The program provides tutors with support to collect, analyze, and use formative assessment data to inform the design of future sessions.
2b.1 | Formative assessments aligned with the tutoring instructional program or integrated with the school’s assessment framework
2b.2 | System and expectations for collecting formative assessment data during sessions
2b.3 | Dedicated meeting time for tutors and coaches to analyze formative data
2b.4 | Data-analysis tools/protocols to support tutors in analyzing formative assessment data, identifying trends across student groups (race, gender, IEP status, home language, and other important indicators), and making instructional decisions to provide personalized support for students