Pose/Pause/Pounce/Bounce–Formative Assessment and Student Talk Strategy

Who doesn’t love a 2 for 1 deal, right? Here is a great strategy that allows an opportunity for student talk AND formative assessment! Click here for resources

What? 

A student talk and formative assessment strategy that elicits evidence of student learning. High engagement classrooms have a significant impact on student achievement. This high engagement, no opt-out strategy creates accountability for individual student learning and allows teachers insights into student understanding.

Why? 

According to formative assessment guru Dylan Wiliam, there are only 2 reasons to ask students questions: to cause thinking and to provide information for the teacher about what to do next. Meaningful student talk is a strategy to elicit evidence of student thinking and learning. It becomes formative assessment if and only if evidence of learning is elicited and used by the teacher and or students to inform next steps. As teachers listen to student responses they should listen less evaluatively (listening for correct answers) and more interpretively (listening for student THINKING…misconceptions, fuzzy areas, understanding of topics and strategies). This information will allow teachers to make in the moment, informed decisions about how to move instruction forward.

How?
Strategy: Pose-Pause-Pounce-Bounce 
POSE: Teacher poses a thoughtful question
PAUSE: After posing the question, pause for at least 5 seconds to allow think time 
POUNCE: Randomly choose one student to answer the question (popsicle sticks, randomizer app, etc.)

BOUNCE: Bounce to another student at random asking “What do you think of that answer?” Students can respond by agreeing, disagreeing, adding on, asking a clarifying question, etc. using student talk stems. If a student is truly stuck, they can phone a friend for help before providing an answer.
As students talk, the teacher listens interpretively and uses the evidence gathered to inform next steps. Looking for a simple recording sheet? Click here

Bonus: Here is a great visual defining formative assessment, and comparing it with both pre-assessment and summative assessment from Crockett's Classroom Blog: