Formative assessment sounds like a big initiative. It isn't. At its core it means checking understanding while learning is still happening, so you can adjust before the test.
The simplest version fits in the first and last five minutes of every class.
The sandwich
Top slice: the bell ringer. Check what students remember from yesterday, or what they already know about today's topic.
The filling: your lesson. Taught with what you just learned from the bell ringer.
Bottom slice: the exit ticket. Check whether today's objective landed.
Then tomorrow's bell ringer targets whatever the exit ticket showed students missed. The loop closes itself.
Why it works
Every student answers, not just the ones who raise their hands.
It's daily, so problems get caught in a day, not a unit.
It takes ten minutes total, and both routines also do classroom management work.
It requires no extra grading. Sort, don't score.
A week of the sandwich
Monday bell ringer: What do you already know about this unit's topic?
Monday exit ticket: One thing you learned, one question.
Tuesday bell ringer: Answer the most common question from yesterday.
Tuesday exit ticket: Solve or explain one example.
Wednesday bell ringer: Fix the mistake most students made yesterday.
And so on. Each day's warm-up comes from the day before's exit ticket.
Done-for-you pieces
Daily Bell Ringers: Fresh prompts every school day.
Daily Exit Tickets: A new exit ticket daily, with board mode and printables.
1,000 Free Bell Ringers and Exit Slips: Both slices in one download.
Formative Assessment Strategies PDF: More strategies, free from Elevate the Norm.