The Final Stretch: A Look Back at 6 Weeks of Assessed Practice

A Reflective Journey through Assessed Practice

My six-week journey through assessed practice, focusing on foundational math concepts, has been a testament to the power of adaptability and targeted interventions. Divided into two distinct topics: Place Value Foundations and Length, Height, and Weight; each week presented unique challenges and opportunities for student learning.

In the initial weeks, the focus was on solidifying students' understanding of place value up to 20. Through formative assessment, individual needs emerged, guiding the implementation of adaptive teaching strategies. From dot cards to manipulatives, every tool was employed to scaffold learning, ensuring no student was left behind. As the weeks progressed, so did the depth of comprehension, with tailored interventions leading to significant strides in numerical fluency.

Transitioning to the realm of measurement, the challenge shifted to grasping the nuances between length and height. Observations drove instructional decisions, prompting a more explicit approach to differentiate these attributes. Through hands-on activities and immediate feedback, students embarked on a journey of discovery, culminating in a newfound clarity in conceptual understanding.

Beyond Teaching: Fostering Reasoning

In the final leg of the journey, the spotlight was on reasoning and justification. While physical comparisons came naturally to students, articulating the rationale behind their observations required guidance. By prompting deeper reflection and providing specific prompts, students began to articulate their reasoning more explicitly, showcasing a holistic understanding of mathematical concepts.

In retrospect, the six weeks of assessed practice have been a transformative experience, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between formative assessment and instructional practice. As I bid farewell to this chapter and embark on new teaching endeavors, the lessons learned and insights gained will continue to shape my journey as an educator committed to fostering mathematical proficiency and critical thinking skills in every student.