Check-In Assessments for Differentiated Lessons

These 30 classroom-tested mini-assessments gauge students’ background knowledge at the beginning of a lesson or evaluate what they’ve learned at the end. Highly motivating formats like Alphabet Activator and Incredible Shrinking Summary require little preparation and actively engage students, priming their brains to retain and process key information and ideas. Assessment strategies can be adapted for any lesson, topic, or unit. For use with Grades 5 & Up.

About the Authors:

Beverly Strayer taught first through sixth grades in the Red Lion Area School District for 25 years. For the past twelve years, she has served as adjunct professor of education at Penn State University and as a staff-development trainer, teaching workshops on writing instruction, classroom management and differentiated instruction. She coauthored Strategies for Differentiating in the Content Areas (Scholastic, 2007) with her son and colleague, Troy.

Troy Strayer is an eighth-grade American history teacher, staff-development trainer, and a believer in the potential of all children. Troy conducts staff development workshops in the areas of classroom management, brain-compatible strategies, and differentiated instruction. He has received the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Shippensburg University School Study Council. He and Beverly present at local, regional, and national conferences.