This week we are talking about assessment. I was thinking an assessment was a formal test, so I am happy to find out it does not have to be. I do informal assessments frequently in the classroom. That said, I do not do them enough. I would rate myself around a 5 on this. I'm a very intuitive person. I tend to figure people out fast. My perception of a situation is usually very accurate. So I was relying a lot on this natural ability and my detailed gradebook to keep track of my students. I know which ones are struggling. I have them sitting next to stronger kids for help and always pull them aside first during small group time. But I know I need more formal records and actions. This week I started a log to monitor each student as they work through our decodable books. I am pulling them aside one by one and having them read the books to me. When they finish each one independently, I will check it off and start them on the next one when it is their turn again. My students are funny. They sometimes act like they know more than they do. This decodable assessment actually indicated that their skills are not as far along as I thought they were. Now I see why this is a step I should never leave out. During our lesson times, I will often have the students come up with answers by tables and help each other. I plan to do more individual answer time so I can see how many kids really know the answer. If it is just one at each table, the rest still have a lot to learn!