Understanding Student Thinking Through Formative Assessment
Tools, Resources, Strategies, Techniques, and Professional Development for Supporting Conceptual Teaching and Learning
Click here to go directly to the Uncovering Student Ideas Books
NEW BOOK RELEASE
A collaboration with Patrick Brown, this new book links formative assessment probes to an Explore-Before-Explain instructional sequence for K-5 classrooms. Eleven model lessons illustrate how a probe is used to launch students into an investigation to figure out the phenomenon and use their evolving science concepts and ideas to construct an explanation. Stay tuned for the 6-8 version coming soon! The book is available through NSTA Press or Amazon.
WHAT’S NEW?
Vol. 2 and 3 Coming Soon- Field Testers Wanted!
Do you have Volume 1 of Uncovering Student Ideas in Life Science and are looking for more life science/biology probes? The drafts of Vol 2 and 3 are completed and will be published soon. Vol 2 elicits grades 3-12 students’ ideas related to structure and function, the flow of matter and energy in organisms and ecosystems, and information processing. Vol 3 elicits grades 3-12 students’ ideas about heredity, genetics, diversity and unity among organisms, biological evolution, and biodiversity. Interested in field testing any of the new probes? Click on the contact button and share your grade level and topic you are interested in.
Presentation at the Jan 2024 ASE Conference
Page Keeley presented at the Association for Science Education’s (ASE) annual conference in the UK (Europe’s equivalent of the NSTA National Conference). Along with Jason Harding, Maria Peck, and Ed Walsh, we shared how using formative assessment probes within an elementary teacher long-term, sustained professional development program has transformed their practice. We are excited to see the findings of how our UK version of the Uncovering Student Ideas probes (co-authored with Ed Walsh) are being used in UK primary classrooms.
Page Keeley’s Upcoming Presentations at NSTA Denver
Fri., Mar 21, 10:40, Room 107/109: Using the Uncovering Student Ideas Formative Assessment Probes for Responsive Instruction (Audience: Gr 3-12 teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, PD Providers, Preservice)
Fri., Mar 21, 2:40, Room 107/109: Uncovering Student Ideas in Three Dimensions Through Responsive Instruction (Audience: Gr 3-12 teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, PD Providers, Preservice)
Sat., Mar 22, 1:00, Room 107/109: Why K-2 Students’ Ideas Matter (Audience: Gr K-2 teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, PD Providers, Preservice)
RESOURCES
Grade Level Lists of Probes
If you are an NGSS adoption state or your state closely follows the recommended grade level sequence in the NGSS and Framework, you can download lists of probes for each grade level.
Science and Children Journal Articles
Check out the monthly columns on using formative assessment probes in NSTA’s Science and Children journal.
Bundling Probes
You can organize bundles of probes that address the same concept in different contexts at developmentally appropriate levels. Click here for examples of bundles for K-5, 6-8, and 9-12
Meeting Stuart Naylor at the ASE Conference in England, author of the Concept Cartoons
Concept Cartoons
Concept cartoons, developed in the UK are another great resource for uncovering students’ ideas. Several of my newest probes use the concept cartoon format. You can now order Concept Cartoons from the UK in digital form from the publisher.
A lot of books to choose from for book studies!
Book Study Guest Appearance?
Is your district or organization conducting a book study with one of Page Keeley’s book? You can request a free 15 minute virtual “meet up” to meet the author and gain some key points for your book study. Use the contact button above to contact Page for options and availability.
Welcome to the teaching profession, Jaelyn!
Resources for New Teachers
Do you know a pre-service or a new teacher? Providing them with formative assessment resources is a great way to help them start off their career successfully and build their understanding of how students think about science concepts and phenomena.