How Often Should I Assess My Students?

"Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Teaching with Valor, where we take deep dives into the everyday questions that teachers face in their classrooms. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re exploring a question that goes right to the heart of teaching: How often should I assess my students?

Assessment is one of the most crucial aspects of teaching because it gives you insight into how well your students are learning and where they might be struggling. But the big question is, how often is enough? Do we assess too much, potentially causing stress, or too little, risking that we miss where our students need help? And how can we strike the perfect balance between formative and summative assessments?

In this episode, we’ll break it down for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. We’ll talk about the different types of assessments, their purposes, and how frequently you should be incorporating them into your lessons to get the best results for your students. Plus, we’ll look at how ongoing assessments can inform your teaching practice day by day.

Show Notes

For more information on this topic checkout the following resources:

• Edutopia – Formative Assessment Strategies: www.edutopia.org
• Rick Wormeli – Fair Isn’t Always Equal: A book on differentiating assessments for all learners.
• Kahoot: An interactive platform for formative assessment.
• Google Forms for Teachers: A tool for creating quick quizzes and collecting student data.
• TeachThought – Assessment Tools: www.teachthought.com

Stay tuned for more episodes, and remember, every student is unique, and every classroom can be a place where all students succeed. Keep teaching with valor!

Transcript

Don: 0:08

"Welcome to Teaching with Valor, the podcast where we dive into the heart of education, helping teachers, parents, and students thrive. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and if you’re passionate about making a difference in education, you’ve come to the right place. Before we jump into today’s deep dive episode, I’d like to ask for your support. If you find value in these conversations, please take a moment to like, subscribe, and share this podcast with your fellow educators and parents. Your support helps us reach more people, empowering more teachers and families to navigate the challenges of education with confidence and courage. So hit that subscribe button, share this episode, and let’s continue to grow this community together." And today we’re exploring a question that goes right to the heart of teaching: How often should I assess my students? Assessment is one of the most crucial aspects of teaching because it gives you insight into how well your students are learning and where they might be struggling. But the big question is, how often is enough? Do we assess too much, potentially causing stress, or too little, risking that we miss where our students need help? And how can we strike the perfect balance between formative and summative assessments? In this episode, we’ll break it down for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. We’ll talk about the different types of assessments, their purposes, and how frequently you should be incorporating them into your lessons to get the best results for your students. Plus, we’ll look at how ongoing assessments can inform your teaching practice day by day. And don’t forget, we’ve got a special bonus segment at the end where we’ll answer a parent question: How can I help my child prepare for assessments without overwhelming them? So, let’s get started!" In our first segment we look at Understanding the Purpose of Assessment."Before we jump into how often you should be assessing your students, let’s first talk about why we assess. Assessment isn’t just about giving grades or filling out report cards—it’s about gathering data that helps you understand your students’ progress. Are they grasping the key concepts? Where are they excelling? Where are they struggling? And how can you adjust your instruction to meet their needs? We use assessments for several reasons. They allow us to check for understanding, track student progress over time, identify learning gaps, and provide feedback—both to students and to ourselves as teachers. There are two main types of assessments we need to consider: formative and summative. Formative assessments are ongoing checks that help you monitor learning in real time. These might include quizzes, class discussions, exit tickets, or even just observing how well students are working during an activity. They’re low-stakes and provide immediate feedback. Summative assessments are more formal evaluations, like unit tests, final exams, or big projects. They measure what students have learned at the end of a learning period and usually have higher stakes attached to them. Both types of assessments are essential, but how do you decide how often to use them? Let’s explore this by grade level, starting with elementary school.""At the elementary level, assessment should be frequent and varied. Elementary students are just beginning to develop their academic skills and habits, and they need constant feedback to guide their learning. But here’s the thing: assessment at this age shouldn’t always look like a test. One of the best ways to assess elementary students is through informal formative assessments. These could be simple things like asking a few questions at the end of a lesson, observing students during group work, or having them complete a quick exit ticket. You might ask them to write down one thing they learned that day, one thing they’re still confused about, or one question they have. Interactive assessments also work really well in elementary classrooms. Activities like a'thumbs up, thumbs down' for understanding or partner discussions give you immediate feedback about where the students are. These kinds of assessments should be happening daily in some form or another. They don’t need to be time-consuming, but they should give you a clear snapshot of where your students stand. For more formal assessments, like quizzes or tests, you should aim for a weekly or bi-weekly rhythm. This allows you to check for understanding on a larger scale without overwhelming your students. And don’t forget about the importance of progress monitoring: using tools like running records in reading or quick math fluency checks will help you keep tabs on how students are improving over time. In elementary school, assessments should feel natural and integrated into the flow of the day. Students at this age are still learning how to be learners, so you want to keep things low-pressure and focused on growth. Now, let’s move on to middle school, where students are transitioning into more independent learners.""In middle school, students are starting to take more ownership of their learning, but they still need frequent feedback to stay on track. The key difference at this level is that assessments should start to encourage self-reflection and accountability. Students should begin to understand how to monitor their own progress, and assessments are a great tool to help them develop that skill. Formative assessments should still be happening frequently: ideally several times a week. These might take the form of quick quizzes, journal entries, or group discussions. Technology can be a great ally at this level, with tools like Kahoot or Google Forms allowing you to assess students’ understanding in real time and adjust your teaching based on the data you collect. For more formal, summative assessments, you might aim for every two to three weeks, depending on the subject and the depth of content covered. Middle school students can handle more in-depth projects and tests, but you still want to space them out enough to give students ample time to prepare. Projects and presentations also make excellent summative assessments in middle school because they allow students to demonstrate their learning in creative ways. One strategy that works well at this level is peer assessment. After students complete an assignment or project, have them assess each other’s work using a rubric. This helps students engage with the assessment process and learn to give and receive constructive feedback. Another key aspect at this level is introducing reflection. After each assessment, whether it’s formative or summative, build in time for students to reflect on what they did well and what they could improve. This reflection helps students take control of their learning journey and promotes a growth mindset. As we transition into high school, the stakes get higher, and assessments become even more critical for preparing students for their next steps in life.""In high school, assessments serve multiple purposes: preparing students for college or career paths, ensuring they’ve mastered complex concepts, and helping them develop critical thinking skills. High school students are expected to engage with content on a deeper level, and that means assessments need to challenge them to think, analyze, and apply what they’ve learned. At this level, formative assessments should still be frequent:think weekly or bi-weekly quizzes, class discussions, Socratic seminars, or in-class activities like debates or problem-solving tasks. The goal of formative assessments in high school is not just to check for understanding but to help students refine their thinking and deepen their analysis. You might use quick writes at the start or end of class, asking students to respond to a prompt or summarize the day’s learning. Technology also plays a huge role here: tools like Google Classroom, Edpuzzle, and Kahoot allow for instant feedback and engagement with content. Summative assessments, like unit tests, research papers, or major projects, should be spaced out every 4 to 6 weeks depending on the subject. These larger assessments allow students to demonstrate what they’ve learned over a longer period and often incorporate higher-level skills like analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. High school assessments are also opportunities for students to work on their study habits, time management, and independent learning skills: key traits they’ll need in college or the workplace. A key tip for high school teachers is to provide detailed rubrics for assignments so that students clearly understand the expectations. Feedback should be thorough and encourage students to reflect on their performance. After major assessments, hold individual conferences with students to review their progress, set goals, and discuss any areas of improvement. High school is also the perfect time to incorporate self-assessment. Have students evaluate their own work and reflect on their strengths and areas for growth. This not only promotes autonomy but also prepares them for the self-directed learning they’ll encounter in college or careers."Now that we’ve explored the best assessment practices for each grade level, let’s move into our bonus segment where we answer a common parent question: How can I help my child prepare for assessments without overwhelming them?""Parents often ask, How can I support my child during assessment periods without adding stress? It’s a great question, and the answer is to focus on helping your child build consistent study habits and time management skills throughout the school year—not just right before a test. Encourage your child to break down larger assignments into smaller tasks. Help them create a study schedule that spreads their review out over several days or weeks instead of cramming the night before. Regular, short study sessions are more effective for long-term retention than one long session. It’s also helpful to create a calm, distraction-free space for studying at home. And remember to focus on progress over perfection. Praise the effort your child puts into their learning, not just the grades they receive. This will help them build confidence and resilience. Lastly, remind your child that assessments are just one piece of the puzzle. They’re a tool for growth and learning, not something to fear." Now, todays episode takeaways."Assessments are an essential part of the teaching and learning process, but they’re not just about testing—they’re about providing feedback, guiding instruction, and helping students grow. Whether you’re teaching elementary, middle, or high school, using assessments thoughtfully and strategically will help you become the best teacher you can be. Thank you for joining us on today’s episode of Teaching with Valor. For more resources on assessment strategies and tools, check out the links in our episode description. Remember, assessments aren’t just about measuring what students know—they’re about helping them understand what they’re capable of achieving. Keep assessing, keep refining, and as always, keep teaching with valor.