Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1476161
success criteria is helpful during all phases of formative assessment, including in the middle of a lesson. For example, if you poll the class and find that student confidence is low, or you ask students to post a response to a question in a collaborative space and their answers raise concerns, you might decide to pivot your instruction based on their responses. Mid-lesson checks offer an opportunity to bring the class together for a reset. The information you gather may lead you to take imme- diate action, such as asking a small group of students who have shown they need more support to review a concept or making you aware of what to look out for during the remainder of the lesson. Putting ideas into action What's the best way to put these strategies into action? Choose one of the tactics listed above to plug into your weekly routine. You might decide to use a tool that students are already familiar with to start. This way, you can easily shift how you use it during other parts of the day to gather actionable formative assessment data in the midst of a lesson. For example, if you already use a tool like Mentimeter to create word clouds when kicking off a new unit of study, try the scale feature in the middle of an upcoming lesson for a pulse check. As you review the ways you currently check for understanding, choose just one idea from the list. Try it out and see if it sticks. If it doesn't provide value or match your goals for formative assess- ment, switch it up, try another idea, and pick one to build into your routine. This article originally appeared in Edutopia. C H E C K O U T our brand new Special Education Resources page on the website! Go to cta.org/special-education-resources for recorded webinars, FAQs, 504 information, informational videos, and a Special Education Issues Guide. Webinars include timely topics such as • Changes in Special Education Credentialing • IEP rights and responsibilities • Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support (PBIS) Short informational videos cover co-teaching, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), class size and caseloads, and more. You'll also find a video profile of Sovey Long-Latteri, an Adult Transition Program teacher at La Sierra High School in Fullerton and a 2022 California Teacher of the Year (read her classroom tips on page 24). Coming to the page in August: a three-part video series on streamlining IEP Team meetings and communication. And don't forget CTA's Special Education Conference, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, at Hyatt Regency SFO in Burlingame. Workshop descriptions, speakers and registration are at cta.org/conferences. Terms to Know IEP (Individual Education Program): The 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; reauthorized in 2004) provides federal funding for special education and related services for children with disabilities. 504 (Section 504): Not a function of Special Education, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by education institutions that receive federal education dollars. An IEP is a plan for a child's special education experience at school. A 504 plan is a blueprint for how the school will provide support and remove barriers for a student with a disability. New Special Education Resources CTA's website offers a wealth of information and guidance 49 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2