If you’re like me, reading checks and quizzes seem to sneak up every week, and I find that I am not always prepared with an assessment. Coming up with multiple-choice questions or quiz questions takes time, and sometimes, I just need something quick and easy to create. So, I created the “Pick Two Assessment Strategy” in order to cut down on prep time in creating reading checks and reading quizzes. In fact, this strategy could even be used for formal assessments such as tests or even as discussion-starters. The ways to implement this strategy are endless and, again, EASY!
Here’s how the “Pick Two Assessment Strategy” works!
Essentially, the basic concept is that either you or the students will select two items from a text that are associated in some way and then explain how the two items are connected.
Here are some example prompts:
1. Pick two character names from the reading and explain how they are connected.
2. Pick two verbs from different pages and explain how they are connected.
3. Pick two nouns from different pages and explain how they are connected.
4. Pick two images from the reading and explain how they are connected.
5. Pick two symbols from the reading and explain how they are connected.
6. Pick two words that are repeated and explain why this word is important to the text.
7. Pick two quotes from different pages and explain how they are connected.
8. Pick two literary devices and explain how why they are important.
9. Pick two adverbs from the reading and explain how they are connected.
10. Pick two different punctuation marks and explain how they impact the text.
If you’d like a free copy of these prompts in a handout form, be sure to subscribe to the Bespoke ELA blog to unlock the Freebie Library by clicking here.
I think you get the idea on how this assessment works! Students can even come up with their own “pick two” prompts—or even set up cups of characters and words to draw from! The options are endless.
After a “pick two” quiz, I simply have students swap papers three times and leave feedback like a silent exchange discussion. Then, when I take them up, I can skim read to quickly assess who has completed the reading assignment and who has not. There are other ways to do facilitate this process—even online through Google Classroom—but do whatever works best for you!
What other “pick two” prompts would you add to the list? Leave us a comment! We’d love to hear from you!
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About the Author
Meredith is the founder and creator of TeachWriting.org and Bespoke ELA. She has taught high school English for 10+ years in Dallas, Chicago, and New York City and holds a M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University. She has always had a connection to the written word-- through songwriting, screenplay writing, and essay writing-- and she enjoys the process of teaching students how to express their ideas. Meredith enjoys life with her husband, daughter, and sweet pups.