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Checking for Understanding (CFU) in ECE

Planning Considerations

Right Time
1. What are the key points for the lesson and when do they come up?
2. What key information must students master before they can move on?
Right Question/Data
1. Is my question clear, concise, precise?
2. What is the exemplary response I am looking for?
3. Will I be able to collect enough data to know how to support the student in a future learning experience?
Right Strategy
1. See below

ECE Appropriate Strategies: Birth to 3 Years Old

Strategy	How to Implement	Possible Pitfalls
One-on-One Questioning	Ask questions directly aligned to the focus of your lesson Pause to let students process and respond Acknowledge students verbal responses, actions, and/or gestures	Sticking to a questioning script and missing opportunities to be responsive to the student Valuing verbal responses over nonverbal responses
Developmental Checklist (Observation)	Identify 1-3 concrete and observable actions or responses Actions and responses are highly aligned to lesson outcomes and are developmentally appropriate for student age and ability Select a system that will allow you to quickly record your observations for each student	Not having a clear and quick system for recording observations Focusing on observable actions and responses that are not aligned to the lesson outcomes

ECE Appropriate Strategies: Ages 4-8

Strategy	How to Implement	Possible Pitfalls
Whiteboards	Include directions for using materials (e.g., erasers, markers, how/when to reveal, how to show final answer) Provide a clear in-cue for when students may: Write Show their answer Prompt students to show their response in a way that you can easily see all of their responses Follow up with questions to explain their thinking or evaluate their own understanding	Using this technique for questions that require lengthy responses Accepting only what is on whiteboards without follow up questions
Poll the Room	Establish clear gestures (e.g., thumbs up or thumbs down) Provide a clear in-cue for when students should show their gesture Prompt students to show their gesture in a way that you can easily see all of their responses However, you may also want to select a way of showing that prevents students from seeing each other’s response (e.g., students show answer in front of their chest) Follow up with questions to explain their thinking or evaluate their own understanding	Selecting gestures that are difficult for students to create with their hands Taking too long to scan so that students change their response Accepting gestured responses without follow up questions
Developmental Checklist (Observation)	Identify 1-3 concrete and observable actions or responses Actions and responses are highly aligned to lesson outcomes and are developmentally appropriate for student age and ability Select a system that will allow you to quickly record your observations for each student	Not having a clear and quick system for recording observations Focusing on observable actions and responses that are not aligned to the lesson outcomes