Formative Assessment For HS Choir

Formative assessment is an indispensable classroom learning tool. It is important for the students to have formative assessment to account for their personal growth academically and behaviorally. It is also important for the teachers to know whether their teaching styles work for the students and any modifications are needed to enhance the learning procedure.

I am planning a lesson for my high school men's choir with this lesson objective singers will interpret a musical piece and sing with each of the following dynamics: shaped phrases, loud and soft, crescendo and decrescendo.

I have chosen the song and I will explain the music concepts in class. I have created three formative assessment activities to ensure students are learning towards meeting the objective.

Assessment#1

Self evaluation among small group members

Within a group of six, create a checklist to evaluate on the performance of the specific dynamics and compare notes among each other after each singing session. They grade themselves to observe their progress and submit their checklist to me.

Rationale: This is for the students to help each other out; to be on the same page knowing exactly how to shape and make the nuances for each phrase.They will also be aware of where and when to make a crescendo and decrescendo.

Assessment#2

Video recording of student performance

While the students are singing, record a few students at a time to watch their postures, mouth positions, facial expressions, and performance of dynamics.

Rationale: The video recorder is the most honest and fair judge of all. Video recording the students' performance can help them eliminate bad singing habits while maintaining the good ones. They can also work on their singing skills to shape the music and sing with dynamic levels. I can also keep a record of their progression.

Assessment#3 

Student conductor

Students will be placed in groups of six. Each student will be the conductor of the group to conduct the song, emphasizing on how he wants the music to sound. Have the others in the group sing exactly to the conductor's gestures. I will also record the activity for peer review.

Rationale: Being the conductor, the student needs to know the interpretation of the song very well to lead the singers. He needs to feel the music in his own body in order to convey the dynamic nuances through his hand gestures and have the singers perceive and interpret his ideas. Each conductor has a different style in leading the singers. It is interesting to watch each one's creativity and how the singers respond to the interpretation. This activity helps students to develop a sense of singing sensitively with music dynamics as the elements are gradually growing in their inner-self. I am also able to gauge their progress .