Seven Strategies: Chapter 5 - Diagnosing Learning Needs - Top Points

1. Good teaching requires a feedback loop between instruction and assessment, not moving straight to grading.

2. There are three types of learning problems: incomplete understanding, flaws in reasoning, and misconceptions.

3. The willingness to learn about the presence of learning gaps is crucial for helping each student succeed.

4. Assessment should point to specific learning needs and guide instructional decisions.

5. Learning progressions help teachers map where students currently are and what comes next in learning.

6. Each wrong answer choice should point to a different type of learning need for better diagnosis.

7. Create a safe learning environment where students feel comfortable answering honestly about what they don't know.

8. Ask for explanations and reasoning behind answers, not just correct/incorrect judgments.

9. Use activities like examining mistake samples to help students identify and avoid typical mistakes before they make them.

10. "Lurk" and "teach with your eyes and ears open" to identify learning needs as they arise.