Although peerand self-assessment are not replacements for teacher marking and feedback, they are important additional forms of assessment which engage children and help them to become self-critical, independent learners.

Peer and self-assessment help children to identify the next steps in their learning. The aim is to involve children in the analysis and constructive criticism of their own work.

Working in pairs or small groups children determine what they know and can do, what they still find challenging and what the next steps might be.

Questions

- How are children in your class engaged in assessment of their own learning?

- When are peer / self assessment useful strategies to employ? How can this be recorded?

Activity

Give children the opportunity to measure their ability to recall vocabulary by asking them to stand up if certain statements apply to them, for example:

- At the end of the lesson I can remember a line from a story;

- I need more practice to be able to remember a line from the story;

- I will be able to remember a line from the story next lesson. 

Encourage children to talk about the strategies which help them remember words and phrases.