Assessing doesn’t have to mean hours of grading! These five quick, no-prep formative assessments—like Listen & Draw, 2 Truths & a Lie, and Read & Translate—give you instant insight into student understanding while keeping class fun and low-stress.

Have you ever shown up to school and realized you did have your lesson totally prepared? Your slides weren’t done, your copies weren’t made, you forgot the supplies at home? Teachers have busy lives with school, committees, clubs and sports, second jobs, family, and sometimes it happens. So I am here to provide you with an easy no prep activity that you can use over and over again: Card talk!