Skates and Chuecas: Transforming School Formative Assessment

youth roller Hockey Shines at School Championship Formative Challenge

Gom de San Miguel Track Buzzes with Young Talent

This past Sunday,the Gom de San Miguel track was alive with the energy of young roller hockey enthusiasts as the School Championship Formative challenge continued its series. The event saw keen participation from a dozen schools, including San Agustín, Murialdo, Salesianos, Carampangue, International Lo Espejo, Red Star, IDF, Old Trebs, Athens, HC San Jorge, and Queen. Both minor and greater school categories were well-represented, showcasing the growing passion for the sport among younger generations.

Gabriela Rocha, a key member of the organizing team, shared her perspective with Skates and Chuecas, emphasizing the event’s developmental focus. “It was a learning day for both the children who attended, and for the monitors and the Staff body,” rocha stated. “I feel that we give them new tools to develop better in the future, and we remind us a little of our beginnings and everything we have traveled to be where we are today.”

Crucially, the emphasis of this challenge is not on the final scores of the matches. Rather, the core objective is the holistic progress and deeper understanding of roller hockey among its young participants and their families. The atmosphere is deliberately cultivated to prioritize formation and recreation,fostering a positive and encouraging environment for all involved.

The next exciting installment of this formative challenge is scheduled for the upcoming Sunday, July 27th. The specific venue for this date is yet to be confirmed but is expected to be announced shortly.This initiative continues to be a vital platform for nurturing the next generation of roller hockey talent.

How do Skates and Chuecas differ in the depth of understanding they assess, and when would a teacher choose to use one over the othre?

Understanding the Core Concepts: Skates & Chuecas

The terms “Skates” and “Chuecas” originate from a pedagogical approach developed in Colombia, gaining traction as innovative methods for formative assessment in education. They aren’t about physical activities, but rather represent distinct strategies for gauging student understanding during the learning process. These techniques move beyond traditional testing and focus on continuous feedback and adaptation. Think of them as dynamic tools for classroom assessment techniques (CATs).

Skates (Patines): Represent a quick, “rolling” assessment.Teachers circulate the classroom, observing students working and asking targeted questions. It’s a snapshot of understanding, identifying areas where students are “gliding” smoothly and where they’re “stumbling.” Key to Skates is speed and observation.

Chuecas: Involve a more focused, individual check-in. The teacher pauses a student’s work, asks them to explain their reasoning, and provides immediate feedback.It’s a deeper dive than a Skate, allowing for clarification of misconceptions and targeted support. Diagnostic assessment is a core component of Chuecas.

Why Shift to Skates and Chuecas? The Benefits of Formative Feedback

Traditional summative assessment (end-of-unit tests, final exams) frequently enough comes after learning has occurred. Skates and Chuecas, as formative assessment strategies, flip this model. They provide real-time data,allowing teachers to adjust instruction and students to address gaps in their understanding while learning is happening.

hear’s a breakdown of the benefits:

Increased Student Engagement: Regular feedback keeps students actively involved in their learning.

Improved Learning Outcomes: Addressing misconceptions promptly leads to deeper understanding.

Personalized Learning: Skates and Chuecas allow teachers to tailor instruction to individual needs.

Reduced Achievement Gaps: early identification of struggling students allows for targeted intervention.

Enhanced Teacher Effectiveness: Real-time data informs instructional decisions, making teaching more responsive.

Promotes a Growth Mindset: Focus on progress and improvement, rather than just grades.

Implementing Skates in Your Classroom: A Practical Guide

Successfully integrating Skates requires a shift in classroom management and a focus on observation.

1. Define the Focus: Before starting a Skate, clearly identify what specific learning objective you’re assessing. What skills or concepts are you looking for?
2. Circulate Strategically: Move around the classroom,observing students as they work. Don’t just focus on students who are visibly struggling.
3. Ask Probing Questions: Rather of asking “Do you understand?”, ask questions that require students to demonstrate their understanding. Examples:

“Can you explain your reasoning behind this answer?”

“What connections can you make between this concept and what we learned yesterday?”

“How would you apply this skill to a different situation?”

1. Quick Notes: Jot down brief observations about student understanding. you don’t need detailed notes, just enough to inform your next steps. Consider using a simple checklist or coding system.
2. Time Management: Keep Skates brief – 5-10 minutes is frequently enough sufficient. The goal is a quick snapshot, not an in-depth evaluation.

Mastering the Chueca: Deepening the Assessment

Chuecas require a more deliberate pause and interaction.

1. Select Students Purposefully: Choose students who represent a range of understanding levels.
2. Pause and Ask: Interrupt a student’s work politely and ask them to “think aloud” – to explain their thought process as they solve a problem or complete a task.
3. Listen Actively: Pay close attention to how the student is thinking, not just what they are saying.Identify any misconceptions or areas of confusion.
4. Provide Targeted Feedback: Offer specific, actionable feedback. Instead of saying “That’s wrong,” say “I notice you’re struggling with this concept. Let’s review…”
5. Encourage Self-Reflection: Ask the student to reflect on their own learning. “What was challenging about this task?” “What strategies did you use?”

Technology Integration: Enhancing Skates and Chuecas

While Skates and Chuecas are traditionally low-tech, technology can enhance their effectiveness.

Digital Checklists: Use apps like Google Forms or Microsoft Forms to create digital checklists for skates, streamlining data collection.

Online Polling Tools: Platforms like Mentimeter or Poll Everywhere can be used for quick, anonymous “Skate-like” checks of understanding.

Learning Management Systems (LMS): Utilize LMS features to track student progress and provide personalized feedback.

Interactive Whiteboards: Facilitate Chuecas by having students explain their work directly on the interactive whiteboard.

Case Study: Implementing Skates and Chuecas in a Mathematics Classroom

A middle school mathematics teacher in bogotá, Colombia, implemented skates and Chuecas to address low student engagement and understanding of algebraic equations. Initially, students were hesitant to have their work interrupted. However, the teacher emphasized that the purpose was to support