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Education & Teaching vocabulary · Classroom Language

Check for understanding

Meaning in education & teaching, with examples

phraseCommon term

In education & teaching, check for understanding means: To find out during a lesson whether students have really understood an explanation or instruction, usually by asking targeted questions or giving a quick task.

In Turkish: anlaşılıp anlaşılmadığını kontrol etmek, anlama kontrolü

How it is used

Common in teacher training and observation feedback; also used as a noun ('checks for understanding'). Good checks ask students to show or explain, because 'Do you understand?' usually gets a polite 'Yes'. Language teachers use concept-checking questions (CCQs).

Example sentences

  1. Before they start the task, check for understanding: ask two students to repeat the instructions.

  2. The observer suggested more frequent checks for understanding during the explanation.

Common collocations

  • check for understanding
  • checks for understanding
  • concept-checking questions
  • check students' understanding
  • formative assessmentAssessment that takes place during learning to check how students are progressing and to adjust teaching, rather than to give a final grade.
  • elicitTo get information, ideas or answers from students by asking questions or giving clues, instead of telling them directly.
  • call onTo ask a particular student to answer a question or speak in class.
  • scaffoldingTemporary support that a teacher gives to help students complete a task they could not yet do alone, removed step by step as they become more independent.

More terms: Classroom Language

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