Informal assessments can be as simple as asking a question during a lesson to grading homework on a pass/fail basis. Also, informal assessments: may not be graded, or if graded, may not carry the same weight as do formal assessments. may be spontaneous when you need to find out immediately if your students understand what you are teaching. may be alternatives to formal assessments in some lessons and in some classrooms. Some examples of informal assessment include: Asking students before a lesson to express verbally or in writing what they know about a given topic. Asking a student to explain in his or her own words how to solve a problem. Assigning students to write a paragraph about an important part of the lesson at the conclusion of class. Spot checking homework or awarding students a plus, pass or minimal grade for completion only. Assigning small groups of students to come up with a solution to a problem or question as part of the lesson. Asking students how the information they learned in today's lesson relates or adds to the information they learned previously. Informal assessment is an important part of curriculum planning, instruction, and most of all, student learning.