Which strategy supports a coherent sequence building toward the target standard?

• A. Introduce new standards mid-unit.
• B. Align activities and assessments to the same target standard.
• C. Rely only on summative assessment.
• D. Exclude student feedback.

Answer: (B)

A coherent sequence toward a target standard is supported when all learning activities and assessments are aligned to that same standard. This creates a clear through-line that guides planning, instruction, and evidence collection, allowing students to build step by step toward mastery with tasks, checks for understanding, and final demonstrations that all point to the same goal. Formative checks throughout the unit are designed to reveal whether students are meeting the standard, guiding instructional adjustments, while the final assessment provides evidence of mastery tied directly to that standard.

Introducing new standards mid-unit disrupts the planned progression, making it harder for students to connect ideas and show growth toward a single target. Relying only on summative assessment misses opportunities to guide instruction based on ongoing understanding. Excluding student feedback removes essential input about what students know and where they struggle, which is needed to keep the sequence coherent.