According to our book, "Ongoing Assessments is a term that signals that assessment should be diverse and happening ALL the time." Because of this teachers MUST continually update their knowledge about what students are experiencing in and out of the classroom and what students know and what they can do. It is extremely important for teachers to stay up to date with changes in the school system and in the real world in order for them to be able to assess what students know and what they need to learn. Our book also describes "Classroom Assessments -- which are particularly useful, including day-to-day conversations with students, observations, and reviews of classroom work and classroom test performance." I agree that these assessments are often over looked and therefore students lose out on the learning process because of lack of involvement in class discussions. The more we get our students involved in discussions and hands-on learning the more they will learn and the more they will want to learn.
In the section on "Personal Assessments" I totally agree with the book when it states: "Knowing more about students as individuals will help with teaching and learning in at least three ways: (1) Motivating students by bringing their backgrounds and prior knowledge into classrooms; (2) Helping students to make connections between their lives adn academic texts and concepts; and (3) Guiding students to use their backgrounds and life experiences to critically read and evaluate academic texts and texts from popular culture(mass media, film, music, sports, and the internet)." This is so true when students can relate what they are learning to what they have experienced in life they are more adept to remember the information because they have "experienced" in some form in their life. Experience is the best teacher and when teachers can use life experiences to help students learn it makes a tremendous impact on their learning skills and ability.
"Portfolio Assessment" is a great way to get students involved because it allows them to keep up with all their work, feedback from the teacher and their peers, their own self evaluations, and
notes about their progress from the teacher and themselves as well. This type of assessment allows the students the opportunity to evalute their own work and allows the students to be involved in their own learning process. There are different types of portfolios that can be used like: (1) "Personality Profile Portfolio" this type of portfolio asks students to represent something that they are extremely knowledgable about -- their own personal identity. (2) "Academic Portfolio" which is a collection of students' best work. and finally (3) "Growth Portfolio" which exhibits students' development from an earlier point to a later point. By having students create and keep portfolios of their own work they are more adept to do their best work to keep in their portfolio. I would definitely use portfolios for older students, and they could be used for younger students as well.
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Kathy,
ReplyDeleteOur first paragraphs are very similar. I agree with you totally! It is so important for teachers to have ongoing assessment, but they must continually update themselves on the lives of their students to do so. Our second paragraphs are similar as well. I can think back to my elementary, middle, and high school years and the things that i learned that stick out most are things i learned through experiences and authentic instruction and assessment. I loved where you said "experience is the best teacher." That is a great way to put it and is so very true. I honestly get excited when i think about all the things teachers can do in their classroom to provide authentic instruction and assessment for their students. I really know this will be something i plan to make a huge part of my curriculum.
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ReplyDeleteIndividualized instruction is so important these days. I think that this is some of the way that personal reflection begins. These students know what clicks for them and how to monitor their own lessons if their teacher takes the time to make assessment authentic. Like Brittany Alexander stated in her example of authentic assessment, "student's success rates can increase."
ReplyDeleteYou know what I agree with you Kathy on portfolios. I think that most teachers these days do not know how to use them for grades. I am interested to know what you think about mandatory assessments. From experience I think that this schould not be so important to school districts. Who knows that student may has test anxiety. Should that be the one thing that keeps a student from graduating or proceeding to the next grade? I think this is some of the reason why the dropout rate has increased.
I totally agree with you Kathy, teachers MUST stay current in their knowledge. Of course, the "old" instructional methods work in this "new" age. I personally don't want my students to know more than I do. Otherwise, I would be out of a job if I couldn't teach them anything. I too feel that teachers don't engage their students in classroom conversation and thus, don't get to know their students or their knowledge. It is our job to be personable and create a warm, effective learning environment. After all, that's our job, right!
ReplyDeleteMotivation is the key to student success. If the teacher is not motivated about what he or she is teaching, then how can the students be expected to be. Informal assessments, to me, are the best form of assessment for teachers to use. There are several opportunities during each day where teachers can informally observe student progress or stalling. By teachers continously doing this type of assessment, then they are in a better position to guide instruction according to student weaknesses and strengths.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I completely agree with accessing a students prior knowledge within the classroom. Students are going to be much more open and willing to participate in a project in which they have an interest. By incorporating student interests into classroom activities, teachers are able to invovle their students much more than by using a humdrum book activity. A portfolio is a fabulous way to get students involved in their education. This form of assessment also allows teachers a glimpse into the students life and interest, which could benefit instructional or motivational activities in the future.