I am focusing my blog on pages 34-38 and 44-48 of Chapter
two. First I’d like to ask, when teachers mention the word assessment, what
comes to your mind? Is it positive or negative? Is there something that should
come to mind? It seems as though today’s society thinks that the only way to assess
students’ knowledge and understanding is through standardized testing. As
future educators we know there are pros and cons of standardized testing. For
those students who struggle with tests, there has to be another way to
successfully asses students’ knowledge not only in early emergent literature,
but in all subjects of elementary school.
Pages 34-38
mention ways such as Daily performance samples, audio recordings and videos as
forms of assessment. I know when I was younger and a teacher would mention the
word “test” I would get nervous even if I knew the content I was going to be
tested on. Some of these other means of assessment would have been helpful in
my experience as a young student because it would have taken the pressure off
of me. There are also simple types of informal assessment that teachers could
use such as the “exit slip” example given on page 44. By asking a simple
question based on the day’s lesson and having the student turn it in when they
leave, the teacher can easily assess what the student got out of that day’s
lesson and the child might not have even realized that they were being
assessed. There are a variety of ways to assess children and their knowledge,
and it is important for teachers to take their students and their individual needs
into consideration when deciding how to assess their class.
So obviously teachers aren’t the ones
deciding on standardized testing. Teachers realize that students have different
learning styles and deal with forms of assessment in different ways. However,
the government doesn’t seem to realize that some students don’t perform well on
tests but will show their full potential through informal assessments. It’s similar to a job; if a manager were to
come in and give you a test on your job, would you be able to score well or
would you be able to score better by showing them what you can do, in a way
that you are comfortable? Another point that this chapter brought to my
attention was the fact that it said standardized testing relates students’ knowledge
to the “norm.” What exactly is the “norm” or is there a “norm” for students?
Why can’t different types of assessment be integrated in schools and be widely
accepted, instead of requiring standardized testing to see results?
Dear Kelly,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. It really made me think about how I was when I was a student. I personally hated standardize testing, like I eluded to in class on friday. I think that what you say about the informal testing would be much much easier on the students and teachers both. I really like that you used the "exit slip" idea from the book. I think that we as future educators need ideas like that in our repertoire. I honestly feel that the Child Left Behind Act is both good and bad when it comes to needing to test our students. I however feel that with standardize tests that really does put extra stress on everyone in the classroom. I really like and agree with you about what is the "norm", and how do we decide it. I think it is important to keep the idea that we want our students to do well on these tests, therefore we really don't want to stress them out. I also really like that you also include the different learning styles in the assessments as well. That is a great idea that I wouldn't really even think about. I for sure feel you really hit the nail on the head with this post, and I am not just saying that. Thank you for the insight!
Kelly, I really enjoyed reading your thought-provoking entry because I instantly referred back to my childhood. What kind of assessments did we really complete? All I remember is testing and projects, but I know that they did more assessments than that. Just as you mentioned, exit slips are a great way to see what your students absorbed during the lesson. Another assessment that I found on Pinterest was a "What did you learn today?" bulletin board. It's interactive and displays what resonates with the students, showing the teacher what students learn throughout the day. Just like every other future educator, standardized testing is this huge hill that nobody wants to climb. However, the reading explained that these tests do evaluate what the students are learning. Amongst all its flaws, is it possible to see the silver lining in standardized testing?
ReplyDeleteAs for the "norm," the book described it as the "average performance of students who are tested at a particular grade and age level." What about those who do not fit the norm? I had a professor point out that students in Alaska do not know what a "curb" is, but those in New York do. What is deemed as simple vocabulary is not so easy to those outside of the norm. I agree with you 110%, there are other ways to assess students and those ways should be implemented more.
Thank you for addressing this topic Kelly! This is something I could ramble on for years, but I will save you the novel☺ Like many teachers, I have many negative feelings towards standardize testing and wish it were less stressed all year long. When I hear the word assessment, sadly the first thing that pops into my head is standardize testing. The second thought that comes to mind is, there are so many other assessment opportunities, as stated in this chapter, without the use of standardize testing and that better assesses the skills and knowledge of each child without adding them stress. I love the ideas listed in the book, such as the “Exit Slip” idea! So why are tests still being passed out? How is it possible that the people who are making decisions for the educational system have never stepped foot into a classroom. They have no background in education, but in business. Since when has having a business degree qualifies someone to make important decisions regarding education. It doesn’t! I couldn’t agree with you more that teachers aren’t the ones making decisions regarding testing when they should be. I hope someday we see this change!
ReplyDeleteI love how you started your post by asking whether assessment has a positive or negative connotation. For most people, I believe that the feelings associated with assessment are negative. Teachers have the power to make assessments less negative but because we are forced to do more and more standardized tests we are loosing that power. Teachers are not the ones deciding on how students are tested and really is that not what our job is? What we spend four years in school to learn how to do?
ReplyDelete