ASSESSMENT FOR BALANCED LITERACY
What is Assessment?
Assessment is a process used to gather information from students so that a teacher can recognize and appreciate what a child knows, understands and can do, with what is being taught. Reading assessment will, for the most part, be an informal and formative process that occurs on a daily basis. The ultimate goal in conducting regular and consistent assessment is to use the data collected to reflect upon how to optimize the learning experiences for all of my students. Incorporating a backward design approach for developing lesson plans will ensure that desired learning results and what will qualify as acceptable evidence of mastery is spelled out prior to planning learning experiences and direct instruction. A backward design approach identifies what we want students to learn, how we will know they have learned and then crafts experiences to build that knowledge.
What are the Benefits of Assessment?
Identifies Skills. Assessment provides information about what skills have been mastered and what skills are still being developed. Assessment allows teachers to know what each child can do and cannot yet do.
Monitors Progress. Assessment allows for observation and evaluation of students’ responses to instruction. Monitoring progress allows teachers to pace lessons and differentiate for students who require additional practice or challenges with a specific skill or strategy.
Guides Teacher Instruction. Student assessment provides data based on active student learning, enabling teachers to make informed decisions about how to focus and design future lessons to make them more appropriate for each student’s success.
Evaluates the Effectiveness of Instruction. Assessment promotes evaluation, revision and improvement of instruction. The process of reflection and evaluation will keep things fresh, fluid and relevant for my students. Questioning teaching practices and strategies is part of the process for effecting positive change that increases learning.
What Will Assessment Look Like Inside My Classroom?
References:
Graves, M., Juel, C., Graves, B., & Dewitz, P., Teaching Reading in the 21st Century, Page 78
Fountas, I., Pinnell, G.S., Guided Reading: Good First Teaching for All Children, Pages 73-76
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/14510
Assessment is a process used to gather information from students so that a teacher can recognize and appreciate what a child knows, understands and can do, with what is being taught. Reading assessment will, for the most part, be an informal and formative process that occurs on a daily basis. The ultimate goal in conducting regular and consistent assessment is to use the data collected to reflect upon how to optimize the learning experiences for all of my students. Incorporating a backward design approach for developing lesson plans will ensure that desired learning results and what will qualify as acceptable evidence of mastery is spelled out prior to planning learning experiences and direct instruction. A backward design approach identifies what we want students to learn, how we will know they have learned and then crafts experiences to build that knowledge.
What are the Benefits of Assessment?
Identifies Skills. Assessment provides information about what skills have been mastered and what skills are still being developed. Assessment allows teachers to know what each child can do and cannot yet do.
Monitors Progress. Assessment allows for observation and evaluation of students’ responses to instruction. Monitoring progress allows teachers to pace lessons and differentiate for students who require additional practice or challenges with a specific skill or strategy.
Guides Teacher Instruction. Student assessment provides data based on active student learning, enabling teachers to make informed decisions about how to focus and design future lessons to make them more appropriate for each student’s success.
Evaluates the Effectiveness of Instruction. Assessment promotes evaluation, revision and improvement of instruction. The process of reflection and evaluation will keep things fresh, fluid and relevant for my students. Questioning teaching practices and strategies is part of the process for effecting positive change that increases learning.
What Will Assessment Look Like Inside My Classroom?
- Discussions and Talking (Teacher to Student and Teacher observing Student to Student)
- Individual Coaching Sessions (One on One Teacher to Student)
- Reading Responses
- Journal Writing
- Mini Projects (Individual and Group)
- Graphic Organizers
- Running Records
- Standardized Tests
References:
Graves, M., Juel, C., Graves, B., & Dewitz, P., Teaching Reading in the 21st Century, Page 78
Fountas, I., Pinnell, G.S., Guided Reading: Good First Teaching for All Children, Pages 73-76
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/14510
Photo courtesy of Ken Whytock used with Creative Commons.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7815007@N07/sets/72157631666516730/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/7815007@N07/sets/72157631666516730/