Assessment
After the years I have been in my school, when I hear the word assessment I think constant testing, CRCT, teaching to the test, etc. That is what the word means in our school and it seems to mean that in the entire state. I do think there are schools out there that trust their teachers teaching and in the end the students will do fine because of good teaching not good practicing for the test.
I also do not understand how we can put so much emphasis on just one test for these little kids. How fair is it that we base an entire grade level and success on how they score on one test. That philosophy should not really make sense with anyone–why does it?
Authentic assessment does make the most sense but I know I have heard teachers including me say time is a factor with these assessments, but I truly feel once we got into the groove of giving these assessments it would be a positive and true experience for everyone.
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Well said, Jen. I had the same thoughts. How can we based our students’ futures in the hands of how well they test, often on one assessment? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if NCLB’s idea of assessment was the authentic assessments of projects, portfolios, role play, etc.? My county recently switched math program to be more hands-on. This is a complaint to our parents, and many teachers, because it assesses on how well you can apply a concept. The parents are so used to seeing the number and letter grades that they don’t know how to make of it. They don’t care if their child has to come up with 3 ways to show an answer. They just want the answer. Look at our EDS program. We had to take the GRE and score a certain number to get in. It seems everything is based on numbers in our society. ARGH!