As many teachers do, I rely heavily on both formative and summative assessments in my classroom. My students are unfortunately learning in the era of standardized testing, and as the classroom teacher, I am constantly being asked to prove student growth via numbers and test results. I strive to use a healthy rhetoric with my students when it comes to assessments. Instead of constantly reminding them of the state test, I present an upcoming quiz or test as a means of proving to me what they have accomplished. I'll say, "we have been working so hard! You know how to do this! Don't doubt yourself!". Even though they always roll their eyes, I do believe that my students appreciate that message rather than "we have a state test, people! We need to be ready for the test!". My students get enough of that everyday, they certainly don't need to hear it from me all over again.
With that said, I introduce every Exit Ticket, Friday quiz, and nine-week exam with an attitude of "prove what you know". I try not to add to the hype or anxiety that is already put onto the shoulders of my students.
I will admit, I am not a huge fan of classroom quizzes. I always think about the fact that it is instructional time that I will never get back. What I did learn this year, however, is that quizzes don't have to be long or super tedious. Especially this fall I started to give more succinct assessments on Fridays and those worked really well. I have developed a much better understanding of what an assessment should be. Last year, my students would read a short story and complete the close reading steps all week. Then, I would quiz them on Friday with questions about the text. It took me a while to realize that I was doing it all wrong. Instead of checking their ability to recall information about the story, I really needed to get them reading a new text independently, as well as prompting them to answer higher-level thinking questions immediately thereafter. I have not reused any of my assessments last year because they really were not what they should have been. It took me a while to understand that I needed to focus on reading skills and habits, rather than on my students ability to recall a text from the week. My assessments this year have definitely been more challenging for my students, so I know I am moving in the right direction.
I have linked an assessment from last year below. I thought this quiz was so good when I gave it. Now, I can look at it and realize I was pushing my students to do the wrong kind of work.
With that said, I introduce every Exit Ticket, Friday quiz, and nine-week exam with an attitude of "prove what you know". I try not to add to the hype or anxiety that is already put onto the shoulders of my students.
I will admit, I am not a huge fan of classroom quizzes. I always think about the fact that it is instructional time that I will never get back. What I did learn this year, however, is that quizzes don't have to be long or super tedious. Especially this fall I started to give more succinct assessments on Fridays and those worked really well. I have developed a much better understanding of what an assessment should be. Last year, my students would read a short story and complete the close reading steps all week. Then, I would quiz them on Friday with questions about the text. It took me a while to realize that I was doing it all wrong. Instead of checking their ability to recall information about the story, I really needed to get them reading a new text independently, as well as prompting them to answer higher-level thinking questions immediately thereafter. I have not reused any of my assessments last year because they really were not what they should have been. It took me a while to understand that I needed to focus on reading skills and habits, rather than on my students ability to recall a text from the week. My assessments this year have definitely been more challenging for my students, so I know I am moving in the right direction.
I have linked an assessment from last year below. I thought this quiz was so good when I gave it. Now, I can look at it and realize I was pushing my students to do the wrong kind of work.
final_quiz_.docx | |
File Size: | 117 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Here is an example of a simple Friday Quiz I gave to my students earlier this year. It is short, concise, and was easy for me to grade. It had students practicing with standards RL 1 and 2 on multiple DOK levels.
rl_1_and_2_quiz_.docx | |
File Size: | 1234 kb |
File Type: | docx |
During state testing I also tend to give projects. Projects enable me to put more work on my students and give them an opportunity to really show me what they can do on their own. Last year, I created project based on one I had found online. Students created a foldable and walked through the close reading steps we use in class. When I had students do the project this year, it was based on a fairy tale we read that week. I really believe in project-based learning, and I would like to familiarize myself with more project ideas for year 3.
fairy_tale_report_project.docx | |
File Size: | 101 kb |
File Type: | docx |
fairy_tale_project_grading_sheet_.docx | |
File Size: | 73 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Almost every single day my students complete an Exit Ticket. Exit Tickets are helpful because they give me an immediate idea of if my students understood what we did that day, and they also give me holding power over my students for the last five minutes of class. By that point, they are so ready to go and get a break from me. Exit Tickets help me keep the classroom as calm as possible when my students are ready to bust out of room 215. My Exit Tickets are a balance between open response questions and multiple-choice questions that require distractor analysis. I try to change things up for my students, and I make a concerted effort to blend their interests with the skill they need to be practicing with.
Lauryn Hill picture: https://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/lauryn-hill-lyrics-that-will-inspire-you-to-think-differe?utm_term=.lplYK19oq#.tuWM84XNo
Oprah/Michael Jordan picture: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/michael-jordan-surprises-oprah-winfrey-in-the-house-he-built?urn=nba,wp3427
Beyonce picture: http://hollywoodlife.com/2017/02/12/beyonce-dress-grammys-2017-baby-bump-grammy-awards-red-carpet-pics/