Assessment Reflection

There are many different types of assessments that teachers can use in the classroom. What is most striking to me is how much the idea of what kinds of assessments to use has changed over the years. When I was in elementary school, and even somewhat into high school, a lot of my teachers were solely focused on formal assessment. However, as I am now going through classes, I am getting the opportunity to research, read about, and practice the many different types of assessments that can be much more beneficial than old-school formal assessments. For example, there are many different authentic assessments that can be utilized in the classroom. Authentic assessments "ask students to read real texts, to write for authentic purposes about meaningful topics, and to participate in authentic literacy tasks such as discussing books, keeping journals, writing letters, and revising a piece of writing until it works for the reader." These types of assessment can help teachers better realize how much their students are actually understanding on a real-world level and work to grasp their students' though process behind the work they have completed, just as much as the finished product. Authentic assessments such as these also open up the floor to much more of an opportunity for discussion amongst peers and teacher-student discussion. As we have seen throughout this semester, whether it be through videos, articles, or simply through discussing our own experiences, children tend understand and grasp a concept more when there is communication happening in the classroom. Likewise, this communication can be a form of assessment on its own. 

Additionally, I still believe that creating a form of structure to assess the students it necessary, as it helps not only the teacher stay aware of what is to be looked for, but it guides the students in the right direction as well. Even with authentic assessments, some form of rubric should be provided for the students, especially in mathematics. Using rubrics in assessments will also help us as teachers to be able to go back and reflect on what the students have done, give feedback, and follow through with that feedback to create a richer learning experience and more beneficial assessments that both measures and strengthens understanding in the classroom.