What Assessment Is To Me
Ever since I had to get observed for student teaching during my undergrad at Towson University I have been a huge fan of assessment. At first, I was unsure how I felt and was nervous what would happen if my students didn't perform well or if someone failed. The first thing that came to my mind when i heard the word assessment was "testing". Then my supervisor introduced me to different types of assessment. I learned about daily assessment, informal assesment, formal assessment, and formative assessment. I learned that assessment can be measured in so many different ways. Assesssments do not have to be tests or paper work. Assessing a student can be done by watching a student, having a student do a hands on activity, having a conversation with a student, or watching a student show you what they know. Assessment is crucial for all students and teachers. It is so important that teachers measure student progress so they can determine their growth.
Informal assesment can be watching a student or having a student do an activity. A formal or formative assessment is known to be more of a paperbased assessment but can also be done by using hands on actvities with manipulatives. Daily assessment is important for teachers to do so they aware of what they students learned and what they didnt so they are able to plan for the next days lesson. This allows teachers to change their lessons to ensure that all students have mastered what they need to know. Even though paper-based assessments allow students to answer questions and write down what they know it is not always the best way to assess students. If students arent good at writing then that assessment isnt fair for them. It is important to assess studnets in a way that they can do their best and prove that they know and have mastered. I do believe that teachers should sometimes give paper based tests; however, I am a strong believer that observing students and watching them show what they have learned is the best way to assess. This allows the students to feel comfortable without being stressed about taking a written assessment. I think watching students work, interact, and be engaged with others and indepdently is the best way to see the child learn and show what they know. This allows teachers to see how students talk, work, and play. This allows teachers to learn so much about the student without having to have them write, read or take a test. Observing children is something that is really benefical for teachers because they can take notes themselves about the child and analyze it and use that to better help the child. Observation allows me to see the students strengths and weaknesses therefore I can adjust my teaching to be approrpriate and benefical for them. Observations allow me to see if the children are engaged in the lesson and the classroom. During observations I am also able to notice the child's behaviors and background factors that infleunce the behaviors. Lastly, I can focus on the behavior or information that is needed. It is extremely important that before observing to know and identify what the purpose for the asessment is.
How I Will Use Assessment In My Curriculum
Germ Lesson - Running Recod
I will use a running record to assess students after the germs lesson. The students will independently complete a worksheet about germs and how they spread. There are six pictures and each picture either shows germs being prevented or germs being spread. The students will be asked to draw a blue circle around the pictures that show germs being prevented and make a red “x” through the pictures that show germs being spread or how they spread. As the students complete this worksheet they will be paired up with a partner and will be asked to turn and talk about their answers. Students will discuss and see whether they have the same answers or not and why and why not. Students will be able to talk about why they think germs are spreading or how they are being prevented. A running record is a record of a situation so that others can visualized what occured. It is important to try and record exactly what was done or how it was said with examples if needed. It is a more detailed narrative that includes everything that heppened and was said during the observation or assessment. It is important that all comments or analysis information is kept seperatly from the actual record. It is also crucial to avoid bias in a running record. I will take notes on students work based on how they are completing the assessment. I will take notes on what the students are doing right and or wrong and any patterns that I notice. I will have one student at a time complete the assessment as they finsish the activity before.
Advantages of Running Records
Open-ended Comprehensive
No special observer training
Disadvantages of Running Recods
Time-consuming
Difficult to use for more than one child at a time
Time-consuming to code and analyze for research
Community Helpers - Checklist
I will use a checklist to assess students after the community helper lesson. As a closure activity the students will create “community helper trading cards”. On each trading card the student would write the community helper and draw a picture of them. On the back of the trading card the student will describe the community helpers job and how they help keep us healthy and safe. After all students have completed their trading cards, each student will be asked to pick their favorite card or their favorite community helper and share it with the class. Checklists are lists of specific traits or behaviors arranged in logical order. It is a short question or statement that has either a yes or no answer or something that can be checked off as accomplished or not. Checklists are especially used for types of behavior or traits that can be easily and clearly specified from either an anecdotal or running record. A checklist is an assessment that makes interpretation easier.
Community Helper Checklist Assessment for Trading Cards
1. Did the student identify community helpers?
2. Did the student draw a picture to match the job of the community helper?
3. Did the student give a correct job description of the community helper?
4. Did the student explain how the community helper keeps people healthy and or safe?
Advantages of Checklists
They are quick and easy to use
Little training is required
They can be used in the presence of a child or later
You can focus on more than one thing at a time
Can be used for curriculum planning
Disadvantages of Checklists
They are not very detailed
There is minimal information
May miss important information if it is not something included on the checklist
It notes if something is happening or done but not how many times
Ever since I had to get observed for student teaching during my undergrad at Towson University I have been a huge fan of assessment. At first, I was unsure how I felt and was nervous what would happen if my students didn't perform well or if someone failed. The first thing that came to my mind when i heard the word assessment was "testing". Then my supervisor introduced me to different types of assessment. I learned about daily assessment, informal assesment, formal assessment, and formative assessment. I learned that assessment can be measured in so many different ways. Assesssments do not have to be tests or paper work. Assessing a student can be done by watching a student, having a student do a hands on activity, having a conversation with a student, or watching a student show you what they know. Assessment is crucial for all students and teachers. It is so important that teachers measure student progress so they can determine their growth.
Informal assesment can be watching a student or having a student do an activity. A formal or formative assessment is known to be more of a paperbased assessment but can also be done by using hands on actvities with manipulatives. Daily assessment is important for teachers to do so they aware of what they students learned and what they didnt so they are able to plan for the next days lesson. This allows teachers to change their lessons to ensure that all students have mastered what they need to know. Even though paper-based assessments allow students to answer questions and write down what they know it is not always the best way to assess students. If students arent good at writing then that assessment isnt fair for them. It is important to assess studnets in a way that they can do their best and prove that they know and have mastered. I do believe that teachers should sometimes give paper based tests; however, I am a strong believer that observing students and watching them show what they have learned is the best way to assess. This allows the students to feel comfortable without being stressed about taking a written assessment. I think watching students work, interact, and be engaged with others and indepdently is the best way to see the child learn and show what they know. This allows teachers to see how students talk, work, and play. This allows teachers to learn so much about the student without having to have them write, read or take a test. Observing children is something that is really benefical for teachers because they can take notes themselves about the child and analyze it and use that to better help the child. Observation allows me to see the students strengths and weaknesses therefore I can adjust my teaching to be approrpriate and benefical for them. Observations allow me to see if the children are engaged in the lesson and the classroom. During observations I am also able to notice the child's behaviors and background factors that infleunce the behaviors. Lastly, I can focus on the behavior or information that is needed. It is extremely important that before observing to know and identify what the purpose for the asessment is.
How I Will Use Assessment In My Curriculum
Germ Lesson - Running Recod
I will use a running record to assess students after the germs lesson. The students will independently complete a worksheet about germs and how they spread. There are six pictures and each picture either shows germs being prevented or germs being spread. The students will be asked to draw a blue circle around the pictures that show germs being prevented and make a red “x” through the pictures that show germs being spread or how they spread. As the students complete this worksheet they will be paired up with a partner and will be asked to turn and talk about their answers. Students will discuss and see whether they have the same answers or not and why and why not. Students will be able to talk about why they think germs are spreading or how they are being prevented. A running record is a record of a situation so that others can visualized what occured. It is important to try and record exactly what was done or how it was said with examples if needed. It is a more detailed narrative that includes everything that heppened and was said during the observation or assessment. It is important that all comments or analysis information is kept seperatly from the actual record. It is also crucial to avoid bias in a running record. I will take notes on students work based on how they are completing the assessment. I will take notes on what the students are doing right and or wrong and any patterns that I notice. I will have one student at a time complete the assessment as they finsish the activity before.
Advantages of Running Records
Open-ended Comprehensive
No special observer training
Disadvantages of Running Recods
Time-consuming
Difficult to use for more than one child at a time
Time-consuming to code and analyze for research
Community Helpers - Checklist
I will use a checklist to assess students after the community helper lesson. As a closure activity the students will create “community helper trading cards”. On each trading card the student would write the community helper and draw a picture of them. On the back of the trading card the student will describe the community helpers job and how they help keep us healthy and safe. After all students have completed their trading cards, each student will be asked to pick their favorite card or their favorite community helper and share it with the class. Checklists are lists of specific traits or behaviors arranged in logical order. It is a short question or statement that has either a yes or no answer or something that can be checked off as accomplished or not. Checklists are especially used for types of behavior or traits that can be easily and clearly specified from either an anecdotal or running record. A checklist is an assessment that makes interpretation easier.
Community Helper Checklist Assessment for Trading Cards
1. Did the student identify community helpers?
2. Did the student draw a picture to match the job of the community helper?
3. Did the student give a correct job description of the community helper?
4. Did the student explain how the community helper keeps people healthy and or safe?
Advantages of Checklists
They are quick and easy to use
Little training is required
They can be used in the presence of a child or later
You can focus on more than one thing at a time
Can be used for curriculum planning
Disadvantages of Checklists
They are not very detailed
There is minimal information
May miss important information if it is not something included on the checklist
It notes if something is happening or done but not how many times
References
Beaty, Janice J. (2014), Observing Development of the Young Child 8th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.
Wortham, Sue C. (2014) Assessment in Early Childhood Education (Sixth Edition.). New Jersey. Pearson Education Inc.
Beaty, Janice J. (2014), Observing Development of the Young Child 8th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.
Wortham, Sue C. (2014) Assessment in Early Childhood Education (Sixth Edition.). New Jersey. Pearson Education Inc.