Ten questions for Teachers

ED450: Assessment & Evaluation                         Oleai elementary school

Fall 2012                                                         3^rd grad, Mrs. Maria Ano

Ms. Soledad Camacho

HeJin Lee

1. How do you assess your students with special needs?

Before assessing students with special needs, I must first become very familiar with the student’s IEP.  By doing so, I will be able to identify the type of accommodations needed for that student and I will be able to also modify the instruction to suit the learning needs of that student.

2. How do you know your assessments are effective?

I know that the assessments I use are effective through evidences of student learning.  When a student can perform a task with none to very minimal difficulty, and perform with independence, I can say that both the instruction and assessments were effective. 

3. What are several ways you assess your students?

I assess students in various ways depending on the activity and the outcome that I expect.  I conduct both formal and informal assessments, formative, summative and diagnostic assessments that can either be performed orally or written.  My assessments also vary on how it is done; either individually, small group, or whole group. 

4. What is the purpose of assessing students?

Assessments should be used to help teachers tailor their instruction to meet the needs of all learners.  They are to be used not just to provide feedback to the students but more effectively as a way for teachers to reflect on the effectiveness of the lesson.  Assessments can also be used by the entire school to create action plans that will enable everyone to help students succeed. 

5. How do you assess students who do not want to participate?

I believe that a firm and consistent classroom management will help teachers when faced with scenarios such as students not wanting to participate.  In my classroom, I make sure that my expectations were communicated clearly to my students and their parents from the get go.  That way, when I am faced with this kind of issue/concern, my students know that not wanting to participate in anything that goes on in the classroom will result in consequences that will affect the reporting of their performance to their parents.

6. What are your most effective assessments and why?

Any form of assessment can be effective; it all depends on how consistent it is and the purpose behind the assessment.  If a teacher is consistent in giving assessments and providing immediate feedback to the students, then the assessment will become effective.  The purpose of assessments should always be to help teachers tailor their instruction and help them gear their students to success. 

7. Do you assess your students based on their learning styles? How?

Yes.  It is important to consider the students’ learning styles and incorporate them into the assessments used in the classroom.  In my assessments, I try to incorporate some of the intelligences to provide students with an outlet to reaching their needs.

8. Why is assessment important?

Assessment is important because it helps a teacher become more effective in reaching all learners in the classroom.  It serves as an important reflection tool as well so that teachers may reflect at the end of a lesson to consider if needs were met or not.  It also serves as a way to provide feedback to students so that they too become responsible for their learning as well. 

9. Do you provide a rubric for each activity/assessment that your students do? Why? or Why not?

Yes.  It is equally important to have rubrics because it serves both the teacher and student.  Having a rubric provides students with a guide to follow and teaches them to become responsible and accountable for their learning.  It also teaches students to be independent rather than always having to depend on their teacher all the time. 

10. How do students receive feedback?

Just like assessments, feedback can come in many forms.  It can be given formally and informally as well.  What is most important is that feedback be always given as immediately as possible to the students.  Immediate response helps teachers maintain an effective communication with the students and parents as well.  Giving feedback immediately also allows the students to be responsible for their learning and to catch any learning concerns/difficulties at the earliest stage possible.