During the past two classes we have discussed types of assessment. Immediately the word TEST popped into my mind. Going through schools the importance of tests and EOGs were forced on us like it was a life or death situation. These past few classes made me realize how truly unnecessary this truly was. I, as a student, tested horribly, so of course I hated any test thrown at me. Then on top of that feeling, my teachers placed so much importance on it. The amount of stress and worry spent over the tests replaced what actual learning could have taken place.
As a future teacher I have the opportunity to change this. I have the opportunity to never make my students feel the way I did when given a test. Now I cannot completely do away with testing because certain tests are state mandated, thus I have no option. Instead I can focus on the learning. I can prepare my students so well that the test seems like a piece of cake. Now this is easier said than done! In order to actually achieve this goal, I have to include several formative assessments into my lesson plan. Formative assessments are simply different ways, I, the teacher can keep updated with how well my students are internalizing the content I am teaching. This can include, but is not limited to, exit tickets or checkpoints. These assessments can lead me in two directions, I either keep building on the students knowledge because they understand the content or I go back and recap what has been done in a different way to help the students understand the concept better. After the various steps of this are done then it is time for the summative assessment to truly put their knowledge to the test. This is when the test comes in except now that the students are truly prepared it doesn't seem so scary!
Colleen,
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to your first paragraph. I am a horrible test taker so I was definitely one of those kids that did (and still does) stress about test. In school, testing was always shoved down my throat simply for the reason because it was a test and we needed good scores, not to show I was actually learning. Your second paragraph shows that you are really being able to make the connections between what we are learning in class and how you want to change the normal way of teaching/testing. I think that how we assess our students and the emphasis we place on it can make the world of difference not only for them, but us teachers too.
Stephanie Blackwell
I couldn't agree more with your first paragraph. I had the same experience in school and I hated the tests especially the written ones; I made the question harder than it needed to be because I over thought it. Every year close to half the students at school were dragging their feet with bags under their red eyes from worrying and staying up so late studying. Thats the story most people always hear about but at my school there was also the opposite. A number of the students said that no matter how much they studied they'd never pass the test so they just gave up. Some wouldn't even show up to the tests and the others would just guess on all the answers, usually putting down C on all the questions. What is the education system doing to students? Half of the students worry to the point that they are shaking, losing their hair, and walking around looking like zombies and others just give up. Something needs to change. But on a high note I'm glad that we, as future teachers, are learning new and better ways to actually help students learn and not just pass some obscure multiple choice test.
ReplyDeleteColleen,
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see you were able to make personal connections to the class today. I am confident you will make every effort to make testing less stressful for your students. You have a powerful statement in your blog: if you teach and formatively assess well, your students should experience success on the EOG's! Yes! Why do other teachers not understand this?
What other changes do you have in mind for your future classroom? What are your action steps to truly integrate formative assessment?