Standard #6: Assessment
The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
Rationale: During my time at Sigourney High School I made an effort to sharpen the note-taking skills of my class. I spent time taking notes on how many of my students took notes on a regular basis and then spent a week applying note-taking techniques within each lesson. During that week I kept track of how many students took notes and also used the notes as homework. Having the students turn in their notes for credit ended up being a great tool to check for assessment.
Rationale: During my time student teaching I developed multiple tests, quizzes, and rubrics for projects and presentation. These were primary tools in assessing my student's progress through the different units I taught.
Rationale: The above artifact is a description of an assignment that I assigned my students during student teaching. Because this handout was so detailed I also used it as a form of rubric. The students were given this upon the introduction of this unit and were asked to follow the instructions carefully. I had this in front of me as the students presented and used it to assess the information in their presentations.
• Discussions as large group
Rationale: Open classroom discussion is an assessment tool that I use a lot. Sometimes I would guide the discussion, attempting to teach through the discussion rather than simply using lecture. At other times I would simply sit back and listen, offering insight only when students began to get off track. This often led to great debate and discovery! This gave my students a chance to verbally explain what they knew or had learned about the topics we covered.
• Exit tickets (3-2-1)
Rationale: Exit tickets were short assignments that students were asked to complete before leaving the classroom. On these "Exit Tickets" I simply asked the students to write three new things they learned, answer three questions I would post on the board, or ask three new questions they had after lecture on the piece of paper. I would then use those questions and answers to guide the discussion and/or lecture for the next day's class. These were a great tool to see if i had met my objectives each day.