Teachers and parents...question

[qtwns]

I'm interested in hearing your opinion on this: How do you think students should be assessed--formative, summative, portfolio, etc.? And why would it be an improvement. Let's assume middle school age. Just curious and interested. OK...discuss!

 

[Hannathy]

Depends totally on the the subject, there isn't one best way for all subjects.

Math can be totally objective via tests.

Art would be better with a portfolio ranging from showing growth in one area to a sampling in all areas, etc.

Music could be written knowledge and improvement in performing.

I think the best way would depend on the subject and having the method and how it will be graded spelled out clearly for both student and teacher and stuck to.

 

[palavra]

I am a middle school teacher, and I use a variety of methods of assessment in my classes. Students have different learning styles, and should have a a number of different assessments as well.

 

[torinsmom]

We do different types of assessment to get a more full picture. We have formal assessments, informal assessments, portfolios, checklists. observation records, etc. I think its also important with formal assessments to compare a the student to himself, instead of to other students, the school or the district. For instance, Johnny may have scored "below standard" at a 140, but if his score increased from 126 last year, that is what is important. Each child is an individual and that is the most important factor that assessments need to take into consideration, IMHO.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm interested in hearing your opinion on this: How do you think students should be assessed--formative, summative, portfolio, etc.? And why would it be an improvement. Let's assume middle school age. Just curious and interested. OK...discuss!

I think giving teachers and the schools the ability to put their 2 cents in to move kids up or down would be an improvement. There is no power there.

My dd is trying to get into the gifted program. She passed one of the evals with "high" numbers but not the other.

So as of now they are going to assess her testing scores (all high btw, so wth is the purpose there, oh I know it is for state testing and means nothing to the student when they need it) and an another eval even though she would excel in the honors english. The honors teacher knows her and would take her in a NY minute.

The reason she is trying to get into the program is because the english class is killing her. The teacher is treating it like an elementary class and gives no room for innovation. It is maddening to her.

Counselor and grading has been brought to ther current teachers attention however does not seem to matter to her.

I can't wait to see her grade on her first major essay. She hammered it on purpose and so we will see.....

If she doesn't get in, she knows she will be in honors for 9th grade however she does not want to spend her time arguing literary points with the english teacher for her 8th grade yr.