Los Examenes - How will I Assess my Future Students?

   " I don't remember anything from that test, we took it like 2 weeks ago!" 

                                                                                                -OJH student

How can I ensure that students in my future classroom NEVER say this about my assessments? Vacca, Vacca, and Mraz have given me a better understanding of successful assessments through the reading of Chapter 4 in Content Area Reading. 

It seems as though the majority of teaching that is going on in our schools today is catered to increasing standardized test scores in order to fund our schools and give them better reputations. Don't get me wrong, I know that the assessment of our students is important. I am not saying we shouldn't have standardized testing, but should we spend so much time, energy, stress and focus on it? Should students of the same grade get the exact same test regardless of what level they are at or the relevance of the test questions to them? What do our students honestly learn out of countless multiple choice questions? Are we preparing our students to be critical thinkers who can retain information for longer than two weeks? I don't know about you, but if a student said that about one of my tests I would say I haven't done a great job in teaching him my content.

This chapter focuses on three different types of assessments; formal, high-stake assessments, informal and authentic assessments, and the use of a portfolio. 

Formal, high-stake tests are not as effective as informal and authentic assessments. Teaching to memorize will not help my students to fully comprehend what I am teaching. This will also make it more difficult for me to know where each student is at. I remember cramming for exams the night before they took place and simply putting the answers into my short-term memory. Did I pass? Yes. Could I tell you what was on the test two weeks later? Probably not. 

I plan to use authentic assessments in my future Spanish class. I believe that it is important to informally assess my students each and every day. Following each lesson I will construct some type of informal assessment so that I can have a clear understanding of what my students have comprehended and where I should begin the next day. What needs to be retaught and what is working well? I like the idea of a 5-4-3-2-1 checkout. One-on-one or group interviews will also be a good way to assess my students, especially in my discipline. 

The development of a portfolio is the one that excites me the most. I really like the idea of having students assess themselves, not just the teachers. The portfolio also provides choices which we all know creates more student engagement. We are also aware that student engagement is the key to student overall success.  These choices can be made to cater to all learning styles which will help ALL students have the opportunity for success. Not only will the portfolio help me to see individual learning that is going on and different needs a particular student may have, but it will also help students to prepare for their post-high school education, as many colleges are beginning to use portfolios as a means to assessment, and may not award your degree without it. 

Let's teach our students to learn and not to memorize!