The Scary Word Many Fear... Assessments!

Assessments. Before I even begin writing this blog, I am going to apologize for how many times I am about to say the word ‘assessment.’ It will be a lot. And to be honest, nobody likes to assess or be assessed. Assessments bring out anxiety and stress in our students… so what is the best way to assess our students? What do we do with assessment data? Why are assessments important? Is an assessment always a test? These are common questions asked by many – teachers, parents, students. This week in my Dimensions of Learning graduate class, we discussed various types of assessments to use in the classroom. With the help of my classmates and our professor, we were able to discuss these questions and our own perspectives.

So… what is the best way to assess our students? Is an assessment ALWAYS a test? Truthfully, there is not one way that is ‘best’ in assessing students. As a student in the Differentiated Instruction program at Canisius College, I believe it is important for us to assess students in multiple ways because all students have different strengths and weaknesses. Providing one form of assessment all year, generally a test, is not an equitable way of assessing your class. In fact, in doing this, some students may feel defeated when it comes to taking tests before they even begin. Alternative Formal Assessments may include interviews, conversations, observations and portfolios. It is important to provide a variety of assessments throughout the course of the school year because all students perform differently in various circumstances. Some students may perform better under the pressure of tests, while other students perform better in a more ‘natural’ environment where they are observed. Unfortunately, tests cannot be ‘cut out’ of the classroom completely, but providing other ways of assessing students will ease anxiety and stress while also collecting various types of student data.

This brings me to my next questions… why are assessments important? What do we do with assessment data? Assessments are important because as teachers we use that data to drive our instruction. We can also use assessment data to plan for differentiation. Assessment data can tell us the progress our students are making, but also the areas we need to better support our students. As we look at the assessment data of each student, we can plan to include supports throughout daily instruction for all students. How can I challenge my high-achieving students? How can I support my struggling students? What support does my class need as a whole? These are questions that may be helped with the use of assessment data.

Throughout this blog, I have used the word assessment far too much, in fact, I am sick of the word already. BUT with that being said, I cannot stress enough how important assessments are in school. The word ‘assessment’ sounds intimidating, yucky and may even provoke feelings of anxiety, but the data coming from assessments is what is important. In using that data, we are able to support our students in achieving their goals. Do you have a different outlook on assessments now? I know I do.