Synthesis 12 - Assessment

Synthesis 12 – Assessment

Positive outcomes for all students… I have thought about these words all during this week.  I commented on successful assessments in a paper I wrote for Dr. Locy in August. “The targeted vein of successful achievement gaps must be installed through the diligence of teacher accountability through the accurate use of valid assessment. Without this mandatory element of the classroom instructor’s involvement, children will be left behind. It is futile to assume that it is the special educator’s sole responsible to aid the regular educator’s classroom with data and materials to accommodate our children with special needs. Educators must unite in the struggle to promote success for these students. Teaching is an art, an abstract, which must continually be monitored and adjusted to accommodate all levels of ability and styles of learning. The continuous creation of high quality assessment yields dependable information that holds the educator accountable and responsible for implementation within the classroom. Teachers are not only the foundation of success in the public classroom, but in the development of life skills that master proficiency in a student’s existence after public education.”  I firmly believe my students must leave my classroom with academic knowledge and perhaps the most vital tool – useable life skills. It is my job to assess in an unbiased manner and to assess fairly. I assess through reading, writing of various types, tests, quizzes, public speaking exercises, homework, group work, and research papers and projects. Each student is allowed the opportunity to be successful through a wide variety of assessments.

Educators must realize that the first step in rectifying the problems of assessment is to utilize multiple means of assessment to accurately identify and define the problems. Planning with teachers who have the same or similar curriculums would certainly enhance the assessment variety and charge the rigor of the classroom. My weakest link, as well as those of you reading this synthesis and rowing the same course, is time to plan and create appropriate assessments. Strategic planning and making effective assessment tools take time. It is my desire to structure my planning time to incorporate strategic avenues of assessment for my students. With the infusion of the new Common Core State Standards, I hope to revitalize my curriculum. Although this will be a time consuming endeavor, I feel it is in the best interest of my current and future students.

It is my hope and desire to work hand in hand with my inclusion teacher over the next six months to enhance our curriculum and provide efficient and effective assessments for our inclusion and general education students. My goal is to develop interventions and assessments that will reduce the gaps between the student’s performance level and the desired outcome of the school’s expectations. The final result should be an array of assessments which allow the students to reach the desired academic goals successfully. This process is only possible if school teachers, school personnel, parents of the student, and the student, are working together cooperatively to achieve the established goals.