Assessment
There are numerous ways that my Cooperating Teacher (CT) assesses the students during the period of a class. One of the most resent ways that she is implementing that is the day after we review a concept we take a short 5 min "quiz" the next day. The students submit their answers in a Google Forum so that my CT has instant feedback. The reasoning for starting this was to pinpoint what topics need to be hit harder again before the next Retention Test. There is also numerous ways that my CT assesses understanding during the instruction itself. We walk around when the students have time to work and just make sure that they are doing to problems currently. Something that we did the other day was gave each student a dry erase marker and let them do the work on the desks. It was crazy to see how many students that don't usually participate take part in class and do well. We also call all students in a couple of different way during class. One is just asking questions to the class and allowing the students to answer questions together. Another way of testing is asking the students to raise their hand and answer the questions. The last way we call on students is drawing a popsicle stick with a students name on it. If the student does not know the answer we draw another and then come back to the previous student and they have to repeat the correct answer. This helps the student that didn't know initially know they answer practice repeated retrieval.
My CT uses quizzes, homework, and written exams to formally asses the students. All homework assignments are graded the same way. Five questions are chosen to be graded for accuracy according to the following rules. Then 0-3 points are given based upon if the student shows their work for a total of five points on each assignment.
2 pt if you miss 0-1
1 pt if you miss 2-4
0 pt if you miss 5
The district then says that the homework can be 20% of their final grade and the exam average is 80%. This also cannot be changed because the district says it has to be that way.
I really like how the Google Forum gives instant feedback. My favorite thing that we have done yet is letting the students write on the desks and the freedom and space that gave them to work. I also think I might use a grading process similar to the process that my CT uses. What I like most about it is that a majority of the points come from justification. I think that it is important to do this while the students are still practicing.
The idea of a five minute quiz is cool! Especially on a google forum, that is very tech savvy. Do the students do better on a media such as google? Or would they be better on paper? I also like the review it acts as for students. And I like how your CT uses the data of the quizzes to prepare for the retention tests. That's teaching I can get behind.
ReplyDeleteWhite boards are great! I have similar success in my practicum. Students seem to show out when it comes to dry erase.
For calling on students, does your teacher ever cold call specific students? Students that need extra help or practice?
It sounds like you are in a great classroom! And sounds like you are picking up a lot of tips for your future classroom!
Thank you for the comprehensive view of assessment in your classroom. I appreciate how you see all the different ways student learning is gauged. Assessment can be formative or summative and you've highlighted multiple ways your CT gets input over the course of a unit. Input on skills, content and reasoning are all present. What are your thoughts on the grading system of the district? Can you expand on the reasoning for this? I think it is interesting to consider how other subjects are graded and why? Which of these systems of assessment do you want to continue in your own classroom and why?
ReplyDelete