Key points:
- Assessment creation can be uncomfortable, but it is also one of the most important steps in accelerating student learning
- Teachers are the only professionals who can most effectively build these assessments for their students
- See related article: 4 engaging assessment ideas for middle and high school
- For more news on assessment, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page
Teachers use a variety of methods to assess mastery of a topic. We use observations, quick formative assessments, longer summative assessments, and long-term benchmark assessments. The problem is that these assessments come in a variety of ways, depending on where you teach.
Many districts utilize pre-built assessments from curricular resource companies. Others build assessments based on curricular resources and change every 4-6 years with their new resource adoption cycles. Some will create assessments based on their state-approved learning standards and work to adapt the curricular resources to their true “curriculum” and assessments.…Read More