Teaching and Assessing Language Arts

Chapter 2

Assessing Students’ LearningShould resemble real

language use--authenticShould be an important part

of teaching and learningTeachers should examine

use of language arts and artifacts or products (projects, reading logs, etc.)

Authentic Assessment

Use appropriate assessment tools Use a variety of assessment tools Align instruction and assessment Focus on what children can do Consider processes and products Guidelines – p. 53

Authentic Assessment Five purposes

To document milestones in students’ language and literacy development

To identify students’ strengths to plan for instruction

To document students’ language arts activities and projects

To determine grades To help teachers learn more about how

students become strategic readers and writers

Monitoring Students’ Progress

Classroom observationsAnecdotal notesConferences

Types of Conferences – Figure 2-4 – p. 56

Checklists

Portfolios

Systematic and meaningful collections of artifacts documenting children’s learning and development over a period of time.

Students usually choose items to place in their portfolios within the guidelines the teacher provides.

Portfolios

Not all work in portfolio needs to be graded

Types of student work to include – p. 58

Showcase portfolios – “Portfolio Share Days”

Self-Assessment

Begins by teacher asking students about their language arts abilities in terms of contrast (book they liked the most/least)

Students identify what they do well in reading and what they need to improve

Conferences can involve self-assessment

Self-Assessment

Students write notes on items they choose for their portfolios Comments on Index cards Special comment sheets attached to

portfolio items

Assigning GradesAssignment checklists

Examples – p. 61Rubrics

Examples – pp. 62-63General for any writing projectSpecific to the assignment Can also be used for self-

assessmentRubistar

Assigning Grades

Use triangulation (3 viewpoints) Tests Observations Anecdotal records Conferences Portfolios Assignment checklists Rubrics