Chapter 6 Reflection- Francesca

My views on assessments and evaluations are shadowed by my experiences as a student in the science classroom. As I read through this chapter, many of those beliefs were challenged as I began to see the big picture and the purpose of assessments/evaluations. Assessments and evaluations are a crucial part of every classroom as they help a teacher gauge what the students have learned, and more importantly, what they still need to learn. Happily, there are many ways to assess a student. Multiple choice questions that ask you to recall facts are not the only way to determine what the students know. There are many ways to assess for knowledge, but there must also be ways to assess for understanding.

Unfortunately, I have witnessed many teachers feel the pressure of teaching a class that is a benchmark. They are drilling students with facts so they can meet the standards marked by state assessments. I already see how the pressure to meet standards can be overwhelming. There are many factors that dictate what assessments a teacher might use. Fortunately, there seems to be a variety of ways for a teacher to implement his or her own assessments in the classroom. I have definitely learned a lot from this chapter and it will serve as a guide for future assessments/evaluations. The examples are extremely helpful and cover every type of assessment that can be used in a classroom, whether it be elementary or middle school. I am looking forward to reading the next chapter!