Anna Golden

Methods and Strategies: Alternative Assessments for English Language Learners

Sun, Oct 05, 2014 7:34 PM
Student Drawings

I really liked reading this article and how they tested their students with drawings. I would have never of guessed that you could assess a student by drawings. I think that this would also work with those students in kindergarten and first grade, who are below their reading levels. In the article they mentioned that when they talked with the students, they realized that the students knew more than the textbook created tests showed. I found it interesting that the drawings revealed more than the written responses, but then the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. The students who are English Language Learners would have a hard time writing what they knew. This is definitely something I will keep in mind, as I have students who might struggle with writing or the English language.

In Praise of Performance-Based Assessments

Sun, Oct 05, 2014 7:24 PM
Performance Based Assessments

I really enjoyed reading this article. Lee-Ann Flynn made great points about performance based assessments. I really think that Performance based assessments are the best ways to assess our students. Students are sharing what they know through the performance based assessments and are not being tested on what they know. Performance based assessments are more of a constructed response whereas standardized tests are multiple choice and don't allow students to explain their thinking and knowledge on the content being tested. I agree with Lee-Ann that with performance based testing, that students would consider it a fun activity, not an assessment. Performance based assessment reminds me of the 5 E's - engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate. I am all for performance based assessment, especially if it enables my students to be stress free when being tested. I really enjoyed Lee-Ann's comment she said that her students scores on the tasks and journals were higher than any of the paper-and-pencil test that she had administered the entire year. This goes to show, that when students are able to explain their knowledge, they do better than when they are having to fill in bubbles on a standardized test.