Kayla Maloney 1

Assessment Philosophy
Teachers have a direct impact on a students learning experience. Assessment is a key
component in the overall learning process and its arguably one of the more challenging tasks
educators face on a daily basis. There are countless assessment tools and strategies available to
teachers; the real challenge is choosing a form of assessment that is beneficial to all. In the past
more emphasis was placed on the content being taught, rather than the students overall learning.
In recent years there has been a shift in the assessment process. In many cases teachers have
begun to realize that formative assessment is an effective way to gauge students learning
successfully. Alfie Kohn is a strong supporter of formative assessment, in fact he believes that
we should do away with grades all together. Though I do feel Kohn has some very interesting
ideas about assessment, I also see some value in summative assessment. The key is placing the
right amount of emphasis on each aspect of assessment to provide a more rounded and beneficial
assessment practice .
Finding a balance in your assessment practices is essential in providing students with
accurate and fair results of their overall learning. We need to assess students before, during, and
after the learning process in order to find this balance. The best way to assess students at the
beginning of the learning process is to complete a type of diagnostic assessment. Throughout the
learning process, formative assessment should be used frequently in different forms. When you
reach the end of the learning process, or unit, summative assessment can be useful. Its important
you use each form of assessment in the right way to make the process as authentic and precise as
possible.
There are numerous tools and strategies to use when completing a diagnostic assessment.
The main goal of this form of assessment is to access students prior knowledge and from there
decide the best ways to approach the following lessons. Throughout this process teachers can
better understand where students are in their learning before teaching new concepts. The teacher
can determine what the students already know, potential weaknesses, areas of strength and their
individual interests. As a teacher its important to differentiate your lessons so that you avoid
teaching in a way that only caters to specific students needs. Not every child learns or
understands things in the same way. Its crucial to understand this and plan your lessons
accordingly. Casual observations and conversations with your students are a great way to
complete pre-assessment. However, there are also specific tools such as: KWL charts, check-in
slips, and entrance cards. KWL charts are especially useful because they not only inform you
about your students prior knowledge and specific interests; they can also be used at the end of a
lesson or unit to determine what the students learned.
Throughout the learning process its important that teachers are aware of students
individual needs. While some students thrive in one subject area, others may struggle with the
same material. This is why formative assessment is the most effective way to continually
evaluate the students learning. One of the greatest aspects of formative assessment is that it
attempts to offer students a stress free learning environment. Standardize tests and grades cause a
lot of stress for many students. In fact, Kohn states, grades promote a fear of failure even in
high-achieving students (1). Formative assessment provides an opportunity for teachers to
evaluate students without placing them in a stressful situation.

Kayla Maloney 2

There are countless ways a teacher can use formative assessment in the classroom.
Observations before, during and after the lesson are a great way for the teacher to check for
understanding. KWL charts, as mentioned previously, is another great tool to use when assessing
your students informally. Other great formative assessment tools are: peer-assessment, selfassessment, checklists, exit slips, 2 stars and a wish, explore activities and show and share. These
tools are very helpful in assessing your students learning and there are countless others out there
for teachers to use in their classroom daily. Not only does formative assessment minimize stress
for students, it also provides students with choice and promotes independence. Students can also
monitor their own learning with self-assessment. Constant, constructive feedback is so important
when it comes to formative assessment. This way the student is aware of the concepts they have
mastered and the things they need to work on. They will also be more motivated to succeed when
they are encouraged to reach their personal goals. Its a more positive learning experience when
students are motivated to work hard, rather than receive good grades. This is why summative
assessment is generally viewed in a negative light.
I feel there is a time and place for summative assessment. At the end of a unit it may be
useful to formally test your students learning. However, its important to recognize that formal
tests are not always the best way to measure your students learning. Especially when you are
looking at the big picture. As mentioned previously, students tend to fear writing forma tests and
this may affect how well they do. Not only this, they focus heavily on memorizing the content
and in the end they dont actually retain or learn anything. There may also be situations where a
student is just having an off day, or they have experienced something in their personal life, which
affects their ability to perform well on a test or quiz. Teachers need to be fully aware of this and
adjust their assessment accordingly. There are other ways to formally assess students that avoid
many of the issues tests and quizzes present. Namely, project-based learning, creative writing,
choice assignments, presentations, etc. Its important to have a variety of options available to
your students in this area.
Its evident that the way teachers assess students has a great impact on their overall
learning experience. Finding a balance in your assessment practices is essential if you want
students to be successful and experience learning in a positive way. I think its extremely
important to encourage students to work hard and enjoy learning. I want my students to
understand that its okay to make mistakes and be comfortable learning in whatever way suits
them best. With my support and assessment strategies, I hope I will ensure all my students
experience learning in a positive way.

References:
Kohn, Alfie. (November 2011). The case against grades. Educational Leadership 69(3). Pp. 2833

Kayla Maloney 3