I assess more frequently and more thoughtfully this year compared to last year. This year for formal assessments I use tests that are modeled more closely to the state test. Last year I would use tests that had been passed down to me. These tests were okay, but when I look at them now, I see that a lot of the questions were DOK 1 and DOK 2. There were not many DOK 3 or proficient questions. This year, I try to make the test 50% proficient questions and 25% each for DOK 1 and DOK2.
Last year, especially towards the end of the year, I did not give many tests. My classroom management had gotten so poor, that test days were not good days for me. Instead, I would have the kids make a poster and give them a test grade for it. This year my classroom management is much better. I now look forward to test days, because I know it will be silent and calm, and I can get the next week planned out. I have also started to implement what my psychology professor in undergrad would do. For the past five weeks, I have been giving a test a week that is only about 30 questions. I upload the study guide to google drive on Friday. We learn new material on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday we go over the study guide with a kahoot.it, and Friday they take a test. After the test is a short reading that previews the next week's material. Since I have implemented this schedule, the average test score has risen quite a bit. I would say before my tests would average 50-60%, this past week the average was 65-75%. Using zipgrade has helped my assessments a lot too. This piece of technology has improved the speed at which I grade and allows me to easily see which questions were missed most often. I then use these questions as bellringers for the next week.
My favorite informal assessment is kahoot.it. I can easily see how many kids are getting it and it gives me quick feedback on what material I want them to focus on when they get to their independent practice. I also like to use quizizz (similar to kahoot) because it gives me quick information, but it is more individualized. With it, I can see which children are having the most issues and who I need to spend a little more time with during independent practice.
Assessments inform the way I teach by letting me know what I need to spend more time on or what the children have mastered.
I've been doing UBD these past 5 weeks. I've been writing the test first, then planning each day generally, then going in to each day and picking which worksheet and powerpoint I want to use..... This is kind of an a-ha moment. It's so funny when something is an assignment it is such hard work and seems like a waste of time, but when you "come up it with yourself" it works so good and you wonder why "you" didn't come up with it sooner.
Last year, especially towards the end of the year, I did not give many tests. My classroom management had gotten so poor, that test days were not good days for me. Instead, I would have the kids make a poster and give them a test grade for it. This year my classroom management is much better. I now look forward to test days, because I know it will be silent and calm, and I can get the next week planned out. I have also started to implement what my psychology professor in undergrad would do. For the past five weeks, I have been giving a test a week that is only about 30 questions. I upload the study guide to google drive on Friday. We learn new material on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday we go over the study guide with a kahoot.it, and Friday they take a test. After the test is a short reading that previews the next week's material. Since I have implemented this schedule, the average test score has risen quite a bit. I would say before my tests would average 50-60%, this past week the average was 65-75%. Using zipgrade has helped my assessments a lot too. This piece of technology has improved the speed at which I grade and allows me to easily see which questions were missed most often. I then use these questions as bellringers for the next week.
My favorite informal assessment is kahoot.it. I can easily see how many kids are getting it and it gives me quick feedback on what material I want them to focus on when they get to their independent practice. I also like to use quizizz (similar to kahoot) because it gives me quick information, but it is more individualized. With it, I can see which children are having the most issues and who I need to spend a little more time with during independent practice.
Assessments inform the way I teach by letting me know what I need to spend more time on or what the children have mastered.
I've been doing UBD these past 5 weeks. I've been writing the test first, then planning each day generally, then going in to each day and picking which worksheet and powerpoint I want to use..... This is kind of an a-ha moment. It's so funny when something is an assignment it is such hard work and seems like a waste of time, but when you "come up it with yourself" it works so good and you wonder why "you" didn't come up with it sooner.