November 4 2021
What should be the role of assessment in elementary (K-7) education?
The idea of assessing a child as young as five years old seems daunting. The concept of analyzing how a Grade 1 student is forming the letter that makes up their name seems like a lot. However, if you take a step back and think about the purpose of assessments, you are just left with the question of “do they get it?” As educators, it is our job to educate well. It seems simple enough, but education isn’t all about marking things right or wrong with the dreaded red pen. It is about setting the students up for success, and the best way to do that is to check in with them. In elementary school, assessments should not have such a heavy stigma around them. They should just be seen as check in’s. Checking in on how they liked the story or how it made them feel. These questions can be answered with a simple thumbs up or thumbs down. These quick check-ins allow for classroom engagement, collaboration, and understanding without the students realizing it. These quick formative assessments can then lead to small group discussions where students can share and brainstorm. Group collaboration for some can create a sense of confidence and help regulate their social-emotional learning. Assessments are scary. However, as the classroom teacher, you can make them less scary and approachable. It is all in the delivery, so make sure you deliver it with a smile.