Rubrics

Rubrics are a great form of assessment. They are clear and concise, which enables parents and children to understand how the teacher is grading student work. Handing out rubrics before an assignment is due also helps students figure out what the teacher is going to be looking for, which facilitates their ability to be more efficient in their work. I love the idea of giving students rubrics so that they can grade themselves. If students are honest with their self evaluations they might be able to realize what they could improve on next time. I was never given a self evaluation while I was in school, but I have seen it done in the school that I work at. I see the kids put forth more effort because they want to deserve the grade they give themselves. I'm so excited to use RubiStar because now it won't take me forever to actually make rubrics, so I'll be able to use them even more in my lessons!

Learning Targets

Learning targets state what students will be learning in a specific subject area. Creating learning targets is important because it ensures that the teacher will develop the student’s skills and comprehension at a suitable level for the child. It enables parents and students to understand what is expected and what they can look forward to learning. Learning targets enable the classroom to be consistent and help teachers recognize if students are falling behind.

Fairness in Assessment

Being unbiased in assessment is critical for an educator. It is important that standards are not assumed and that the teacher knows the background of all the students. Teacher-constructed tests are one great way to make sure that the students have a full understanding of the content. Pertinent to a viable assessment is that the educator knows the background of the students. Certain questions that the teacher should be able to answer might include: Are the standards appropriate for the student based on their knowledge of the culture and language? Are there any disabilities that the child has that might hinder their ability to understand or complete the test? I believe that if the student does not understand the questions on a test it in unfair to grade them the same as a student who has full knowledge and comprehension of the subject. In my own classroom I will make sure to find out the students’ individual strengths and weaknesses so that I may have an unbiased approach to assessment.