Assessment techniques

Alternative assessments are used to determine what students can do with the content that they have learned in the classroom. There are a variety of measures that teachers can use to gather data about their students. Some examples of alternative assessments include: performance assessment projects, portfolios, direct observation, anecdotal records, checklists, informal student interviews, interest inventories, and projective strategies. They are graded or scored differently than traditional tests. To better understand the assessment, three guiding questions we may ask as teachers are: What do I want to know? Why do I want to know? and How can I best discover? Using alternative assessment techniques help teachers gain information about students because it provides a mean of assessing skills that cannot be directly assessed with traditional tests. It gives students a say in how they are tested and focuses on student performance. We can learn more about our students and their different learning abilities including characteristics that we may not gain from standardized testing. In addition, these methods benefit students because they take an active role in applying what they have learned Students are contributors in providing evidence and input, along with teachers. When it comes to learning about students' reading behaviors, alternative assessments can help teachers focus on students' strengths and needs while planning appropriate instruction to increase their learning. One assessment for reading disabilities I would use with my students is direct observation. Since I work with children ages 3-4, direct observation is a helpful tool to help me become aware of their reading-related behaviors. I can observe students over an extended period of time and identify patterns of behavior. To help document any observed behavior, another assessment that I would use are anecdotal records which can help me record any interpretations. I would use these methods to observe students in the early emergent stage which is when they start to develop oral language and curiosity about print. Some sample benchmarks include: knowing several nursery rhymes, using writing utensils and paper to attempt writing, attending to read-alouds etc Explain why alternative assessment techniques are viable techniques to help gain information about students. What are some of the assessment and diagnostic tools for reading disabilities that you use or would use with your students?