Formative/Summative Assessments

Test and quizzes are very important to the learning environment. Formative assessments are a great way to measure how much the student understands during instructional time. Teachers use them to check for understanding. When I give formative assessments, I look to see what the student comprehends and/or have they been comprehending this far. Based on the results from that assessment, I can either modify the lesson to simplify or challenge them.

Formative assessments aren't just important to me but to my students as well. It allows the students to see what they are missing and what they know about the topic at question. It sort of puts the learning ball in their court. They can either study harder or if they know it take it easy. For me, it's all seeing what they know and giving good feedback. Formative assessments isn't something that I give every week. However, when I do give one I like to give my students enough feedback so they can learn. I use the feedback as a conversation. For every wrong answer they give, I give an explanation to why it's wrong and ask that they correct it. If they correct it, I give them some points back on their grade.

As for summative assessments, I only use those at the end of every unit. With summative assessments, I can see which class scored the highest on specific subjects. Most summative assessments are those state tests that students are mandated to take at the end of every year. Even though I know my students must take these tests, I don’t always agree with them. In a perfect world, students would be graded on the actual grades they produce in class not the score on the Milestones. As a teacher, it breaks my heart to see my students become a nervous wreck because they overthink about a week long test. I would love for administrators who demand this test to think about the stress they put on students and teachers. If a teacher’s score isn’t above average or perfect, they’re job is at risk and for what? Because a student had a bad testing day or the assessment was worded in a way they couldn’t understand. All I’m saying is that summative assessments should be thought about to promote successful learning. 

Classroom Management

A teacher’s responsibility is to her student’s education. My responsibility is to ensure that the learning environment is welcoming and respected. Effective classroom management systems is important to every teacher. It’s important to me because I can keep the flow of my class. My classroom rules are realistic and enforced from August to May. I’ve seen classrooms where students have 100% of the power. That’s not how classrooms should be. The power should be 50/50 and lessons should be intriguing enough to leave students wanting for more.

Not all management systems work. I’ve seen teachers praise the negative behavior. Instead of congratulating good grades and good behavior, she praised late assignments and tardies. I watched as these students went from goofy, outgoing students to nonparticipants. They didn’t want the praise she offered. This system opened my eyes to pass management systems I’ve witnessed during my school days. I never want to be that teacher that will make her students feel like horrible for making a mistake. I made a promise to myself that I would never do that when I started teaching and I haven’t.

As for my rules and procedures, they’re realistic. I know my students can get antsy. I know my students like to argue. I also know my students need to use the restroom 50 times a day and I know that socializing is important to them. So most of my lessons are labs that get them walking around the room, using technology, and socializing with lab partners. The procedures during these labs are enforced heavily by me and my co-teacher. I’ve learned that expectations go a long way for students. If students respect your opinion about them, they will do anything you ask in order to keep that respect. In order for me to become a better teacher, I have to learn to loosen the rails a little. It’s always been a traditional setting around me. I have to learn to let my students show me they can handle student centered assignments.  

You want to be an effective teacher, think like your students. Think about everything you went through when you were their age and focus on that. Make rules and expectations that are realistic for them to reach. Make transition procedures simple and easy. Don’t complicate things by yelling and screaming but talk to them. Students are humans and should be treated like humans. The love you have for them will show them that their success is the only thing you want.