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.