How to Assess Learning in the Classroom

Assessing learning in the classroom can be done in a variety of ways depending on what skills are being measured. Administer formal assessments if you want to measure a student's progress over an entire grading period on the content of subject matter. Use informal assessments if you want to measure a student's performance or mastery of specific skills.

Instructions

1. Assess formally at the end of a grading period or the end of a unit in a specific subject. Use the standardized test that comes already made from the publisher of the curriculum. If this is not available, write your test from items of importance that were covered in the unit. Use different types of questions appropriate to the subject such as multiple-choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer/essay.

2. Assess informally using observations and checklists. After teaching and modeling a skill, such as addition in mathematics, walk around the room while the children are working independently. Use a form that has student names and name of skill already printed (see Resources below). Place a check mark or an X to indicate mastery or non-mastery.

3. Assess students' work. Have your students compile a portfolio of selected works and submit them monthly or quarterly. Examples of portfolio work are essays, notes taken during class, or sample mathematical problems, formulas and scientific hypothesis. Instead of giving a numerical grade, use a grading rubric (see Resources below).

References

• Formal and Informal Assessment
• Assessment Information for Teachers

Resources

• Formal vs. Informal Assessment
• Portfolio Assessment Rubric
• Sample Observation Form