Best Practices: Assessment

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Accurately interpret and use test scores. Watch live demonstrations. Get tips and tools for meaningful classroom assessment. Learn five steps to effective intervention.

Most Commonly Asked Questions by Brenda Weaver

Why should we assess?

What are the different types of assessments?

What are high stakes tests?

What are the scores you can get from assessments and what do they mean?

How do you know that the assessment chosen is appropriate?

What should be assessed and how often?

Assessment in Your Classroom

Stages of Reading — Set Expectations & Motivate

Informal Reading and Writing Assessments Tools

Oral Fluency Assessment — Watch a master teacher model testing.

Try an Oral Fluency Assessment Calculator for Grades 3-5

Effective Intervention

5-Step Procedure for How to Intervene

Target Instruction — Watch how a baseline test can help suggest further instruction.

Understanding Assessment Research

Assessment Research Articles & Resources for Further Reading

 

Brenda Weaver is the K-5 Language Arts/Social Studies Coordinator for Skaneateles Central Schools in Skaneateles, New York. She has been a classroom teacher, reading teacher, assistant principal, principal, curriculum coordinator, and college instructor. She has published articles and books on the topic of literacy and leveling books. The Skaneateles Language Arts Program, which was developed under her supervision, has won two International Reading Association Exemplary Reading Awards and is a top scorer on the new New York State Grade 4 English/Language Arts Test. Her first book for Scholastic, Ready-To-Use Reading Assessments & Intervention Strategies for K-2, is available in the Teacher Store.

Write About a Character
One way to assess students� understanding of characterization in a story is to have them write their own stories about a character. The reproducible activities here include a planning guide to help students brainstorm character traits, a self-assessment checklist to keep students on track as they write their stories, and a rubric for scoring the finished stories.

Spotlight Administrator: A No Excuses Leader
Joyce Bales is leading a blue-collar school district from dismal reading scores to academic success.

LESSON PLAN	Applying New Vocabulary Vocabulary instruction emphasizes building vocabulary word knowledge, comprehension and word-learning strategies related to the upcoming presidential...
UNIT PLAN	Getting Down to Business Use this exciting writing prompt to get kids to voice their opinion, and to provide a means of reading and writing assessment. Students write...