Assessment in Writing

The key points that I took out of the readings this week regarding assessment are:

1. Grade/Evaluate less: When students feel like all of their work is being graded they are less apt to take risks and instead focus on pleasing the teacher. I really like portfolios because it allows students to see all of the progress they have made, they usually allow for revision and it means students are graded less.

2. Use grading rubrics that are student friendly: I love this idea. So often we are given rubrics that are too complicated or unclear because teachers are trying to use big fancy words- put it in student language, or even better have the students create their own rubrics as a class.

3. Write, write, write: Both authors discuss how important it is to practice writing constantly in order to get better, but only grade a portion of it that way the kids improve on their own and you don't have to dole out bad grades. I also love the idea of doing daily free-writes and writing assignments that are not evaluated at all. My favorite assignments in school are the ones where I am simply given credit for doing the assignment- this allows me freedom to be bold.

4. Teach well- Not to the test! This one is scary for me to think about. Every education professor I've had as said something like, "A good teacher doesn't need to worry about passing the WASL" but with more talk about linking teacher pay with student test scores the more this will become an issue.

5. Like your students writing: I see the point Elbow is making here, if we like our students writing we will be more inclined to offer constructive criticism and we will like our jobs better. Find something you like about every piece of writing, and get to know your students well so you can understand their growth and where their writing comes from.