TPE B

Having worked for many years with teachers and administrators, the word "assessment" is not a very popular topic of discussion.  Many times, assessments are used to evaluate in a negative and/or punitive way.  For example, the STAR tests are an assessment of what students "should know" and are used as a way to evaluate 1) student achievement and 2)teacher accountability in what is being taught in the classroom.  Because of the weight STAR tests have on schools, a low STAR test scores could be used to say that students aren't learning or question what is being taught in the classroom. In this case, it is a familiar way in which assessments are usually used and viewed.

However, there are multiple kinds of assessments that can be used in many beneficial and positive ways.  It was powerful to hear that "the greatest power of assessment information lies in its capacity to help me see how to be a better teacher."  Assessments can be used as a communication tool between teacher and student/teaching and learning.  It can show, "Yes, I understand what you're showing me, or "I don't understand what you're saying, so please try a different way."  It reveals the ways different students learn and addresses the importance of using different teaching techniques.

As a teacher, I will constantly ask myself, "How do I know my student is learning?" and more importantly, "How will my student know s/he is learning?"  Using assessments as a way to become a more mindful teacher as well as a way to help students track their progress is a great way to "learn how to love assessments."