(repost)
In my opinion, children in school age should be assessed constantly. These evaluations are critical when considering the best interest of the child. They are critical for teachers, school and parents. Ideally, these assessments should include both formal and informal observations and should be conducted regularly. It also should look at the context within the child is involved (culturally, linguistically) and consider children’s developmental aspects. These tests are targeted to improve learning and guide the teaching-learning process. They tell us what the child is ready to learn, what they have mastered, where they can be helped, how are they progressing, where modifications and support are needed. For instance, it should look into the several aspects such as: a) emotional/social; b) self help; c) cognitive; d) physical, etc.
NAEYC position statement on Curriculum, Assessment, and Program Evaluation (2009) suggest that an effective assessment should be a process tied to everyday activities, and its purpose should help decision-making with regard to teaching and learning. It also contemplates that effective assessment should help programs improve their educational interventions.
Holistic assessment in Brasil is still a privilege from the private sector. There is few public schools nationwide that are able to assess children beyond paper and pencil. Children are usually assessed by their performance on standardized tests (or not) and many times their context or cultural backgrounds are disregarded. Instruction and programs are hardly-ever changed, based on evaluations. There is a much bigger picture behind this apparent lack of interest in assessing for improvement. In some places in this country schools don’t even have a psychologist, counselor, adequate environment, books, and so on. Unfortunately, sometimes teachers are merely broadcasting what the book says.
In my opinion, children in school age should be assessed constantly. These evaluations are critical when considering the best interest of the child. They are critical for teachers, school and parents. Ideally, these assessments should include both formal and informal observations and should be conducted regularly. It also should look at the context within the child is involved (culturally, linguistically) and consider children’s developmental aspects. These tests are targeted to improve learning and guide the teaching-learning process. They tell us what the child is ready to learn, what they have mastered, where they can be helped, how are they progressing, where modifications and support are needed. For instance, it should look into the several aspects such as: a) emotional/social; b) self help; c) cognitive; d) physical, etc.Holistic assessment in Brasil is still a privilege from the private sector. There is few public schools nationwide that are able to assess children beyond paper and pencil. Children are usually assessed by their performance on standardized tests (or not) and many times their context or cultural backgrounds are disregarded. Instruction and programs are hardly-ever changed, based on evaluations. There is a much bigger picture behind this apparent lack of interest in assessing for improvement. In some places in this country schools don’t even have a psychologist, counselor, adequate environment, books, and so on. Unfortunately, sometimes teachers are merely broadcasting what the book says.
http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements
Renata,
ReplyDeleteI tried to add this comment earlier and it would not post. I'll try it again and I hope you do not get it twice.
How sad that the teachers in Brazil do not have any way of assessing their students in order to improve or enrich their instruction. However, here in the US, we do have assessments but I do not feel as though they are utilized for the best purposes. Teachers would feel very empowered if there were allowed to take the results of assessments and determine what their students that year needed to learn. I think there would be success in the classrooms with both the teachers and students. There is a big push in the US and in particular my state that these results be used to determine the effectiveness of teachers. I know that there are some ineffective teachers in our schools but this process would only force "teaching to the test". No teacher would want their students to fail because they could lose their job. There is even legislation written that will put letter grades on private child care centers based on results of school readiness tests when entering Kindgergarten. We can see the disadvantages of not having assessments as in Brazil. But there are also disadvantages to having assessments that are used for the wrong purposes.
Renata,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is amazing to get a point of view from someone outside of the U.S. I completely agree with you post on every aspect. It is just amazing to me how our schools around the world today say how much they are putting in to support and encourage our children but do not and sometimes will not provide the tools that they need to succeed. Great post and enjoyed readying.
Lauren