Assessment Is a Crucial Process in Any School Setting - Essay Example

The assessment tools define the desired outcomes, measure the achievement of outcomes, and use the results to improve performance. The tools state their role within an institution's overall mission. It then identifies the outcomes that it needs to meet and evaluates whether the outcomes are achieved. These tools define the technique that will assess if the criteria are met.

The tool analyses and evaluates the data collected by a specific method. Assessment tool creates and put into action improvement plans about the information gathered to assess the outcome. The tools also outline the effect its improvements have achieved in the quality of their goal. A tool such as a running record and Rubric documents the outcome assessment. Therefore, assessment tools work best when attention is on outcomes as well as experiences that result in those outcomes. Therefore, the assessment tools are appropriate for providing outcome data.

An informal Reading Inventory (IRI) is an appropriate assessment tool for monitoring progress, diagnosing the reading skills of students, and providing outcome data. This is because IRI assists in determining the reading weaknesses and strengths of a student. Also, IRI enables teachers to know whether their students can read the texts in class or if the students require assistance or additional monitoring. Additionally, IRI helps the teacher to identify students struggling with decoding and comprehension of certain text materials. The IRI assessment tool will be better used by an individual student and in group assessment. This is because it builds teamwork among the students in class by using other tools of assessment. The retelling assessment tool is appropriate because it demonstrates what the student remembers and comprehends about any story. It reveals what the student sees as crucial about a story. Retelling also helps in indicating what the student knows about the literary language and structure of a text. Consequently, retelling demonstrates the vocabulary of a student and the development of oral language. Retelling would be better used for both individual and group student assessments. This is because it encourages teamwork skills and peer evaluation by rewarding both the contribution of the individual student and the group (Frankland, 2007).

Running records offer teachers a review of the entire episodes of oral reading. The playbacks include the detailed attitude of a student, understanding, demeanor, and student accuracy. Running records would be better used by an individual assessment. This is because it squares down to individual progress in his understanding. Observation is appropriate because it enables the teacher to record the students reading observable immediately. This prevents future events or actions that will influence observations about learning. The observation assessment tool would be better used in both individual and group assessments. This is because it enhances monitoring of the student's progress by flagging out easily those that need special attention from a group of students. It also offers direct observation to individual students and provides early warnings of potential problems that may face the student in the future. Fluency assessment is appropriate because it offers a bridge between comprehension and word recognition. It builds the students not to concentrate on word decoding, rather than focusing on the word's meaning. Fluency assessment would be used by an individual student. This is because fluency assessment needs keen attention from a student. This motivates the individual student to contribute (Frankland, 2007).

Phonics test enables students to be skillful reader. Phonics test makes the student learn word decoding effortlessly and instantly. Phonic tests would be better used for a group of students. This is because it helps children learn, apply and understand the principles of the alphabet and written language. These tool groups children relative to instructional needs. Reading logs offer feedback on the student's involvement in comprehension. Reading logs would better be used for an individual student because it flags out areas where the student needs assistance. It also measures the student's level of interest and understanding of the text and how they can discuss their comprehension further through a literature circle. Phonemic awareness assessment is important because it enables the student to specify the relationship between sound and print (Frankland, 2007). This assessment tool would be used for both individuals and groups of students because it is crucial to the spelling and reading success of the student. Consequently, the rubric assessment tool is appropriate because it creates a more objective technique of scoring. This tool would better be used for an individual student.

The teacher identifies areas where the student needs evaluation. The rubric ensures fairness and pushes the student to prepare effectively. The portfolio is appropriate because it analyzes the achievement of the student. The portfolio assessment tool would better be used for an individual. This is because the portfolio provides simple ways to motivate a student as an individual through rewards.
All nine assessment tools are appropriate for reporting progress, diagnosing, and providing outcome data apart from reading logs which only provide the outcome data. Read More