Formative assessment plays a huge role in the EL classroom I have been observing. Because EL teachers do not really have specific content they are required to teach and standards they need to cover, they can make sure their students really understand the academic vocabulary used in their other classes. When John sees that students are not really getting what he is teaching, he stops and thinks of other ways to explain it, uses pictures, will do an activity, or will have students partner up to see if they can make sense of it by talking through it with a partner. John won't just move on to a new topic if his students are stuck.
John's students are more able to be motivated by learning instead of grades because he does a lot more formative assessments. Students are able to see how they can improve instead of only focusing on a letter grade written at the top of their paper. When John does grade he looks at how much students have learned and improved.
I think this classroom uses formative assessment very well! Students are driven to learn and not just see their grade on a paper or test. Learning is infinite and grades are tend to be finite. Isn't the purpose of schools to help children prepare for the future? They say we learn something new everyday, so why does our schooling require such a final evaluation of our 'understanding' (and by that i mean our ability to memorize facts).
Standardized tests effects an EL classroom much different than a content classroom. ELs have to take the same standardized tests that other students do, however they also need to take additional tests to see how much they have grown over the year. Each year students are expected to grow about half of a level (the scale is from 1-5). These tests also act as placement tests for students. Students test when they move districts or enroll in school. If they score anything below a 4.5 they receive services and are placed in an EL classroom. They may stay in an EL classroom until they reach a level 5 (if funding permits they can receive services that long, usually they leave the classroom at a 4.5).
John's students are more able to be motivated by learning instead of grades because he does a lot more formative assessments. Students are able to see how they can improve instead of only focusing on a letter grade written at the top of their paper. When John does grade he looks at how much students have learned and improved.
I think this classroom uses formative assessment very well! Students are driven to learn and not just see their grade on a paper or test. Learning is infinite and grades are tend to be finite. Isn't the purpose of schools to help children prepare for the future? They say we learn something new everyday, so why does our schooling require such a final evaluation of our 'understanding' (and by that i mean our ability to memorize facts).
Standardized tests effects an EL classroom much different than a content classroom. ELs have to take the same standardized tests that other students do, however they also need to take additional tests to see how much they have grown over the year. Each year students are expected to grow about half of a level (the scale is from 1-5). These tests also act as placement tests for students. Students test when they move districts or enroll in school. If they score anything below a 4.5 they receive services and are placed in an EL classroom. They may stay in an EL classroom until they reach a level 5 (if funding permits they can receive services that long, usually they leave the classroom at a 4.5).