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Learning and Assessment Statement

The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage learners in
their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the teacher’s and learner’s
decision making.
Assessments are essential tools that help teachers and educators gauge students’

academic progress and identify areas that need improvement. The elementary school years are a

crucial stage in a student’s academic journey, and assessments play a vital role in making sure

they are on the right track.

One primary reason assessments are important in elementary school is to identify

learning gaps. Students come to school with different learning abilities, and some may require

additional support to catch up with their peers. Assessments help teachers pinpoint areas of

strength and weaknesses and provide targeted interventions to bridge the learning gaps.

According to a report by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), assessments

are essential tools for identifying gaps in students’ mathematical knowledge (NCTM, 2014).

The report recommends that teachers use ongoing assessments to monitor student progress and

identify areas that require additional support.

Assessments are an excellent way to measure student progress and determine whether

they are meeting the expected learning outcomes. They provide a quantitative measure of a

student’s academic growth, which can be used to identify areas of success and areas that require

improvement and help teachers track student progress over time, which can help teachers make

informed decisions about teaching strategies.

Assessments are also an important tool to provide feedback to students on their academic

progress. It’s also a way to provide parents with valuable feedback on their child’s progress. I

do show parents their students assessment results and use them as a talking point for conferences

seen here. Feedback is a critical component of learning, and it helps students understand their
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strengths and areas that need improvement. A study by the American Educational Research

Association (AERA) found that assessments can be used to provide formative feedback to

students (AERA, 2014). The study recommends that teachers use assessments to provide timely

feedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on improvement. When students receive

regular feedback, they are more likely to take ownership of their learning and to become more

motivated to improve. In addition, assessments can help students to set goals and to track their

progress towards those goals. This process of goal-setting and tracking can be empowering for

students, and it can help to instill a growth mindset. Assessments can also help students identify

their own strengths and weaknesses, reflect on their learning, and develop metacognitive skills

(Kohn, 2000).

Another reason assessments are important is because they can also serve as a tool for

accountability. There is an emphasis and a need to teach students accountability in the

classroom. Educators and community members want to ensure that students are receiving a

quality education that prepares them for success in college and future careers. Assessments

provide a way to measure student learning and to hold schools and districts accountable for their

performance. For example, the No Child Left Behind Act required schools to administer annual

assessments in reading and math to all students in grades 3-8 (Popham, 2006). Schools were

held accountable for the performance of their students, and those that consistently failed to meet

academic targets were subject to sanctions.

However, there are also some concerns about leaning on assessments to much in

elementary schools. An over emphasis on testing can lead to a narrow curriculum that focuses

solely on testing students and fails other important areas of learning, such as social studies, art,

and music. Additionally, there is also a worry that the pressure to perform on assessments can
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lead to a stressful learning environment for students, especially those students that struggle

academically. To address these concerns, some educators are exploring alternative forms of

assessment, such as performance-based assessments and project-based learning (NRC, 2001).

These approaches emphasize the application of knowledge and skills in real-world contexts and

can provide a more comprehensive picture of student learning.

Assessments are a critical part of the education system, specifically in elementary school.

They provide teachers with valuable information about their students’ progress and

understanding, help to identify areas of weakness or need, and inform instruction and decision-

making about curriculum and instructional strategies. Assessments also helps students to

develop strategies to improve their understanding of the material and to set goals for their

academic progress. Finally, assessments help to keep parents and community members informed

and engaged in the education system.

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References

American Educational Research Association. (2019). Educational Researcher. Sage Publications

Kohn, A. (2000). The case against standardized testing: Raising the scores, ruining the schools.
Heinemann

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2014). Principles to actions: Ensuring

mathematical success for all. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

National Research Council. (2001). Knowing what students know: The science and design of
educational assessment. National Academies Press.

Popham, W. J. (2006). Assessment for Educational Leaders. Pearson.