Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Assessment

Alex's Statements: 
“Many teachers, principals, and districts make the mistake of thinking that learning how to complete a standardized test is the most important part of learning.” Pg. 163

            This statement really stood out to me because it shows that teaching to a test can be a bad thing. If our focus as a teacher is specifically on completing a test then we are putting a lot of pressure on the students as well as a lot of pressure on a test. This is not the best way to serve and teach our students.

“The IEP meeting will include the assessment team and the parents, and ideally the student will attend as well.” Pg. 173

            This statement stood out to me because I have never thought about the student attending the IEP meeting. This would really help the child because they could have a say in their education process. They would also be able to understand exactly what is going on and feel included.

“If the student has a need in one of the areas, the team must decide what goals are reasonable to achieve in one year.” Pg. 175

            This was really interesting to me because I learned how important it was to make goals achievable within a year. Sometimes it is easy to dream big and set goals that are very difficult to reach, but setting achievable goals is more beneficial for the student because they can feel accomplished when they reach it.  

Courtney's Statements:

• ". . .it is acceptable- and even essential- that you give students a range of ways to show their understanding and progress."
• As a teacher is so important that every child is given the chance to show what they know. Some children do not show their full potential on a certain type of test but they can show what they know by using other ways of assessment.. Teachers have to give a varied amount of assessment in order for the child to fully succeed. 
• "students should be facilitating their own IEP meetings as early as middle school, because the student is the one most affected by what the IEP includes."
• This is a good reminder that students need to be the center of the meeting. Sometimes people forget that the student's opinion matters also instead they opt to let the parents make every decision. Parent input is vital also but the child definitely needs to tell what he or she wants out of the IEP.
• "RTI helps teachers support students by monitoring their progress carefully and changing how they teach based on the results of frequent assessments."
• Response to Intervention or RTI is important so that the student gets the help they need in what subject they  need it in. As a teacher I will need to monitor the students progress and be able to tell if they need more or less help in a certain area. I have to be able to adapt the way I teach in order to reach all the children in my classroom.

Jenna's Statements:

1. "But the focus of good teaching should be on good instruction informed by frequent assessments, and adjusting the teaching methods, processes, and products to meet students' needs."
1. This cycle of frequent assessments is related to the process of RTI's. The cycle of assessment-instruction need to be used everyday as an educator so that I can better teach my students. This is the best test preparation I can give my students for all the high-stakes tests they must take.
2. "The teacher will try strategies to improve student learning and change factors that she believes may have a role in the student's performance."
1. Continuing to improve teaching strategies all the time is very important to remember so that my students and I can both continually learn better. I also think receiving feedback from the students how how I can improve instructions and learning experiences can be very beneficial.
3. "Evaluation is designed to answer three questions: Does the child have a disability that requires the provision of special education and related services? What are the child's specific educational needs? What special education services and related services are appropriate to address those needs?"
1. I think remembering these questions when assessing is important so you know the purpose of the assessment. If these questions are not kept in mind, I think the evaluation can loss majority of its value and not as effectively serve its purpose.

Tori's Statements:

1. "Preassessment begins the cycle. Preassessing knowledge and skills that students already have helps the teacher plan a lesson that meets the students exactly where they are as a group."
1. I think this is something really vital to remember so that students begin and end with success. If we, as teachers, are not paying attention to the students and building our lessons around them and their needs, and less on the curriculum, we will then find success of all sorts in our classrooms.
2. "A few teachers believe that they way they teach is not open for revision, and if a student cannot learn that way, it is the student's responsibility to adjust how they learn to be successful in the classroom."
1. This is alarming to see on paper. We have all had this type of teacher, and the only people that have a successful rate in these classes are the type that respond well with the type of teaching the teacher uses. I will not be this teacher! I will adapt MY lessons to my students, and always be a student-based classroom.
3. "If a student struggles with some academic, social, physical, or behavioral area, the teacher will devote some time and attention to developing hypotheses about what is happening and why."
1. I think this goes back to the student-based classroom idea. I need to have a personal relationship with each of my students and make sure that they are all successful, even if that means differentiation within lesson planning with some of them, or spending extra time with them. It is part of the job, or should be.

Tyler's Statements:

Chapter 9 Statements

“We believe that the important issue is that the student receives what supports he or she needs to be successful in school, and the labeling process can be a tool for getting those supports.”

 1. Labels make it easier to determine what someone needs to be successful. It is important to use caution when labeling though as certain labels are hard to reverse if they turn out to be inaccurate.

“At least once a year, the IEP is reviewed, any goals that were set are discussed and new goals are developed.”

2. This is an important step because it makes sure the child is being helped appropriately. It also helps to make sure every aspect of the IEP really helped the child.

“Once the team has determined that a student has a disability and will receive special education services, the individualized education program, or IEP, is written. The process should not take place without the input of the student and should be very student centered.”

3. It is important to include the child in the making of the IEP because after all, it is their life. Even if they do not get to make the decisions it is important that they are there while the administrators decide their fate.