As a student teacher for Grade R to 3, here are four types of assessments that your mentor teacher may have used in your teaching practice, along with descriptions for each:
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Formative Assessment:
- Description: This type of assessment is conducted during the learning process to monitor student progress and understanding. It typically includes informal observations, quizzes, class discussions, and other activities that help the teacher gauge student comprehension in real-time. The goal is to provide immediate feedback to students and adjust instruction as needed.
- Examples: Observing students as they work on a math problem, class discussions where students share ideas, or quick exit tickets after a lesson asking students to write one thing they learned.
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Summative Assessment:
- Description: Summative assessments are conducted at the end of an instructional period to evaluate student learning against certain standards or benchmarks. They provide a comprehensive overview of what students have learned over a unit or term.
- Examples: End-of-term tests in literacy and math, final projects or presentations, and standardized tests that assess overall academic achievement.
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Diagnostic Assessment:
- Description: This type of assessment is used before instruction begins to determine students' prior knowledge, skills, and learning needs. It helps teachers identify strengths and weaknesses within their classroom, allowing for tailored lesson planning.
- Examples: Pre-tests in reading or math, surveys to assess students' interests and learning styles, and informal assessments like interviews or checklists to evaluate readiness for upcoming content.
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Performance-Based Assessment:
- Description: Performance-based assessments require students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through hands-on activities or projects. This type of assessment emphasizes practical application and critical thinking, as students must perform a task or create a product that reflects their understanding.
- Examples: A science experiment where students must apply the scientific method, group projects in which students collaborate to solve a problem, or creative writing assignments where students produce a story or poem.
Using a variety of assessment types ensures a well-rounded understanding of student learning and helps in planning effective instruction.