Sometimes pencil-paper assessment is most appropriate for a particular task and other times it is not. The most effective assessment I have experienced is one that is a combination of multiple assessments. Taking into account pencil-paper assessments along with alternative assessments like journals or portfolios, makes for a better representation of the student s capabilities. Some learners are better at writing essays, while others are better at doing projects, while still others are better at multiple choice questions. Using a variety of assessment tools in the classroom also allows the teacher to vary her style of instruction a bit and reach the students with different learning styles.
Flexibility is a very important element in being a successful teacher.
Teachers will encounter children who do not want to learn and who want to make it very difficult to teach. A good teacher must be able to rise above these challenges and reach all of her students by bringing in a variety of teaching techniques. Finally, evaluating students should be done so it assesses what the students are able to do, not what they cannot do.