Since joining this study group, I have learned about different formal assessment that are being used. Some of these tests might be useful to the students I work with, and I would like to know more about them. I need more information about what assessments are available, what they are used for, and how to use them. I am concerned about the effect of formal testing on a new student who may be very anxious about coming back to school. Formal assessments provide information about progress in specific learning skills information that is needed to plan lessons but communication skills, self-confidence, attitudes, and barriers to progress also need to be evaluated.
Informal assessment goes on all the time.
The students in our class use journals each day of class. They write about what they learned that day, factors that affected their learning, what they liked and didn't like about class, what feelings they had and what they wish they learned or knew more about. Sometimes our students write essays about what it takes to feel confident, how to communicate with people at work, or why learning is important. I would like to know more about what other teachers use for informal assessments. When students first come to class, we talk about their goals.