Clarification of Terms Clarification of Terms Consideration of the evaluation process in the English Language Arts necessitates that a distinction be made between the terms assessment and evaluation . Assessment is a preliminary phase in the evaluation process. In this phase, various techniques are used to gather information about students' language development and competence, and their growth in reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities.
Evaluation refers to the decision-making which follows assessment.
Assessment information is weighed against standards such as the English Language Arts foundational objectives and learning objectives in order to make judgements and decisions about the most beneficial teaching methods for individuals and for the class. The assessment techniques suggested in this guide can be used for each type of evaluation. Formative evaluation is a continuous classroom process that keeps students, parents or care givers, and teachers informed of students' progress toward curriculum objectives. The main purpose of formative evaluation is to guide instruction and student learning. It provides teachers with valuable information upon which instructional decisions and modifications can be made and provides students with direction for future learning.