Assessments are an integral part of a Montessori setting and are viewed as a means to support continual learning and development. In a Montessori school, assessment is an on-going continuous process that manifests in several ways:
Teacher Observations: Dr. Montessori knew that observation was key to being able to serve the child. Our teachers are meticulous in observing each child’s behavior and keeping detailed assessments of each student’s progress. The information gleaned from these observations guide the teacher in preparing and presenting lessons, knowing when to move to the next concept in the sequence or when a child needs additional reinforcement on a current concept. Depending on the age of the child, teachers guide the students in self-assessment through regularly scheduled teacher/student conferences, use of work portfolios and projects which culminate in presentations, dioramas
Parent/Teacher Conferences: Conferences are held 3 times a year, the first and last are preceded by comprehensive written progress reports. Conferences are an opportunity for mutual sharing between the parents and the guides, with the guides providing parents with detailed information about their child’s progress in all developmental areas.
Standardized Achievement Test: Students take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) in the 3rd and 6th grades. The assessments provide a snapshot of a child’s performance in language, reading and math at the time of testing. The test data, combined with the teacher’s comprehensive records and knowledge of the student, provide a full perspective about a child’s academic strengths, areas of challenge and areas of continued learning and development. These tests can also used for diagnostic purposes for individual students and to identify programmatic strengths and areas for development.