Journal+1_Bair

Performance Assessment

The assessment type I observed was a performance assessment. This context of this assessment was an assessment of student performance in/with literature circles. The structure of the assessment was a fill-in evaluation sheet, with a place for the teacher to write in a grade for that particular day as well as a place for the student to evaluate their own performance. Each student in the literature circle has a particular role for the day. They must bring to class their prepared written work for that role. The assessment sheet lists the different literature circle roles. The student must evaluate both how they did with their particular role and how well they worked in their circle that day. The teacher goes around the room to observe each group. Towards the end of the activity period, she tells each person what their performance grade is for how well they worked in their circle that day. The students hand in their literature logs to be graded, which contains the prepared written work for their literature circle role. The types of grades that the teacher and students evaluate with are: √+ (A), √ (B), and √- (C). The results of this assessment are a written record of students’ overall performance with every literature circle role for a single book. During the year, a total of 10 books will be read with literature circles and students will use this particular type of performance assessment for each book. I think this assessment was very effective. The students and teacher both take responsibility for evaluation. This is important because students do not generally assess themselves and it gives them a chance to reflect on their own work and group performance. I learned from the teacher that the students tend to try harder and stay more on task because they know they are being graded. This is also great for students because it is challenging to perform in literature circles effectively without constant supervision. (This is also known as a student-directed task/activity.) I also think this is an effective assessment because it shows patterns over time, like general performance and improvements. I would use this kind of assessment often, especially with fully or semi-independent tasks.