assessment

This school year, I must admit that I was not as on top of assessments as I should've been.  (I'm noticing a trend here...)  I was fairly clueless about making tests and a bit too lazy to really analyze the data.  I felt like I should've made my tests something like the state test that all of my students will take in 10th grade, but I didn't. 

I didn't really have an "assessment plan" in place for the vast majority of the school year.  I knew which objectives I was going to include on the test, but I didn't quite know how.  I used mainly multiple choice tests. Usually there was some writing included as well, likely essay.  I eliminated some questions and requirements for my exceptional education students, but that was about the extent of my adjustments. 

Assessments are definitely important to determine prior knowledge, progress, and comprehension at the end of a unit.  They should be ongoing and their results should be analyzed as an indication of student progress.  That said, mine haven't been what they should.  I'd venture to say that first year teachers in general aren't as prepared/thorough as they ought to be...  Of course, that could just be me trying not to feel guilty. 

Next year...