TTCTH6
These days in my county, we constantly hear the buzz word “authentic assessment”. Our administrators make it clear that they feel that authentic assessment is very important. I take this to mean that students can actually demonstrate that they have learned the skills and knowledge that have been taught to them. Students can do things like create portfolios, put on plays for other students or parents, write letters, make art projects that go along with what they’ve learned, create museums that other students can tour, etc. I have never liked IQ tests, as I don’t think they are a true measure of actual intelligence or success in life. I love the quote by Howard Gardner on p. 226. He says that neither school success nor standardized tests “typically predict one’s ability to seize a business opportunity, ask a good question at just the right moment, or hold a scalpel steady”. In my opinion, every child is above average in one or more areas of intelligence. Throughout the school year, one of my goals is to figure out the area in which each and every one of my students is gifted. Over the years I’ve even found students that are gifted in the area of “nature”, which is one area in which not many first graders appear to be gifted. I’m amazed what they know, what they observe that the average person wouldn’t, what they’re curious about, and how insightful they can be. I try to pay close attention to their comments, as this always seems to help me figure out how my students are gifted.
