School Leaders: Assessing Student Learning With Organized Practices - Essay Sample

Introduction

It is imperative for school leaders and principals to establish formalized and organized practices for assessment. The assessment practices will assist in grading consistency and aid in monitoring student learning. Also, the flexibility should start with professional growth from day one in school as teachers require training programs to enhance their assessment skills. Campus leaders and principals need to acquire knowledge of how curriculums assist in guiding the assessments as well as the significance of summative and formative assessments. Professional development is the key to creating competencies while assessing literate teachers (Catherine & Michael, n.d). For instance, in my school at the beginning of each year, there is always a professional development program to help train school teachers in the professional development sector. The training programs analyze the differences and reasons for both summative and formative assessments. Also, the program discusses how to make specific assessments match instructions and the need for rigorous evaluations. In this case, the program is beneficial as teachers gain knowledge on what to learn from professional advancement.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The Knowledge and Skills Required To Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners

Assessments are vital for students but particularly for diverse learners. When teachers collect additional information about students, they create a clear image of the gaps that are likely to occur as well as achievements. In the US, there is a large population for English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). When an ESOL student enters a school in America, they are offered an initial assessment to provide teachers with information about their instruction level and placement. Also, some schools use I-ready for the rest of the ESOL students and imagine learning for the lowest ESOL students (Hobbs, 2016). These computer-based plans adjust instruction according to levels. Diagnostics on the tests assist in delivering constant ongoing assessment and feedback. I-ready display students' weak areas; thus, teachers offer instructions on those particular sectors.

Embracing Positive Assessment

Assessment is a fundamental part of lessons, as it controls whether or not the objectives of education are encountered. Assessment assists teachers in the classroom to determine the grades each student deserves the required curriculum, the instructional needed, as well as which student needs enrichment (Edutopia, 2008). Also, the assessment allows the academic society to engage in self-learning reflection objectives to evaluate the rate to which the aims correspond to societal and student needs. Thus, the data yielded from the assessments enable tutors to determine the academic levels of student society expectations.

The Obstacles for Improving Assessment Strategies on Campus

In my school, we are experiencing continuous obstacles in assessments. After various programs, teachers are proficient in assessment analyzing, thus enabling them to determine the weaknesses and strengths from a given assessment. Understanding of the assessment values is very crucial. However, our teachers are not able to identify the next steps after recognizing the weaknesses. For example, reteaching relates to formative assessment, yet our teachers fail to reteach some topics. Reteaching assessment reveals students understanding of error and misconceptions, which clarify certain content. When reteaching, teachers should use a distinct approach that focuses on errors or omissions in students' understanding.

Effective Exploring and Describing Options for Maximizing All Available Resources

Tutors should be allowed to explore new ideas to solve the issue of reteaching. Thus to establish and keep up an efficient student performance, education leaders must direct teachers in the practise of multiple assessment forms. Tutors should use facts to enlighten their instructional decisions (Kenneth, n.d). Also, they should allow students to have chances to work in groups to advance summative, formative, and pre-assessments. Thus, campus leaders should embrace these options on campuses to improve instruction and student achievement.

How Principals and School Leaders Can Influence New Approaches

School leaders and teachers should ensure the enhancement of clear learning goals and vision. Intentions and ideas will help teachers and students hold high expectations holding themselves accountable for the school victory. Also, the school leaders and principal should offer emotional support to foster positive interpersonal relationships. To minimize disruptions, school leaders should ensure restricted announcements (James, 2008). Thus, enhancing the vision and goals approach will ensure student monitoring of progress through constant disaggregation and aggregation of student performance data.

References

Catherine. G. & Michael. E. Formative and summative assessments in the classroom. Retrieved 2020, March 6 from, https://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet/TabId/270/ArtMID/888/ArticleID/286/Formative-and-Summative-Assessments-in-the-Classroom.aspx

Edutopia (2008, July 15). Why is evaluation critical? Retrieved 2020 March 6, from https://www.edutopia.org/assessment-guide-importance

Hobbs, J. (2016). Early Intervention Software Program Evaluation.

James H. S., Holly B. R., and Nancy. C (2008, November). Instructional Leadership: Supporting Best Practice. Retrieved 2020 March 6, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108003/chapters/[email protected]

Kenneth. C (n.d). An action plan for creating effective schools. Retrieved 2020, March 6, from https://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet/TabId/270/ArtMID/888/ArticleID/382/An-Action-Plan-for-Creating-Effective-Schools.aspx