STANDARD #6: ASSESSMENT

The standard: The teacher engages learners in several ways of demonstrating

knowledge and skill as part of the assessment process.

Narrative: As part of a trip through school, my classmates and I traveled to Muskogee,

Oklahoma. Here, we lived alongside Native American children and went with them to their
local schools where we assisted and taught alongside a mentor teacher. I had the privilege to
be with Ms. Garland, an incredible teacher for 4-6 students with Intellectual Disabilities and
ASD. One of the lessons I had a huge part in was in developing the human body. Each student
had a lab booklet they were expected to keep up with daily. Each day there was a lesson on a
specific body part, which was described in the booklet. Each body part had pieces that needed
to be colored and contained in baggies. At the end of the unit, we assembled the bodies by
using large sheets of paper, tracing the body of each student, and then having them glue the
pieces on. The students were expected to know the placement of the body parts, and as we put
the pieces together, they had to describe each one. This was a great alternative to a paper and
pen test, allowing students to apply their knowledge kinesthetically, visually and orally. They
were able to see what each body part looks like and where it belongs in the body, and verbally
speak the purpose and function of the body part to us.
Reflection: When you think of the word “assessment” it
becomes so easy to fall in the trap of thinking about
traditional tests and exams. Assessments are a way to
define and understand student learning, and that can
happen in any way. This unit helped me really visualize
new ways to assess students and allow them to practically
apply their knowledge. I thoroughly believe this is an
assignment each student enjoyed. The information on an
assessment of this nature will be understood and
remembered for a very long time, especially in comparison
to the information on traditional tests!