PTS 8.

The teacher understands various formal and informal assessment strategies and
uses them to support the continuous development of all students.

1. Write a paragraph explaining your knowledge and understanding of the standard—put the

standard into your own words.

Assessment is such an integral part of progress monitoring for students. I think that this standard

wants me to know that there are many different types of assessment, both formal and informal,

which can help support student understanding and development. In order to effectively assess

students, it is imperative that they understand the purpose for their learning and at the same time

have student involvement. Both formative and summative assessments are integral in assuring

the success of students, and the results of these assessments help to inform instruction.

2. Explain how the artifact you chose demonstrates your understanding and application of the

standard.

My artifact, an assessment newsletter, demonstrates my understanding and application of the

standard through my communication and interpretation of assessment. This artifact, which is

designed to be sent home to parents, help to describe, justify, and explain the role of assessment

in my future classroom. Although this artifact is not an explicit example of assessment, I believe

that my understanding of assessment and explanation of the importance of evaluation for parents

demonstrates my interpretation of the standard. In my newsletter, I address my “understand[ing]

[of] assessment as a means of evaluating how students learn, what they know and are able to do

in meeting the Illinois Academic Standards, and what kinds of experiences will support their

further growth and development” and how I would use assessment to “to reflect on and modify

teaching.”

3. A If the artifact has been used in your practice, reflect on how your teaching will change in
the future to further meet the standard.

B. If the artifact has not been used in your practice, i.e., a class assignment, reflect upon how

your teaching will be impacted by the assignment.

This artifact was for my CI 407 assessment assignment, into which we were asked to produce a

newsletter of brochure that would notify parents how assessment would be used in the

classroom. I think that creating this artifact allowed me to reflect on my teaching through

communicating the use and importance of assessment. I know the importance of assessment in

an effective classroom, and describing this to parents is showing my commitment to keeping

students’ success and progress a priority.

4. Conclude with a paragraph discussing how you are more prepared to Teach and Learn in a

Diverse Society as a result of satisfactorily meeting the standard.

Understanding that assessments need to be modified, differentiated, and evaluative is an

important component to teaching and learning in a diverse society. Thinking about assessment as

more than just standardized tests is extremely important. In my newsletter, I address the

importance of authentic assessment. Creating opportunities for students to engage in

performance assessment will help to cater to the diversity of the classroom. Giving students

choice and ownership over their education through diverse assessment is essential in preparing

students for real world experiences.