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Views on Assessment

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    When you think of assessment, what comes to mind? Time spent poring over textbooks in the library, stressing out over grades, using flashcards for memorizing, and dreading the whole thing? That's the old school thinking! What's a better way of assessment? The balanced assessment for learning system gives students ownership of their progress and lets both teachers and students know in real time where the areas of strength are and where students might need more support. Through different types of assessment, including formative, summative, and reflective, students actively engage in improving their work (Stiggins, 2005). Students are empowered, growing in confidence as they understand how to make things work. Assessment should happen continuously throughout learning, not just that stress-filled dash at the end.              So how do we make sure our assessment measures the objectives? Alignment is ev...
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Advocate of the week: April Janney

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  One of the leading advocacy groups in Illinois is Illinois Action for Children, with a rallying mission statement:   We are a catalyst and champion for real change and better life outcomes for children and families in Illinois. This organization provides direct services to families, locates resources for families and educators, involves the local community to support young children, collaborates with policymakers and legislators to improve all aspects of early childhood, and conducts research to make evidence-based recommendations for enhancing early childhood education (Illinois Action for Children, n.d.). It takes a lot of organization and commitment to head up such a worthy organization, and April Janney has what it takes. As the CEO of Illinois Action for Children, April is dedicated to improving the lives of young children. April comes from the West Side of Chicago, one of twelve children. She was the first, and only, one in her family to graduate from college, achiev...
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