by Jarred James Breaux

Created on: August 22, 2009

At the beginning of a school year, teachers use a sizing-up assessment to gain an understanding of the students' academic, social, and behavioral characteristics and needs. This assessment is done through informal observations. The information gathered through this type of assessment gives insight into the students' capabilities and how to plan and enrich the setup of the classroom through instruction, communication, and cooperation. These assessments also give teachers an understanding of how to maintain a positive and effective teaching environment through organization and classroom management. Other than the use of jotted notes and seating charts, information gathered during this assessment is not officially recorded by rather kept within the mind of the teacher.

Throughout the school year, generally on a daily basis, teachers will use instructional assessments to plan activities and monitor student progress. In other words, instructional assessments are used to create lesson plans, judge the delivery of instruction, decide what, when, and how information will be taught, decide what instruments, equipment, and/or components will be used to deliver instruction as well as determine how well the lesson is progressing and if any changes need to be made. Evidence of this type of assessment is gathered through formal observation (independent practice, daily evaluation, etc.) and informal observation (teacher monitoring). These instructional assessments gather cognitive and affective information for the teacher to plan or adjust instruction. To keep track of instructional assessment, a teacher should keep well-maintained lesson plans as well as mental notes on the characteristics of the students' abilities.

Periodically throughout the school year, teachers give official assessments. Official assessments, such as grading, grouping, assessing individual progress, evaluation test results, meeting with parents, identifying the needs of students, and making promotional decisions, are methods of carrying out the bureaucratic side of teaching. It is the official responsibility of the teacher to complete such tasks. These official assessments are given through formal tests, papers, reports, quizzes, and other various graded assignments. These official assessments gather evidence of knowledge learned. These are formal records that are kept in the teacher's files.

Assessment is a general term that encompasses all methods of gathering information from students. Assessment

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