what is taught, teachers should be assessing
students social imaginations, students
process in learning. Johnston (2012) states,
“The heart of formative assessment is finding
the edge of students’ learning and helping
them to take up possibilities for growth.
Assessment isn’t formative if it doesn’t
influence learning in a positive way” (p. 49).
In a democratic learning environment,
teachers language supports the “we”, creating
a learning community where students work
together to solve problems, work through
disagreements, and come up with positive
solutions. By asking students what they were
thinking, how they came about solving a
problem, or giving compliments, teachers are
giving students the tools needed to become
productive citizens both in and out of the
classroom. Having students ask the questions
and provide discussion can lead to insightful
conversations. These types of observations
are what representational practices of
assessment should look like. According to the
International Reading Association and the
National Council for Teachers of English, the
teacher is the primary agent of assessment.
Each learning moment in the classroom is a
place where the teacher is assessing and
readjusting teaching strategies to best meet
the needs of the students. A teachers
feedback should be immediate and should
push the student to think through the process
of learning, and not the product or correct
answer. Using Johnston’s examples of
language, teachers can provide formative
assessments that increase student learning
and classroom collaboration.
High Stakes Testing
The United States has entered an era of
high stakes testing. Our elementary and high
school students are being tested in a variety
of subjects throughout each year of our
educational system. International Reading
Association defines high stakes testing as the
consequences for good or poor performance
are substantial, meaning that teacher
employment, retention, funding, school
closings, and more are dependent on one test
score. What benefit does this type of testing
have on students? What is the United States
gaining from this type of high stakes testi