Today I gave my first quiz of the year. I haven’t even graded them yet, but already I am discouraged. Every year, as I watch students get into the routine of going to school, I see assessments cause them so much stress at anxiety. In some students, it causes them to lose sleep. In more serious cases, it causes students to lose confidence—believing they are not “smart enough” to comprehend the materials. I want to have every students feel success in my class–not the stress of conformity. Later in the year, once they understand the formula of how to study for me and get into the routine of school, the stress decreases, but I always start the year wondering:
Instead of stress DECREASING how can I provide assessments that allow knowledge and creativity to INCREASE? Where do grades that I assign fit into an authentic overview of a student as a learner? How can I provide assessments that inspire students, rather than simply judging them?
Teachers–any tricks? Students–any thoughts?
Please feel free to share below : )
