This is late, I lost track of the days.
Assessment in my classroom, right now, consists of 2 paper tests/quizzes per chapter that we cover. In addition to that, we have any projects or presentations that they are given that receive a test grade. I am, right now, giving them test grades for teaching verbs throughout the 9 weeks.
I like the paper tests, in a way. Students must take tests like the SAT, SATPs, ACT, etc. their whole life. I may not like the fact that the tests don't measure students in a real life way, but I do understand that testing skills are also necessary.
I want to, this summer and in the year to come, give many more project-based tests. I am thinking of a way to help my students find Spanish cultural articles in their community. This will be a lot easier if I go to Gulfport. I will have students research one aspect of the Hispanic culture, like music, family, food, etc, and then try to find embodiments of these central cultural themes in their own community, displaying the intertwining of the Hispano-U.S. culture.
This summer, I might look into a project of the students researching language usage in their favorite song lyrics and researching imagery and other elements of writing as used in their songs.
I liked the idea in the video about the economics plan that the students had to come up with as a group.
"Profe's class is a lot of work. She always wants you to speak Spanish. We never get done before the bell, and her tests are never multiple choice. I thought Spanish would be easy."
"If there was a state test on Spanish, I would flunk."
"I went to a Mexican restaurant the other day and I said "hola, como estas" and the guy understood me! I couldn't say anything else because I slept all last semester, but I remembered that."
I picked out 3 of my favorite quotes from their free write. There were lots of great ones.
I hear that state test on a lot. Once one of them said it, all of them picked it up. But I love little personal victories the kids have in Spanish like Cesár (not his real name) and the Mexican restaurant.
