In
conducting this interview with the teacher, I decided to focus on the questions
that related to students with special needs since that is my major. I interviewed a 1st grade teacher
from WSR Elementary School. This
following is what I learned from the interview.
The main question I asked regarded how the teacher
assesses her students with special needs.
She mentioned that her assessments were based off of the tiers within
the response-to-intervention (RTI) model.
She uses a rubric, which gives scores from one (1), being the lowest, to
four (4), being the highest, that reflects where the student falls under the
levels, or tiers, found under the RTI model.
For example, if the teacher wanted to test students for
number recognition she would ask her students to count. How far she asks her students to count to
receive a score of four (4) depended on what tier the student belonged. For students under Tier 1, they are expected
to count from one (1) to one hundred (100).
For students under Tier 2, where students struggle a bit more than the
general population, would asked to count from one (1) to sixty (60). Then finally, we have Tier 3, which requires
the students to be under intensive intervention. For this level, the teacher would require the
student to count from one (1) to thirty (30).
The
reason why the requirements for the students are done this way is because the
goal was to measure the student’s ability to recognize numbers. How many numbers the students are expected to
know is based on their current abilities and capabilities academically. There are certain tasks that certain students
struggle with because of their disabilities.
However, by compromising on the amount of numbers needed to be learned
by the student, the teacher will still be able to test her student’s ability to
recognize numbers, though require of them work they are capable of handling.
This
showed me how assessments can be created to fit the capabilities of the
student, while still being able to assess specific expectations.
We
then discussed the struggles of assessing all her students while keeping in
mind where they stand in the RTI model. The
key really is to “Know your kids,” as the teacher shared with me. That way modifications and accommodations can
be made to benefit each student and your assessments would be reliable because
you know the most important factor of your results; the factor being your
student.
2 comments:
Hey Ton!
I like how you turned your interview questions into a more personalized story with justifications and reasons why you questioned this teacher about your major. I like how you mentioned that assessments come in many forms, and the best way we can assess students would be to how the students are able to respond in your comment to me. I really think that to be true. Although paper based assessments are great ways to build data and granted they are important for accountability of student learning as well as effectiveness of teaching strategies, we still need to consider the students who work better by explaining themselves through talking, drawing, or other forms of showing they understood what it was they've learned.
I also really liked that you stated " The key really is to “Know your kids,” as the teacher shared with me. That way modifications and accommodations can be made to benefit each student and your assessments would be reliable because you know the most important factor of your results; the factor being your student." That's really all it is when considering being a classroom teacher. That's exactly why we spend the first few weeks trying to get to know each and every student, how they learn, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
Hey Ton!
I like how you turned your interview questions into a more personalized story with justifications and reasons why you questioned this teacher about your major. I like how you mentioned that assessments come in many forms, and the best way we can assess students would be to how the students are able to respond in your comment to me. I really think that to be true. Although paper based assessments are great ways to build data and granted they are important for accountability of student learning as well as effectiveness of teaching strategies, we still need to consider the students who work better by explaining themselves through talking, drawing, or other forms of showing they understood what it was they've learned.
I also really liked that you stated " The key really is to “Know your kids,” as the teacher shared with me. That way modifications and accommodations can be made to benefit each student and your assessments would be reliable because you know the most important factor of your results; the factor being your student." That's really all it is when considering being a classroom teacher. That's exactly why we spend the first few weeks trying to get to know each and every student, how they learn, and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
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