"What is initial assessment and what factors
must be considered when creating initial assessment? What are some protocols
that your School Board has in place for initial assessment? If you are not in a
School Board, what would you like to change or implement for initial
assessment?"
"You will be creating your own initial
assessment template. You will review the guidelines and directions as well as
view samples that will allow you to create an initial assessment for reading,
writing and oral development."
POST
Initial assessment is the evaluation which determines the placement of a student while recognizing their reading, writing, mathematics as well as their educational and cultural background. When designing the initial assessment, teachers/support staff need to recognize that the rubrics in place are for students between grades 4-12 which means the level of writing, and reading need to be understood through a "differentiation lens". In particular it is important to recognize that may not all students in grade 4 have developed essay writing skills. Designers of initial assessments should also consider the jargon that they use. Asking a student to write a personal statement of who they may be generally clear in any language, but a response to literature is also called a "long answer question".
In regards to initial assessments, I would like to see an incorporation of standard questions that ELL's may experience. For myself, I want to know what is being asked of the ELL in the interview. As a teacher I don't need an ELL answer, but as a person needs to be aware of the process, what are the questions that are asked, because rather than just making this feel like a serious government interview, one would hope that a student is asked about their likes and dislikes, hopes, wishes, aspirations in their new school. I actually made a mistake, this is talked about in the document, "STEP Guide, Initial Assessment" (p. 8)
I am also unclear on how the school board determines the exceptionalism of a student, especially from China or a place that has stigmas on the identification of learning exceptionalities. Is it expected that the teacher identifies them as they go along. I would like to see the interview done with a translator first and then based on the student's ability to respond in English, request a meeting with the school board's psychologist. This is important for a number of reasons, one being, the student's overall background may be unclear or possibly even neglected, putting them into a classroom and then risking upsetting the student or indirectly making them feel uncomfortable, if they need to talk about their issue as it pertains to their prior experience. Essentially, having someone there from the beginning who will be working with the student throughout the course of the year/semester. In the case of high school, I think it would be reasonable to have a guidance counselor, vice principal or principal of that student's age group to be there during the initial assessments and what not to provide the receiving school with an expert on that student. This is imperative as teacher's of this student will be able to get assistance with this student when needed, likewise, the school is in turn providing the ELL with a "guardian angel" like figure that is always available to visit as some of the administrative staff should be for students.
Check out the link below to teachers pay teachers where my STEP templates are uploaded and downloadable for FREE! Read, Rate and Review! Thanks!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ELLELD-Placement-Initial-Assessment-Demo-By-Bono-4434797
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