There was a big rock in front of the assessment tomb with all the kids in it. Five years ago with jGR/ISR Robert and Annick and jen and I tried to pull it open. We got it open just enough to get some air to the kids. Then Claire comes along with those strong and capable hands and especially those thumbs and rips it open far enough for the kids to scamper out.
That is code for “watch-for-any-articles-popping-up-here” over the next two years on authentic assessment in general and on portfolios in particular. The cat is essentially now officially out of the assessment bag, in no less a way than when Dr. Krashen let the cat out of the bag on how people learn languages so many years ago. I knew that the assessment cat would eventually catch up with the how-we-learn-languages cat.
Of course, this means we have work to do. We have extra topics now for the summer workshops. You see, though the cat is now out of the bag, it can’t teach our classes and change the assessment piece – what it looks like from top to bottom – for us. We have to do that.
So get some (as Sheriff Andy would say) g-o-o-o-o-o-d rest this summer. Then get some g-o-o-o-o-o-d armor on for the battles about assessment that will surely come our way next spring. We’ll be under the leadership of General “Thumbs” Ensor, so we’re in good hands, as it were.
Let’s get ready to rumble!
I knew it wasn’t me that was crazy on assessment. The idea that I can assess my students without judging them is exhilarating to me. It’s exhilarating, Jerry!