Intentional teachers gather data that are needed to guide instruction, ensuring that all children grow and learn at the right pace. But I know that long before this age of high-stakes accountability, intentional teachers were developing and using assessments as powerful tools in their toolboxes. Like many teachers, I have felt dread when someone mentioned assessments. It would be easy to have a sweeping negative view of assessments in the current climate. I will never forget the defeat on one child’s face as she looked up at me with a quivering chin and said, “But I can’t read.” Despite how positive and nonchalant I tried to be during that assessment, assuring her that I did not expect her to read the words, the formal assessment experience affected this child’s confidence and her excitement for learning. I have sat with many frustrated children, some near tears, as I asked them to read sight words during their second week of kindergarten. Even when children are just beginning to learn English, I am required to assess them in English-according to the script, not to their needs.

Timed assessments and scripted directions, which must be read word for word, provide valuable information but offer no flexibility for our young learners. Teachers are often not allowed to assess their own students (in order to protect the integrity of the results), and the results are sometimes used to measure teacher performance (whether or not the assessments have been designed and validated for use in high-stakes decisions). For example, we could delay assessing reading skills if a child did not yet show an understanding of the difference between letters, words, and numbers.Īssessment in today’s kindergarten classrooms, unfortunately, looks at times like what we would expect in upper-grade classrooms, with proctors and secure testing materials. We had the flexibility to evaluate children in areas that were appropriate for them. My colleagues and I used our own assessments and observations to plan instruction based on what our students needed. When I first began teaching, educators’ observations and self-made assessments were honored as appropriate ways to document young children’s growth and mastery. After disposing the knife, you have to stay alive for the rest of the day then you're done.Over the 20 years I have been a kindergarten teacher, assessment has changed dramatically. I believe from what I remember, you have to convince Nugget to let you throw it done in his cave by showing the Nugget of Friendship)ġ1. Now, talk to Buggs and hide the knife in the Nugget Cave. When you're about to eat the McGlobs meal, activate the machine. After that skip morning time and be with your teacher at lunch by saying 'I want to have lunch with you'ĩ. Talk to Buggs then place the machine under a table besides Cindy's table. If you don't have enough, bring more money).Ĩ. Talk to Monty and give the strange machine (You have to have money when you give it to Monty. Now, give the yo-yo to Jerome and get the strange machine (I think it's in the Janitor's closet. Buggs will pull you over during Morning Time and ask if you want revenge on the teacher. If you have any remaining apples/moves, use them up.ĥ.

Talk to Nugget and be his friend (By the time your done talking to him, you should have a Nugget of Friendship).Ĥ.

Kindergarten game teacher mission