Blogging About Administering Assessments In A Kindergarten Classroom

This afternoon I went over to my classroom to do some work and get ready for more final assessments before we get out for Easter break. I will be assessing the children on reading concepts tomorrow and finishing up with math assessments. On Friday, I called one child over and asked him if he knew what one shape was (a hexagon). He looked at me and smiled before he said "I give up, what?" I told him that he needed to try and then he responded " Well, it looks like a stop sign with not so many sides!" Not bad, I thought.

In the public school system I worked for, we also did assessments in Kindergarten. All Kindergarten students had to go through a screening process before they officially started school. It involved a series of tests administered by a team of teachers, including the classroom teacher.

My role as the kindergarten teacher was to administer a reading readiness test. My job was to read a book to the child and then ask specific questions about the book.

 I remember one year when I had finished reading to one little boy,  I  began asking the questions. "Can you show me the front of the book?" I asked. The little boy looked at me with a puzzled expression, hesitated, and then pointed to the front. "That was great" I said. "Now can you show me the back of the book?" This time the child looked really puzzled. Finally, after a long pause and look of frustration, he pointed to the back of the book. "Terrific!" I said. "Now, can you show me where I start reading?" The child threw up his hands in frustration and said in a loud voice "HELLO! WHY AM I HERE?" I burst out laughing, getting frowns from my other colleagues positioned at other spots in the room, who were administering other tests.

I have no doubt that child went home and told his Mom that he hoped he didn't get the teacher  who didn't know any of the answers to the questions she was asking him questions at school that day!