Module 1 Learning Summary

Favorite Part: My favorite topics from this module were the Assessing Reading Skills video and the Assessment powerpoint.  I enjoyed the video because of the actual example that it provided.  It was a great example of what reading assessment should look like.  It is wonderful that the student in the video was making progress due to the continuous assessment and referencing of data that her teacher was completing.  I also liked the assessment powerpoint.  I liked the presentation of information, and I pulled out a few ideas that really stuck with me.  My favorite part of the powerpoint was the idea that success motivates students to work towards future success, and teachers can help students become successful through building on their existing knowledge and talents.   

Learning Summary:  This module provided a large amount of information.  The overarching idea of each aspect of this module was the importance of constant and continual assessment.  Although frequent assessment is time consuming, I’m convinced after these readings and video that the benefit and outcome of assessment will be worth the additional time.  

I also learned about the teacher role I typically assume.  Using the Opitz book as a guide, I would classify myself as a planner.  As much as I plan to address needs of my students in advance, I also focus on “unplanned, intentional” instruction (Opitz, p. 23).  I like to teach minilessons based on issues I may see common in many students.  I won’t usually know what issues will arise during any given lesson, so I like to take time to stop and talk about how we can be intentional in correcting our problems.  

Opitz, Michael F., Dorothy Rubin, and James A. Erekson. Reading Diagnosis and Improvement: Assessment and Instruction. 6th ed. Boston, Mass.: Pearson, 2011. Print.

Smith, R., Johnson, M., & Thompson, K. D. (2012). Data, our GPS. Educational Leadership, 69(5), 56-59.