As a teacher, one of my responsibilities is to provide my students with the necessary tools to assess their performance in my subject. This will not only help them to identify their weaknesses and track their general progress, but it will also allow me to see what each student’s specific learning needs and abilities are. This, in turn, will then act as a foundation for creating a specific approach for each student. As a result, I expect my students’ sustained interest in the subject to act as the main evidence of my success in advancing their knowledge and skills.
If I am successful as a teacher, I will be able to see that my students clearly understand what their learning goals are and what personal traits or external factors stop them from achieving those goals. At the end of a set period of time, I would expect my students to get closer to those goals while eliminating certain obstacles and weaknesses on their way. To assess my student’s performance, I use FitnessGram assessment tools. They are used both in terms of formative assessment to evaluate students’ learning process and as a summative assessment to show if their results match their initial goals and comply with the benchmark standards. In addition, I regularly review new state assessment data to make sure that the goals and results of my assessment are defined and used in accordance to the state physical education standards.
FitnessGram assessment includes measurements of upper-body strength, abdominal strength and endurance, aerobic capacity, and flexibility. Based on these measurements, I used tests such as Back Saver V-Sit & Reach and Trunklift to assist in creating physical education programs for my students. FitnessGram also provided tools for students to set goals and plan their implementation. In addition, to objectively analyze my students’ performance and results, I regularly compare their scores to those of other school divisions, as well as the state average. This helps me to identify the weaknesses and strengths of my student’s performance. I have used all the tests and methods mentioned with my 5th-grade students. The program began in 2018, when they were in the 3rd grade. At the time, the tests showed that my students needed to improve on their PACER test. The current results show that they are improving every year, with 20% growth in their FitnessGram test.
Assessment that can be conducted at the end of the day or a lesson may include simple discussions that would encourage students to become more aware of their learning and development processes. Summarizing each lesson this way, students will be able to see that they are moving in the set direction. I think it is essential to engage students in discussions because their feedback can help me to better analyze their learning needs and design lesson plans that would answer those needs.
Having collected evidence over time, I will give a presentation that will include summaries of each student’s progress reports, which I will review on a monthly basis. The presentation will be given in a friendly and positive manner, with much focus placed on the growth and achievements of my students. A visual representation will allow them to see how much they have achieved and encourage continuing to make efforts. This will allow me to achieve my professional goal for the year, which is creating a positive environment in my classroom with a focus on thinking and learning. In addition, students’ portfolios, as well as my reports and reviews, provide me with all the necessary data to share with students’ parents, teachers, and any other stakeholders.
To ensure that my instruction is clear and effective for my students’ learning and growth, I will analyze their baseline assessment test. This test provides me with a starting point that I can use to regularly reevaluate activities and other aspects of the education process and is an essential part of my formative assessment. The latter is important not only in terms of tracking the progress of my students but also in terms of their continuous interest in the subject. I believe that learning is most effective when students are able to create connections between different areas of the subject they study or practice. Thus, I will pay close attention to any gaps that can occur and analyze them in my formative and summative assessments. If not addressed, these gaps can make students feel less confident about their knowledge or skills and even cause them to lose interest. Therefore, I will encourage them to never hesitate to ask me about anything that is not completely clear to them.
Summing up, the strongest evidence available to demonstrate my success at advancing learning is my students’ sustained interest in the subject and baseline assessment. This evidence is important because it encompasses a range of factors. First, it shows that my students are able to make connections between different areas of the subject or topic being taught. This, in turn, reduces the number and probability of knowledge gaps or underdeveloped skills that can occur due to different reasons. As a result, they feel confident, successfully learn the material, and develop a number of important skills, such as self-analysis and self-awareness. To achieve this, I am going to create a positive and encouraging environment where students will feel free to express their thoughts and address any concerns they might have about their learning processes and abilities.