STANDARD 6: The teacher of PK-12 music can assess musical knowledge and skills.
For music educators, assessment is a constant occurrence in the classroom. Most of our assessments are informal but still authentic. The assessment that occurs should always coincide with the learning that has occurred in the classroom and align with the concepts. Assessing musical knowledge and skills assists music educators in continuing to further our students as musicians.
Assessment is one of the most important parts of the learning process. As educators, we need to understand the best ways to assess our students in different situations. Through the education courses I have taken as well as my experience in the classroom, I have developed skills in both formal and informal assessment. Informal assessment occurs on a daily basis in the music classroom. Teachers are constantly assessing during rehearsal whether the music is being performed correctly and understood by the students. The teacher is always assessing if students are understanding the musical concepts presented, how close they are to mastery, what they can still work on to improve student understanding and mastery. This type of assessment is crucial to teachers as it is what they use to create follow-up lessons and activities on this particular material. Formal assessment is also used, though not quite as often as informal assessment. The most common type of formal assessment seen in a music classroom is likely rubrics or checklists. Rubrics help teachers to grade students fairly, against all of the same criteria, that is specifically laid out.
Students have opportunities to assess as well. This is not a teacher-only activity. Students can and should take part in frequent peer and self-assessments. Students can complete said assessments by completing reflections, journals, worksheets, or checklists. These help students to recognize the areas in which they are successful, and the areas that still pose a bit of a challenge. Peer assessment is another effective assessment strategy, especially in the secondary classroom. This way students look at the group as a whole and can have a voice as to how they feel the ensemble is doing. These types of assessment are important because they allow students to guide and develop their own understanding.
Assessment in music education is extremely important. It helps our students to become knowledgeable, skilled musicians. Without assessment, the way music is judged would be completely subjective. We need assessment to not only make our students successful but to let them know that all kinds of different sounds are accepted.
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Assessment is one of the most important parts of the learning process. As educators, we need to understand the best ways to assess our students in different situations. Through the education courses I have taken as well as my experience in the classroom, I have developed skills in both formal and informal assessment. Informal assessment occurs on a daily basis in the music classroom. Teachers are constantly assessing during rehearsal whether the music is being performed correctly and understood by the students. The teacher is always assessing if students are understanding the musical concepts presented, how close they are to mastery, what they can still work on to improve student understanding and mastery. This type of assessment is crucial to teachers as it is what they use to create follow-up lessons and activities on this particular material. Formal assessment is also used, though not quite as often as informal assessment. The most common type of formal assessment seen in a music classroom is likely rubrics or checklists. Rubrics help teachers to grade students fairly, against all of the same criteria, that is specifically laid out.
Students have opportunities to assess as well. This is not a teacher-only activity. Students can and should take part in frequent peer and self-assessments. Students can complete said assessments by completing reflections, journals, worksheets, or checklists. These help students to recognize the areas in which they are successful, and the areas that still pose a bit of a challenge. Peer assessment is another effective assessment strategy, especially in the secondary classroom. This way students look at the group as a whole and can have a voice as to how they feel the ensemble is doing. These types of assessment are important because they allow students to guide and develop their own understanding.
Assessment in music education is extremely important. It helps our students to become knowledgeable, skilled musicians. Without assessment, the way music is judged would be completely subjective. We need assessment to not only make our students successful but to let them know that all kinds of different sounds are accepted.
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ARTIFACT 1: Assessment Portfolio
My Assessment Portfolio below was created for use in a secondary concert choir classroom - specifically high school but could also be adjusted for middle school. This portfolio includes tools and strategies of assessment that will be used in the classroom. Also included is an implementation rationale for each standard, as well as an example of how I will use this. This allows me, as the teacher, to determine a plan for the use of different types of assessment inside my classroom, to measure student growth and development.
ARTIFACT 2: Syllabus Quiz
Below I have included a syllabus quiz, intended to be used at the beginning of the semester to ensures students are aware of expectations, due dates, and procedures. The use of this quiz at the beginning of the year is important, to make sure that students, teachers, and parents are on the same page, and are aware of what will take place throughout the year.