As I expected with the first few assessments, lots of the scores were low. I currently grade with 5 levels for each skill, with 5 being mastered. Only one student to date has a 4. Some students expressed surprise (to put it mildly) but I was able to clearly show them what they could or could not do. So far, only one student has asked for reassessment which will occur in a couple days. One thing I thought was interesting to note -- a student who is known for being a "trouble" kid is actually my top student so far. I'm gonna make it a point to share with this student tomorrow this fact. I'm sure this student could use the encouragement.
And now, further evidence that I'm stocking up against homework....here are some quotes from Alfie Kohn's "The Homework Myth" book. I recommend again for your reading if you haven't already.
- For those of you who say homework is good for practice (myself being formerly one of them), it's actually more like a drill to produce a desired behavior response. It's not actually learning. Students become "less autonomous, more dependent. Stuck in the middle of a problem, they're less likely to try to figure out what makes sense to do next and more likely to try to remember what they're supposed to do next - what behavioral response they've been taught to produce."
- Another point about practice - "giving practice problems to students who lack understanding can have any of several effects: 1) it may make them feel stupid (over and over again, they're reminded of what they can't do), 2) it may get them accustomed to doing things the wrong way, because what's 'reinforced' are mistaken assumptions, 3) it may teach them to fake it, perhaps by asking someone else for the correct answers, to conceal what they don't know." (there are more, but I'm gonna stop here)
- A teacher is quoted as saying "How about the student who practices all the problems wrong? What good did the homework assignment do her (the student)? I want my students to do their learning in my presence, so I can immediately correct them, or take them in a different direction, or push them further, or learn from them."
- Another teacher says about English "assessment depends on observation, and if we do not allow students to write during class, we cannot observe their process or find the time to give them the responses and ask the questions that matter."
Those last two bullets are hitting the nail on the head for me. This is especially true for the deaf students that I teach. They need immediate (and I mean immediate) feedback or they are lost. I want to be there to provide that one thing they may need in order to grasp a concept. I don't want them trying something at home that they could do wrong or someone else could mislead them.
On to week 5.....
