The use of assessments with students is often viewed as a necessary evil by many. However, there are many assessments outside of the standardized form that can be administered that will provide teachers and parents with student progress information. The purpose of the assessment is to evaluate and monitor student progress. Creating student portfolios provides a wonderful tool for analysis of student work and progress. Case Studies provide a wealth of personal academic information on a student that teachers can use to place students in appropriate academic areas within a classroom. Rubrics are a wonderful way for teachers to provide students with specific expectations for their work while also giving teachers a simple and equitable way to grade student the student product. Rubrics can also allow teachers a way to provide feedback to students on the work they have completed.
A common form of assessment throughout the United States is the standardized test. Giving students these tests "cold" without any practice is unfair since most students have never experienced a teacher-given test that is similar to the standardized test, and the students’ unfamiliarity can often lead to lower test scores. To help students overcome testing problems and test anxiety, I have found it necessary to provide students with practice assessment tests. While student teaching, I had the opportunity to administer some two minute timed mathematical tests, called Lightning Rod Tests. The initial reaction was unfavorable and the students performed rather poorly on the tests, primarily because they had never been exposed to the pressure of timed exams previously. However, after some practice, the students became comfortable with the testing process, and even became excited with the prospect of taking more tests.