Standard 4.

a Issues for Assessment for English Language Learners

Artifact 1

Students comprehension of texts they have read can be measured in a variety of ways.

Techniques employed by standardized tests, like multiple choice and constructed response

questions, may will be a challenge for emerging English language learners. However, through

summative assessment, all learners can show their comprehension of a text.

The attached artifact is a graphic organizer that my students use when we read The

Watsons go to Birmingham. As we read, students list character traits of main characters and

questions that they would like to ask each character. At regular intervals while reading the novel,

students participate in a Drama Activity in which they each act as a character from the novel.

Other students then ask the characters the questions they have generated as we read the text.

Students on the panel then have to answer the question as the character. This allows me to

assess students understanding of the text and comprehension of the text. It also supports

critical engagement with the text.

My ENL coursework has taught me to rely on a multitude of assessment strategies to

best support the development of all students. These kind of summative assessments yield more

accurate information of student learning than data from standardized tests.