Describes portfolio assessment, recommending it as a means of dynamic and ongoing student evaluation. For students, portfolios stimulate thinking and promote independence. For teachers, they provide a multidimensional view of each child's development. The article explains how to get started, customize portfolio contents, collect notes, and manage…

The article explains how students keep work portfolios and exhibit portfolios to organize their written work and showcase their accomplishments in science; it also explains how students learn about scientific concepts through hands-on research and how portfolios are integral to the program. Teacher tips are included. (SM)

Alternatives to traditional grading systems are suggested in this article. (JD)

A system allowing students to evaluate themselves is presented. Students set the criteria, determine the rating scale, and rate themselves for each item on the criteria list using the scale. (JMF)

A teacher relates his successful experience in using a journal to record his efforts with slow learners, efforts which were not reflected in the standard methods that school administrators used to evaluate teacher performance. Highlights from the journal were submitted along with required evaluation forms. (IAH)

This article briefly identifies and defines several key terms and concepts which are relevant to a discussion of how to teach thinking skills. Cognitive processes, metacognition, and the relationship of personal characteristics to thinking skills are discussed. (IAH)

Testing can be a time-consuming and tedious method of evaluation. This article suggests methods which don't take additional classroom time or turn students off, and which provide more immediate and constructive feedback than routine testing. (IAH)

Describes how an elementary teacher uses portfolios to determine her students' math knowledge. Most of the portfolios contain student-selected problem-solving activities, reflective writings, and teacher-selected work samples. The article explains portfolio evaluation and presents tips on streamlining the portfolio process. A parent portfolio…

Four principles of authentic teaching include motivating students by creating assignments that are meaningful and substantive, helping students understand the difference between correct and good work, judging students' work by real-world standards, and preparing students to manage the ambiguous and complex problems of real life. Examples from…

This paper answers several frequently asked questions about constructivism, including how to define it, how to plan the curriculum, how to assess student understanding, what to do with the information, where to begin, how students work in a constructivist classroom, and why constructivism is important. (SM)

A tear-out folder provides information on alternative student assessment versus standardized testing, describing what alternative assessments do and do not consist of and involve. Information on student assessment statewide and nationwide is presented along with a discussion of the costs of alternative assessment. All information is presented in…

Examines the importance of using student portfolios to monitor progress, assess learning, integrate subjects, encourage independent learning, foster collaboration, ease anxiety about grades, and facilitate parent/teacher conferences. The article helps teachers examine what they should already know about portfolios and presents suggestions about…

Describes how to use portfolios to track elementary students' reading and writing progress, offering teacher-to-teacher tips on the most effective use of portfolios in the classroom. The article discusses student self-evaluation through portfolios, reading- and writing-portfolio conferences, and teachers as learners. (SM)

Second-grade teacher explains the benefits of student portfolios in his classroom. Besides providing a complete picture of students' academic abilities, portfolios allow students to reflect on their work. The article explains how students help choose work samples for their portfolios and describes the quarterly teacher-student portfolio…

Examines the negative consequences of group grades in cooperative learning situations: they are unfair; they make report cards less meaningful; they undermine motivation; they convey the wrong message; they violate individual accountability; and they create parental resistance to cooperative learning. Alternative ideas for rewarding group efforts…