In these days of increased accountability, educators are feeling as though they have to assess everything a child does. Assessment doesn't just come in the form of high stakes testing. Assessment student knowledge comes in the many forms. Unfortunately, even the best of assessing is at risk of taking a turn for the worse. Don't get me wrong, formative assessment isn't a bad thing, but it is if it happens all the time.

At a recent training, I was asked to answer questions regarding an interview I did with Dick Allington. A teacher wrote to me asking, "How do we assess reading at home while keep it fun and engaging?" I was convinced that this was an isolated incident but as the conversation grew, I realized it was not.

Click here to continue reading.