Chapter 4: FIAE

Portfolios are introduced in this chapter as a great way to really keep track of how all of the students in your classroom are doing with the content.  They are a very versatile way to assess student understanding yourself, and also to help students assess themselves. Having such a hands on way for students to assess mastery is no doubt a great option, especially if you want to be able to watch the progression of their mastery over time. It's also great for students to see how they have grown throughout your unit, semester, or year, depending on how you utilize portfolios. It can also make it easier for students to organize the work that they have done. Another great option is to use rubrics. The great thing about rubrics is that they set out really clear guidelines for students to meet. Using them to grade also shows students where they have done really well, and where they need to work harder to meet the standards, or come to the teacher for help or differentiated instruction. This all also enables student self-assessment, which allows students to critically look at how they are progressing, and where they can grow even more.
Anything that makes an educators can do to make instructions and expectations more clear to students is great. I really want to make students feel more comfortable and relaxed in the classroom, as unnecessary stress just deters learning. I also think it is definitely really important that students can see how they are progressing with the content you are giving them, as it can give them confidence to grow even more.